August 13
Ben Gurion Meets Youth Groups
Bob impression of Israeli Prime Minister Ben Gurion after BG’s
speech to his ZOA group and Jewish youth groups from around the world.
Bob Impression of Israel’s First Prime Minister David Ben Gurion
Tuesday Night
8-13-1957
Dear Mom Dad & Alan,
Today was the Giant youth rally of all foreign youth in Israel at the new Convention Hall still incomplete. There were a few thousand Boys and girls from all over the world. The only difference being about 3 or 400 in Israeli Army uniform who are from S. Africa. They all came here to join the Army, many of them staying. A far cry from the Americans here. I understand that a huge % of S African Jews do such.
The feature speech was by Premier David Ben Gurion, who of course was in an open sport shirt & plain slacks. It was wonderful listening to him in Hebrew & then English. The rapport he established was wonderful. Although he spoke extemporaneously he was able to repeat almost word for word in English after. I was thrilled. He kidded around with the boys and girls in such a plain & simple level. It was great.
Not a policeman was with him. But I was even more surprised when he left. He got in the front and drove away in a beat up 41 Plymouth.
Of course no one opened the door for him. The only thing was they didn’t let anyone see him go away. It was only because I went to buy a soda at the time he left that I saw him. He really is a great man. Israelis say that while he is on the Kibbutz he insists on taking his turn washing dishes & laundry like everyone else. I took notes on his speech and so will give you a full resume. I repeat, I was thrilled.
Love Bob
P.S. With people like I’ve met so far from Ben Gurion down everything with Gods help will be OK
David’s Comments:
Prime Minister Ben Gurion speaks to Foreign Students
I have read several books on David Ben Gurion and attended lectures about him. The description of my father in this August 13th, 1957 letter to his parents is one of the most interesting I have seen.
“Today was the Giant youth rally of all foreign youth in Israel at the new Convention Hall still incomplete. There were a few thousand Boys and girls from all over the world”
P.M Ben Gurion spoke to the foreign youth at the new Convention Hall in Jerusalem, which my father describes as being “incomplete“. What he is referring to here is the “International Convention Center“, known in Hebrew “Binyanei HaUma“, which was not completed until 1963. The period of economic austerity in the first decade of independence led to frequent disruption in building.
“The feature speech was by Premier David Ben Gurion, who of course was in an open sport shirt & plain slacks. “
He worked on the kibbutz and sat down in the communal dining room with all the other common workers.
“It was wonderful listening to him in Hebrew & then English. The rapport he established was wonderful. Although he spoke extemporaneously he was able to repeat almost word for word in English after. I was thrilled. He kidded around with the boys and girls in such a plain & simple level. It was great.”
I never knew that Ben Gurion spoke English until I read these letters.
“Not a policeman was with him. But I was even more surprised when he left. He got in the front and drove away in a beat up 41 Plymouth. Of course no one opened the door for him.”
A Prime Minister in Israel today travels in a limousine with a driver and security, paid for by the government.
“ He is really a great man. Israelis say that while he is on the Kibbutz he insists on taking his turn washing dishes & laundry like everyone else.”
“P.S. With people like I’ve met so far, from Ben Gurion down, everything with Gods help will be OK”
My father always spoke highly of Ben Gurion because he respected him for doing what he thought was good for Israel and the Jewish People. He was willing to talk to anybody, and did not have an ego. I cannot imagine a Prime Minister today, or even a member of Knesset who would drive in a banged up car and return to his kibbutz to do the laundry and dishes. Times have changed, and so have people.