Ben-Gurion: A Biography

by Michael Bar-Zohar

Draws extensively on Ben-Gurion's detailed journals, private papers, government files, and previously unavailable records to present a comprehensive biography that offers revealing information about the former Israeli Prime Minister's personal and political life

Genres: Biography, Israel, Politics, History, Middle East

Hardcover

First published August 1, 1971

About the author

Professor Michael Bar-Zohar was a member of Knesset (Labour) and wrote the official biography of David Ben Gurion. He has written thirty non-fiction books, and has been translated into sixteen languages, winning many international prizes. He is currently working on a biography of Shimon Peres.

Has written under the pseudonym Michael Barak.

Reviews

[Jonathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Probably the best English-language biography of Israel's first Prime Minister, Michael Bar-Zohar was Ben Gurion's official biographer and, as such, had access to all of BG's personal papers, letters, and his vast diary. We really get to know both the leader and politician and the inner man. David Ben Gurion was one of the greatest national leaders of the 20th century (ranked right up there with Ataturk, De Valera, Ho Chi Minh and Churchill); who led his people's struggle for independence in the shadow of the Jewish People's greatest catastrophe, and then established and commanded the nascent Israeli state and its War of Independence. If this weren't enough, he then ran the country during its stressful early era of economic austerity and the doubling of its population as many thousands of Jews returned to their ancestral homeland. 'Stressful' also characterizes the contact sport-like atmosphere of Israeli politics, and BG was certainly in the thick of it as he had to deal with obstreperous coalition partners, outraged opposition politicians and less-than-loyal fellow members of his own party. Ben Gurion was nothing if not a hands-on type of leader: Golda Meir once remarked that he gave his political colleagues the impression that he didn't really need them. In the midst of it all, he left politics to set a personal example of making his home in a remote Negev desert kibbutz. He was part of a generation of giants that has passed from the scene, but Ben Gurion's work is still with us, and his life story is one worth knowing, if not emulating. A first-class biography.

[Daniel Bogorad · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every Israeli citizen should read this book, which provides a look into the life of the founding father of Israel and puts it in the historical context of the Zionism before the independence and the events that led to the eventual founding of Israel, and it's first years of existence. This book paints a picture of a brave, decisive and wise statesman who is completely devoted to his people, but it also does more than that, in my opinion.

The book presents the currents that shaped the Israeli society from before the independence and during Israel's first years - namely, the different movements and parties that make up the mix that is the Jewish people in Israel - be it European refugees, tough local Sabras, Immigrants, Religious and Secular people, Socialists, Conservatives, Revisionists, and so on. Each with their own outlook, leaders and influence. I was surprised to see how much of the political challenges and points of tension that are relevant today and that shape our society, actually had their origins in Israel's first years, and that in some aspects, little has changed.

A great read overall, which I really enjoyed.

[جبرئیل · Rating 3 out of 5]

English adaptation of the original 3-volume hebrew book.

This is my 5th or 6th read on the region and conflict.

Whenever I read anything about Jews or Christians, I do not abstain from ‘reading it in context of the Hadith’:
“You will surely follow the ways of those who came before you, inch by inch and step by step, so much so that if they were to enter into a lizard’s hole, you would follow them.”
The Companions asked, “O Messenger of Allah, do you mean the Jews and Christians?”
He replied, “Who else?”
(Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 3456; Sahih Muslim, Hadith 2669)



This is a biography as half-dictated to the author, making it a kind of autobiography of David Yusuf Gruen.

This book splits open all the lies, and confusions, that are peddled at people, “the propoganda”. It strips naked all the whitewashing done by people like Jordan Peterson. It reveals all the tactics of illogically labelling those who speak truth as “conspiracy theorists”.

If you have seen the interview of Netanyahu with Jordan Peterson, you will enjoy the book alot.

Recognising Theodor Herzl as “the Messiah”, David Ben-Gurion, was taught Hebrew by his grandfather, was injected with Love for Zion by his father, when they all were still in Russia.

“the Lovers of Zion wove naive dreams of the Return to Zion, delivered enthusiastic Zionist orations, recited edifying verse, collected donations, and swore their allegiance to their ancestral homeland.”
“” "It was from my father that I inherited my love for the Land of Israel... and for the Hebrew language." But it was his grandfather, Zvi Aryeh, who actually taught him Hebrew.””

