BEN GURION MEETS 1957 YOUTH GROUPS
The feature speech was by Premier David Ben Gurion, who of course was in an open sport shirt & plain slacks.........
Israelis say that while he is on the Kibbutz he insists on taking his turn washing dishes & laundry like everyone else.........
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.......
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He kidded around with the boys and girls in such a plain & simple level. It was great...........
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I was even more surprised when he left. He got in front of the door and drove away in a beat up '41 Plymouth. Of course, no one opened the door for him"...
"He is realy a great man. Israelis say that while he is on the Kibbutz he insists on taking his turn washing dishes and laundry like everyone else."
August 13, 1957
David's Comments
What was my Father's impression, as an American, meeting Israeli Prime Minister David Ben Gurion?
Modestly dressed, Ben Gurion visits
youth in Kibbutz Oren
Ben Gurion's home: A simple hut-style wooden structure in Kibbutz Sde Boker
Prime Minister Ben Gurion speaks to Foreign Students
This is a unique observation of Israel's first Prime Minister, written from the perspective of an American youth, from a completely different culture.
Ben Gurion's modest dress
What is noted at the outset is Premier Ben Gurion's modest appearance - "open shirt and plain slacks". This was indicative of the informal Israel dress code that prevailed in Israeli society, but also portrayed Ben Gurion's humble character.
Spoke Hebrew, then English
My father's letter offers another interesting revelation: David Ben Gurion spoke very good English! The fact is Ben Gurion knew many languages besides Hebrew. Brought up in a Yiddush-speaking community in Poland, he spoke both Yiddush and Polish. Later on, he mastered French and Turkish.
Left in Banged Up old Car
I was even more surprised when he left. He got in front of the door and drove away in a beat up '41 Plymouth. Of course, no one opened the door for him" - It's hard to believe that the leader of a country would be riding around in a banged up car that was sixteen years old. A far cry from the members of Parliament today who drive Volvos and luxury cars. .
Ben Gurion Works with His Hands
“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.” In old Israeli video clips, one can see Ben Gurion doing manual labor on his kibbutz in spite of his high office in government.
1957 vs today
In 1957, even after Ben Gurion became Prime Minister, he lived a modest life without using government funds to live a opulent lifestyle. It is also known that Prime Minister Menachem Begin also shunned an ostentatious lifestyle.
Today, our Prime Ministers and government officials have unfortunately have not learned from the examples of Ben Gurion and Begin. Today, Ministers and Knesset Members fight about who gets the Volvo and the luxury cars.
LINKS:
Short documentary of David Ben Gurion: https://youtu.be/OQMykqFASfY
Ben Gurion at his modest kibbutz home 1955: https://vimeo.com/446231311
Prime Minister Ben Gurion’s English message to world Jewry: https://youtu.be/HEaaZrQiPAo