Based on archival material, this intriguing book examines David Ben-Gurion’s influence on the relationship between the state of Israel, the Zionist Organization and American Jewry between 1948 and 1963 when he served as Prime Minister and Minister of Defence. The author discusses how Ben-Gurion was largely instrumental in forming Israel’s policies throughout the first two decades of the country’s existence and, due to his position, personality and prestige, he was able to influence the fashioning of political structures as well as their content.
The book discusses both the political motives of the leaders and the ideological discourse, in order to understand their dependency and to highlight their significance in the terms Diaspora and exile, the centrality of the State of Israel, and the role played by the Jews of America. As such this will be of great interest to scholars of Middle East Studies, Jewish Studies, and ethnicity and nationalism.
Introduction: Ben-Gurion, Zionism and American Jewry before Statehood Part 1: Establishing Consolidating the State, 1948-1953 1. The First Year of Independence, 1948-1949 2. The Way to the ‘State of Israel Bonds’ Campaign 3. Zionism for the Present Time, 1951 4. Legislative Issues Part 2: After Resigning from the Premiership, 1953-1955 5. A Zionist Preacher Part 3: Second Term in Office, 1955-1963 6. The Sinai Campaign 7. Ben-Gurion and the Intellectuals 8. End of the Ben-Gurion Era
Biography
Ariel Feldestein