The first Premier & founder of state of Israel, the Quaid-e-Azam of Israel, crystallised the ideology of settling in Palestine when he was young:
**"In my eyes," he later wrote to his father, "settling the land is the only true Zionism, and all the rest is self-deception, empty talk, and a sheer waste of time."**

You will see with your eyes how the Young David fought with all his heart to revive the Hebrew, the dead Bible, how he struggled to place and push it back up, into the hearts of young jews.

**"We shall endeavor to combine Torah with learning... To exalt our holy language and Hebrew literature, which, to our regret, our present-day intellectuals. disperse as the wind... old and outworn they call it."**


You will see how empires are looked up-to, how important was Caliphate, not some 1000s of years ago! But just 3 generations ago! Just 3! when you see young Gurion striving to get an Ottoman citizenship, studying in House of Wisdom, and preparing all fellow jewish intellectuals to assimilate in Ottoman culture, wearing Fez, in an effort to get Palestine reserved for jews from under Ottomans. The Only purely Jewish city in the world was thriving under the Ottoman Caliphate,

**“Ben-Gurion had been developing the idea of "Ottomanization", namely, that the Jews of Palestine should renounce their foreign citizenship and become subjects of the Ottoman Empire. This would enable them to work towards the realization of their aims within legal and governmental channels. Accordingly, it was essential to establish a leadership that spoke Turkish and knew Ottoman law, and Ben-Gurion decided that the next step in his life must be the study of law and of the Turkish language.”
“He chose to study in Salonika because the cost of living there was far lower than in Constantinople and, in his own description, because "Salonika was a purely Jewish city. In those days, the only Jewish city in the world."”**


You will also see the catastrophe of Muslims, the disorganisation in them, the penetration of secular thought in them, the greed and selfishness of pity little kingdoms, the King of Jordan. The lack of a higher vision, a supreme goal.

“But the Arabs were disorganized. A motley mixture of bands operated throughout the country without any coordination and sometimes in open mutual hostility, due to the scheming of Arab rulers. King Abdullah of Transjordan planned to annex the whole of the area allocated for the Arab state to his own kingdom. He did not want the mufti to emerge victorious and was not inclined to help him. Abdullah even conducted secret negotiations with representatives of the Jewish community.


You can see and learn how Gurion revived the Jews, through immense education, through rigorous research, publications and books. Through travel and connecting the Diaspora. All driven by the seeds of Love for Zion sown by his father and grandfather.

**Ben-Gurion devoted thirteen hours a day to research in the New York Public Library.
"Almost every day the man sits next to me and reads. Naturally, I am curious to know what he is reading. And I see that the books are extraordinary treatises: histories of the American parties, practical guides in the technique of conquest of the masses, practical books about the administrative apparatus, and so on."**



You would recognise the sacrifices one must make, the devotion one must have, to raise community at large:
**“Whether as a worker or as a lawyer, I have but one single aim: to serve the Jewish worker in the Land of Israel. That is the content of my life; to this I shall devote myself wherever I may be. This task is sacred to me; I shall find my happiness in fulfilling it.”**

Is this not what we are required of???

Qul inna ṣalātī wa nusukī wa maḥyāya wa mamātī lillāhi rabbil-’ālamīn.

“Say, ‘Indeed, my prayer, my rites of sacrifice, my living and my dying are for Allah, Lord of the worlds.’”
Surah an’aam, ayah 162


War is a bloody matter, quoting the hadith “indeed, War is deception.”, it defines future of millions of people. The future Founder of state of Israel, until the very last moments, was aiming to work under and with, the Ottomans.

**“The whole settlement project was in danger of destruction. In London and Cairo, Zionist leaders called upon Palestinian Jews to take the side of the Entente Powers. Ben-Gurion and Ben-Zvi were furiously opposed to these appeals. Above all, they feared that the Turks would wreak their vengeance upon the Jews of Palestine by deporting them en masse. Ben-Gurion and Ben-vi quickly joined the Ottomanization Committee established in Jerusalem and obtained permission to recruit a Jewish militia to defend Palestine.”**


And then You will see him getting banned from Ottoman Empire when he was found to be aiming to break it down through nationalism.
You will see him farming in farms of Palestine, you will see the Zionists plotting false operations to remove Arabs from their positions, replace them illegitimately. You will see them getting arms. You will see the deception they create so casually, you will learn to recognise their pattern.

**“if the partition resolution were not to the liking of the Zionist leadership, the latter would attempt to extend the boundaries of the Jewish state. The phrase "we shall not lay down territorial boundaries" spoke for itself.”**

You will see how illegally and forcefully the jews were pumped into the land. You will see the devotion of Jews towards a plan. You will see million dollars of illegal arms being shipped to ports of Haifa. You will see the terrorism of Jews, disguising themselves as Muslim Arabs and blowing up British routes, so the Britain cracks down on Muslims, under the Mandate. You will see the weaknesses and lies, piled up.

