Prime Minister Ben Gurion
David Ben Gurion meets 1957 youth groups visiting Israel
Letter Excerpts:
“Today was the giant youth rally of all foreign youth in Israel at the new Convention Hall, still incomplete…
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.
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 (security) 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.”
P.S. With people like I’ve met so far, from Ben Gurion down, everything with Gods help will be OK.“
— August 13, 1957
Prime Minister Ben Gurion was Israel’s first Prime Minister serving from 1948 until 1963 (with a short break in ’54 and ’55). In 1957 he met with the overseas youth groups. The meeting took place at the partially built Jerusalem Convention Center, known as Binyanei Ha’Uma and Bob Jacobs was there.
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.
Ben Gurion’s home: A simple hut-style wooden structure in Kibbutz Sde Boker
Ben Gurion (in background left) having lunch in the kibbutz communal dinning room.
Ben Gurion worked on his kibbutz and ate in the communal dining room together with all the other common workers. He insisted on taking his turn washing dishes and laundry like everyone else.
“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 in luxury cars at government expense.
Prime Minister Ben Gurion getting into his car and opening the door himself.
This letter offers another interesting revelation: David Ben Gurion spoke English! The fact is Ben Gurion knew many languages besides Hebrew. Brought up in a Yiddish-speaking community in Poland, he spoke both Yiddish and Polish. Later on, he mastered French and Turkish.
May 15, 1948 Israel’s First Prime Minister, David Ben Gurion declares the independence of modern-day State of Israel
The following links to this subject can be found in the “Comments” of the Letter section:
Link-1 Link-2 Link-3