Ben-Gurion: Father of Modern Israel (Jewish Lives)

As the "father of modern Israel" I knew very little about Ben-Gurion. Other than being the State's first Prime Minister I really did not know much about him as a person, his beliefs or as a leader.After completing a book about Theodore Hertzl, the father of Zionism I thought this would be a great follow up. They were certainly two very different people. Hertzl, evolving as a pacifist during a period where Jews were accepted for the most part in European Society, foresaw the creation of Israel as a Utopian society. Ben-Gurion on the other hand had his formative years during Pograms and extreme Antisemitism.The two are an interesting contrast. A book about the two, and how modern Israel evolved would be a great read.Ben-Gurion was not a particularly likable person. He was not a natural leader. He had radical ideas. But, his passion for the creation of a nation where Jews could live in peace overrode his fears. His extreme views led to militarization (a sound idea) and his desire to only speak Hebrew. This led to disenfranchisement of some groups who saw the natural Jewish language as Yiddish and not Hebrew. But, as time told, he prevailed.Ben-Gurion was a strong believer in socialism - he wanted Israel to be a Socialist, agrarian society. He saw farmers as the back-bone of the society. His views came from Marxism, but with an understanding that pure Marxism could not exist. Strong central leadership must exist. And while he disliked the Kibbutz system, he clearly understood the power they created in the early years of the development of Israel. In fact, in later years he lived for a while on a Kibbutz.His views in some ways became more extreme as he matured, but in others he found himself becoming more liberal. He foresaw the issues that would evolve as more Jews immigrated to Israel. He led the charge to buy land from the Arab inhabitants. No mention was made in the book of forced relocation which are still the subject of much debate. But, to encourage mass immigration which he felt was the only way to survive as a Jewish state, he lightened his stance on only speaking Hebrew and gave speeches in Yiddish and other languages. Linguistics were not natural to him and he struggled, finding others who could make these speeches as needed,While not a natural leader, he became an effective statesman. He aligned himself with Charles DeGaulle of France, even negotiating weapons sales allowing Israel to develop a powerful standing army. He angered other world powers such as the United States who initially saw Israel as an obstacle to the relationships built with Arab states. But, as history goes, this did change.One thing I found fascinating was his desire to build a strong relationship with West Germany after WWII. While others in the Israeli government opposed any relationship with the society they saw as mass murderers, his tenacity inforging an alliance when very far in gaining both military assistance and technology.He saw technology as a key element in giving Israel an advantage in the world. To this day, this vision has grown to one where they are on the forefront of new technological and medical advances that not only help them, but help the world.He also was an arrogant man who saw himself as necessary for the future. And, while he left government several times and was asked back, he made himself irrelevant with his radical views.

I heard an interview with Anita Shapira on the New York Times Book Review podcast about the writing of this book. The interview intrigues me so I bought the e-book.Ben-Gurion was born David Green in Plonsk Poland in 1886 and became Israel's first prime minister in 1948. Anita Shapira is professor emeritus at Tel Aviv University provides an intimate portrait of a man who is revered and reviled. Shapira had interviewed B-G when he was elderly.Ben-Gurion (1886-1973) emigrated from Poland to Palestine in 1906 after being introduced to Zionist ideals. He went to Istanbul to study law at the University. His last year of Law school was interrupted by WWI, he never returned to finish his studies. The Ottoman Empire decided to deport the Jews from Palestine. B-G travel around living in different countries while working on Zionist causes. At the New York Library he met Paula Munweis a recent immigrant from Russia who became his wife and they had three children.The author reveals B-G relationships with the people he loved were less than flattering. Shapira reveals he may have carried on a relationship with British Writer Doris May and during WWII with Miriam Cohen of New York.Shapira explores the roots of today' s fractured Israel, leading the reader through the world of Zionism's pre-state politics and B-G's problems over whom to choose as allies the Turks, the British or the Americans. There was constant fighting between the Zionist groups whose progeny include today's Labor and Likud parties.In April 1936, the Arab Revolt erupted in Palestine. After several days of rioting and killing Jews, the Palestinian Arab leaders called a general strike. They had three demands: cessation of Jewish immigration, cessation of land sales to Jews and the handover of government to the Arab majority. The conflict between Chaim Weizmann and Ben-Gurion over how to handle this problem and how to deal with the British government was at the core issue of Zionist policy at the time. It was Ben-Gurion's revolutionary concepts verses Weizmann's cautious gradualism.B-G united the different Zionist militias into one army after the State was declared. The author reveals the struggles between B-G and Menachem Begin's Irgan and the trauma of Jews firing on Jews.Shapira also covers the moment in 1948 over the issue of the Arab exodus. She reports this in a matter of fact style without ethical scrutiny or judgment. The book is well written and researched. It is written in an easy to read manner and focuses on painting a picture of Ben-Gurion as a man. If you are interested in world history or the Middle East you will find this an interesting and enlighten book to read. I read this as an e-book on my Kindle app for my iPad.I

Very well written history of the birth of the Jewish nation with focus on the unbelievable contribution of one person - David Ben Gurion.

Una biografia tutt'altro che celebrativa e tenera.Nel presentare l'intera vicenda umana di Ben Gurion l'autore offre l'immagine di un uomo che prima di assumere il ruolo di leader capace di condurre il suo popolo alla formazione dello Stato di Israele, era semisconosciuto, irascibile, spesso incapace di elaborare decisioni politiche lungimiranti.Il racconto dell'atteggiamento nei confronti del padre e delle sorelle all'epoca universitaria, offre anche l'immagine di un uomo profondamente egoista.Per oltre metà del libro non si percepiscono proprio le ragioni che lo hanno reso un leader, e poi improvvisamente l'autore mette a fuoco la visione anticipatoria di Ben Gurion sull'intero processo che in meno di 15 anni porta alla creazione di Israele.Davvero un ruolo fondamentale nel momento di maggiore necessità, e poi un rapido ma lungo declino.Da leggere per capire la genesi di alcuni conflitti e di alcune questioni irrisolte.

magnifique....le personnage est fascinant....tres bien ecrit....je le recommande fortement,je l'ai lu en 24heures.j'ignorer les détails de la vie de ben gurion...