**“Irgun & Hagana squads blew up British intelligence headquarters all over the country, attacked police stations, and assassinated British officers. Disguised as British soldiers or policemen, or as Arabs, they stole weapons from British camps and took hostages.”**
"Why didn't you liberate the whole country?" The Old Man replied: "There was a danger of getting saddled with a hostile Arab majority... of entanglements with the United Nations and the Powers, and of the State Treasury collapsing. Even so, we liberated a very large area, much more than we thought. Now, we have work for two or three generations. As for the rest - we'll see later.”

You will see how Israel was threatened and bullied by United States, until it proved itself and seduced it into being the sugar daddy, hence the billions of dollars of fundings.

**“He therefore wanted to place the principal stress on convincing the United States to make Israel into "the base, the workshop, and the granary" of the Middle East. "Granting bases to friends and allies does not harm our sovereignty," he said. "... We have to explain [to the Americans] that the whole of Israel - strengthened, in military and industrial terms- is a base.. available to the free world on a day of need."**


You will see how any tyrant occupying force inherently needs everyone to be a tyrant alongside them for their survival, you will see to what lengths these humans can go:

**“Ben-Gurion was well aware of the danger Israel would face if France withdrew from Algeria and did his best to prevent such a withdrawal, but he failed. When he presented his Algerian plan to de Gaulle, the French president replied:
"My God, you are trying to establish a new Israel in Africa!" "Yes!" replied Ben-Gurion, "but there is one difference: that'new Israel' will be backed by France, with her forty-five million inhabitants and her alliances with the Western countries."**


You will see how True is the Quran and how true it is about the Yahood, the majority of them and the minority of them. When you see Gurion breaching the agreements he himself made, time and time again.

**“Ben-Gurion phoned Dayan directly. “How was the ceasefire broken, and who did it?” Dayan did not answer. “That reply is also sufficient,” the old man noted. He understood that it was Israel which had broken the cease-fire, and once again, he was furious. Up until then, he had badgered Dayan to attack the Golan Heights. But the moment a cease-fire was agreed upon, he changed his mind and opposed any further operations. That evening, an aide of Dayan came to his home and told him of the Syrians’ consent to a cease-fire and Dayan’s decision early in the morning to attack the heights. “That was a great mistake, not preserving the cease-fire with Syria,” he grumbled. “We have no need of the heights, because we won’t remain there. The principal error is that we disobeyed the Security Council’s order needlessly. We will have to fight for more vital things, and it is not necessary that our enemies learn that “we broke our word.” Ben-Gurion overlooked the fact that he himself had acted similarly, both in the War of Independence and during the Sinai Campaign. After the radio announced that the U.S.S.R. had severed diplomatic relations with Israel, he wrote. “This is the outcome of the needless continuation of the battles in Syria! It is impossible to deceive the whole world.” That evening, the Golan Heights were occupied, and the Six Day War came to an end””**



I’ll stop here. You need to read this.
I recognise the charisma of this character, the intellect, timing, effort and the passion.
But now I also recognise the lies, deceptions, treachery and the illegitimacy.

[Relstuart · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I've read books that mentioned Ben-Gurion this is the first book centered on his life I've read. Interested in that he was born in Russia in a mainly Jewish village and his father talked about how wonderful it would be if the Jews had their homeland back and could live in their own land. He adopted this dream and moved to the Palestine before the Russian revolution and lived in poverty farming and going to school. He was an inveterate reader. But more, he dedicated his life to the vision of creating a Jewish nation. He worked towards that in political parties. He was shy and quiet until he had to speak. Then he was a forceful speaker passionate speaker who became a skilled orator with practice. It took the sacrifice of many people to bring Israel into the world as a nation. But, it is possible without Ben-Gurion it would not have happened. He took the lead when others did not have a vision and made people consider daring options that lead to the creation of the nation. He was the main author of their declaration of independence. To understand the story of the nation of Israel coming back into being one must understand the story of Ben-Gurion.

Many people in the world may now think of the USA as close friends with Israel. And, there is no doubt Israel has many friends in the USA and always has, but the US government has not always been friends or helpful to Israel, especially in the early years after Truman left office.

