The protests taking Israel by storm this month are part of a long, heartfelt history of Israelis taking to the streets to make their voices heard. Whether their demands are peaceful or passionate, one thing has always remained constant: The power of ordinary Israeli people to affect big change when they put their mind to it
No one believed it could happen, and even today it is difficult to comprehend how easy it was. In 1957, a man walked into the Knesset, then located in downtown Jerusalem, with a grenade in his pocket. He proceeded to throw it into the assembly hall. David Ben-Gurion and Golda Meir were among those injured. The explosion can be heard in a recording found in the National Library of Israel’s Sound Archive…
Long before the State of Israel, the two men worked together at a Jewish bank and Jewish self-defense organization in Brest-Litovsk
Rachel Cohen-Kagan was one of the most prominent activists for the advancement of women’s rights in the young State of Israel. Her efforts led to her being among the signatories of the Declaration of Independence
Golda Meir, one of the most powerful women in Israel’s history, was the third woman in the 20th century to become a leader of a nation. Though a frequent critic of the feminist movement, Golda herself was the focus of interest and criticism due to her gender. How did she deal with it? Why did she agree to enter a synagogue in Moscow but not in Tel Aviv? And what does this have to do with the Israeli Hatmakers’ Union?
It met in a movie theater, had a really weird assassination attempt, was led by a shockingly diverse coalition, and ended in resignation…
The story behind Ben-Gurion’s refusal to wear a head covering at the funeral of S.Y. Agnon…
Israel’s first Prime Minister reveals: I do not envy soldiers who pray. A unique glimpse into David Ben-Gurion’s inner philosophy
Israel’s founding father won only four seats in his last Knesset run
Who designed the setting for the historic moment when Israel became a State?
