On This Day in Jewish History: October 16, 1886

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#onthisday, 1886, David Ben-Gurion, Israel’s first Prime Minister was born. Credited as one of the primary founders of the State of Israel, Ben Gurion, is largely seen as an irreplaceable cog in the path to Jewish statehood.

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In 1935, the “Old Man”, as he was often called, rose to become the chief leader of the Jewish community in British Mandated Palestine as the head of the Jewish Agency / Yishuv.

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A tireless advocate for the Jewish people and a proud Zionist, Ben-Gurion expanded Herzl’s view of a Jewish homeland into a reality for scores of Jews and Arabs.

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Born in Płońsk in the Russian Empire, as David Greene, Ben-Gurion studied at the University of Warsaw in 1905 and joined the Social-Democratic Jewish Workers’ Party.

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Fiercely political, he was arrested twice during the Russian Revolution. A year later, he moved to Jerusalem and assumed a political position after being elected the political group, Poalei Zion in Jaffa.

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Ben-Gurion helped create the Histadrut—Zionist Labor Federation in British-Mandated Palestine in 1920, holding the position of General Secretary from 1921-1935.

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An incredible pragmatic leader with a vision second to none, Ben-Gurion understood the geo-political implications of a Jewish State along with the overwhelming global response.

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When he declared independence on May 14th, 1948 he knew better than to really celebrate, knowing that the surrounding Arab countries would invade the next day.

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As Israel’s Chairman of the Provisional State Council from May 14th-16th, Ben Gurion proved instrumental in Israel’s victory over their invading Arab neighbors.

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Ben-Gurion became the first Prime Minister of Israel in 1949, serving until 1963 with a small break in between. He died in 1973 at the age of 87. Ben-Gurion was buried, at his own request, in the Negev Kibbut of Sde Boker for his everlasting love and devotion to the South (Negev) of Israel.

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He is the only Israeli Prime Minister buried outside of Mount Herzl in Jerusalem.

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✍: @metropolis_starship

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Text Source:

https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/david-ben-gurion

Image Source:

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/25/books/review/a-state-at-any-cost-tom-segev.html