by Yigal Donets
David Ben Gurion Memorial Day falls on the 6th Kislev, the Hebrew date of his death. It was designated to commemorate David Ben Gurion's historic achievements and contribution as a leader and a statesman. Its parallel purpose was to explore his heritage as a founder, nation-builder and architect of the modern state
We feel that this offers the educator a dramatic opportunity to take a fresh look at his heritage, in light of the challenges faced by the state, the average Israeli, and the Jewish people in the context of today and the future.
The
Ben Gurion Law (1976) provides for a Research/Heritage Institute*
and a Memorial Day on the 6th of Kislev. (Observation of this date is delayed to the Sunday, if the 6th Kislev falls on a Friday or Shabbat.)
The official ceremony is usually attended by the Head of State (usually around 15:00).
Schools, the IDF, public institutions, also mark the day.
The text of the Law [Hebrew] is available on http://bgarchives.bgu.ac.il/moreshet/lowbg.html
3a. Government and Official Websites
The Knesset
English site http://www.knesset.gov.il/mk/eng/mk_eng.asp?mk_individual_id_t=684
Hebrew site http://www.knesset.gov.il/mk/heb/mk.asp?mk_individual_id_t=684
Audio and text file - Declaration of the State of Israel http://www.knesset.gov.il/docs/heb/megilat.htm
MFA
http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Facts%20About%20Israel/State/David%20Ben-Gurion and http://www.mfa.gov.il/mfa/history/modern%20history/centenary%20of%20zionism/zionist%20leaders-%20david%20ben-gurion
PMO
http://www.pmo.gov.il/memorial_en/ben_guryon.asp
The Ben-Gurion Research Center
http://www.bgu.ac.il/Ben-Gurion/main.htm
Ben Gurion University of the Negev,
Sde-Boker Campus,
Israel 84990
Tel: 972-7-6596936, 972-7-6596937
Fax: 972-7-6596939
E-Mail: moreshet@bgumail.bgu.ac.il
3b. JAFI/WZOWebsites
English bio with photographs: http://www.jafi-ed.org.il/100/people/bios/bg.html
Hebrew: http://www.jajz-ed.org.il/100/hebrew/people/bios/bg.html
Poster image: http://www.jafi.org.il/education/100/IMAGES/MAN8.JPG
BioÖ http://wzo.org.il/home/portrait/bg.htm
3c. Educational Activities
Index of activities, background articles http://www.jafi-ed.org.il/50/act/bg/index.html
Law of Return http://www.jajz-ed.org.il/50/act/shvut/7.html
3d. More Images
PMO:
http://www.pmo.gov.il/PMOEng/Government/Memorial/PrimeMinisters/Ben_Gurion.htm
Ben Gurion Heritage Center (at Sde Boker)
http://www.bgu.ac.il/Ben-Gurion/main.htm
Extensive online photo gallery dedicated to Ben Gurion http://bgarchives.bgu.ac.il/moreshet/ben_gurion/maagar/index.html
Ben Gurion bust
http://www.bgu.ac.il/academinfo/pages/introduction/graphics/ben-gurion_top.gif
See the Ben Gurion Hut also on Sde Boker on Map 17 http://www.eyeonisrael.com
CET/Matach
Search posters [Hebrew] http://www.cet.ac.il/history/posters/
Corbis
Online archive -134 images for Ben Gurion, taken from other sources... you have to do the search yourself! http://pro.corbis.com/search/searchFrame.asp
4a. Biography & Autobiography:
1. St. John, R., Ben Gurion
2. Litvinoff, B., Ben Gurion of Israel
3. Edelman, M., Ben Gurion, A Political Biography
4. Pearlman, M., Ben Gurion looks back
5. Zmora, O., The days of Ben Gurion
6. Bar Zohar, M., The Armed Prophet: A Biography of Ben Gurion(noth: this is the official biography)
7. Comay, J., Ben Gurion and the birth of Israel
8. Ben Gurion, David, Israel - A Personal History - 1971 (Autobiography)
4b. Books by David Ben Gurion:
Rebirth and Destiny of Israel - 1954
Letters to Paula - 1958
Israel's Security - 1960
Israel: Years of Challenge - 1965
The Jewish in their Land - 1966
Memoirs - 1970
My Talks with the Arabs - 1973
Ben Gurion Heritage Center
(at Sde Boker)
http://www.bgu.ac.il/Ben-Gurion/main.htm
Picture of the funeral and Hebrew biography http://www.boker.org.il/meida/negev/negev50/bgu1mn.htm
Extensive online photo gallery dedicated to Ben Gurion http://bgarchives.bgu.ac.il/moreshet/ben_gurion/maagar/index.html
Ben Gurion bust
http://www.bgu.ac.il/academinfo/pages/introduction/graphics/ben-gurion_top.gif
PMO
http://www.pmo.gov.il/PMO/Government/Memorial/PrimeMinisters/Ben_Gurion.htm
JAFI Website
Biography: http://www.jajz-ed.org.il/100/hebrew/people/bios/bg.html
Bet Yatziv
BiographyÖ http://www.edu-negev.gov.il/goel/bet-yatziv/megila/rama2/bg.htm
Snunit
Archive on Zionism and people:
http://www.snunit.k12.il/zion100/nzion100.html
Snunit pages on Ben Gurion/the Negev; most of the links work.
http://www.snunit.k12.il/seder/negev/enter.html
CET/Matach
Search posters [Hebrew] http://www.cet.ac.il/history/posters/