newsletter MAY 2017 | IYYAR-SIVAN 5777 | WWW.ANSHEEMET.ORG 8 8 9 9 we are: we are: youth learners 4 we are: students we are: 12 13 we are: community we are: We are: spiritual family engaged RECONSIDERING THE WORDS OF BEN GURION 62 YEARS LATER: PREPARING FOR YOM HA’ATZMAUT In 1954, when Ben Gurion was Prime Minister, he traveled to the USA to meet with President Eisenhower to request his assistance and support in the early and difficult days of the State of Israel. RABBI MICHAEL S. John Foster Dulles, who was Secretary of State, confronted Ben • How long did it take them before SIEGEL Gurion and challenged him as follows: they got to the land of Israel? Senior Rabbi, “Tell me, Mr. Prime Minister – who do you and your state • What did they eat during the The Norman Asher Rabbinic Chair
[email protected] represent? Does it represent the Jews of Poland, perhaps Yemen, period when they were wandering Romania, Morocco, Iraq, Russia or perhaps Brazil? After 2000 in the desert? years of exile can you honestly speak about a single nation, a • And what happened to the sea when they encountered it? single culture? Can you speak about a single heritage or perhaps a single Jewish tradition?” Once you get the answers to these questions, please carefully reconsider the question that you have just asked me!” Ben Gurion answered him with the same example as he offered the Peel Commission nearly 20 years earlier. As we approach the 69th anniversary of the establishment of the State of Israel, I believe that Jewish children around the world can “Look, Mr.