Two things of note/quotes stood out to me while reading I highlighted in my copy of this:

The first was Ben-Gurion's attitude towards affairs by married men in positions of authority/influence. Ben-Guion believed that that the love affairs of a public figure were no sin, no do they harm a man's public image (in the figures ability to serve the public). In response to a letter from an irate husband accusing one of Ben-Gurion's top generals of seducing his wife he wrote, "I hope that you will not be angry with me, if I make a distinction between the intimate, personal aspect, and the public side... Not only in our times, but in the previous generations and even in ancient times. A distinction was made - and such a distinction must be made - between the two planes... A man can be an ascete and a saint all his life and be unfitted for public tasks; and the opposite is also possible." Ben-Gurion cited King David and Admiral Nelson as two examples and went on to say that the secret intimate life of a person does not determine their standing in society and that great men and women's private and public lives make run on parallel planes but never meet.

This idea is interesting as it flies in the face of the now more popular notion that tends to think that someone who is not faithful in their personal life cannot be trusted in their public life. I suspect the truth lies somewhere in between thinking of these two possibilities as absolutes in every case and situation.

The second stand out portion was discussion of FDR and his relations with the Arabs. Ben-Gurion believed that had FDR remained president thru the end of WWII and when the question of whether Israel could create their own nation that he would have opposed the formation of the Jewish nation based on his promise to Ibn Saud that the US would not undertake any action hostile to the Arab people when Saud visited the US and spoke to FDR about the situation with the Jewish question.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ben-Gurion is complex to say the least. Israelis are argumentative to say the least. Reading this book provides a foundation on which to build one's knowledge of Israeli history but only if you know that its position is open to debate and knowing Israeli history requires that debate.

I am very respectful of Michael Bar-Zohar, his research and his writing style. But as I have just said, I am only at the beginning.

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just finished Ben-Gurion by Michael Bar-Zohar. I never tire of reading books focused around the founding of the modern State of Israel. Indeed, one of the book's disappointments is not exploring how Ben-Gurion unilaterally picked the Jewish State's name when he announced its independence of May 15, 1948. I have often wondered why it was named Israel rather than after Israel's more successful sister kingdom, Judah. Indeed, we call ourselves Jews after the kingdom of Judah.

This book is a miraculous story about a miraculous man. Compared to most authorized biographies it is far from a hagiography. It does not elevate Ben-Gurion in death above what he was in life. Indeed, the description of the Lavon Affair and the beginning of his tragic, though inevitable decline was brutally honest.

A few quibbles. Like most biographies this book spends too much time on the subject's younger days, which were just not that different from other people's younger days. Like books about other prominent statesmen, too much time is spent discussing tawdry extramarital affairs, and the ebb and flow of marriages.

I will not spoil the book for others. The real shame is that most newly independent countries, after WW II, could not have been blessed with a totally incorruptible man of courage and, despite flaws, decency.

[Amy Goldman · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought all along it could have been better edited. I’m not Israeli and I’m not a particularly detailed oriented person and this book was VERY detail oriented, which made it a difficult read given I didn’t know the story of many of the people who play a large part in Ben-Gurion’s political life. I learned a lot and Bar-Zohar gives a very real picture of Ben-Gurion, the good and the bad. It certainly did not seem a blessing to be a member of his family. I thought it was a fair representation of Israel’s beginning and the wars fought, to which I learned a lot as I thought it was always Israel protecting herself and not initiating unnecessary attacks to which I was wrong. A true sense of his relationship with many international people, the shocking lack of support of the US in establishing the state of Israel and the close relationship Israel had with France. Ben-Gurion was truly a pioneer, a genius, an intellect, capable of learning beyond my wildest dreams. Glad he was not my father!

[Yossi Khebzou · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bar-Zohar paints a very complete image of Ben-Gurion in this classic about “the Old Man.” The author depicts The First Prime Minister of Israel objectively, with his flaws and virtues, good and bad decisions. It also follows a fine train of thought, and one can get an insight of Ben-Gurion’s thought processes. Its depiction of the building of Israel alliances with the West is particularly interesting. The only “negative” I found it’s that it’s very detail and military-oriented. However, that doesn’t stop it from being captivating. If you want to get a good and complete introduction to David Ben-Gurion’s character, this is a must read.

[Minh Khue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vị cha già dân tộc, người khai sinh đất nước và là thủ tướng đầu tiên của Israel. David Ben Gurion là hiện thân rõ nét nhất của dân tộc Do Thái. Dù ban đầu là người không có tổ quốc, cũng không được sinh ra tại vùng đất Palestin nhưng bằng niềm tin sắt đá vào chủ nghĩa phục quốc Do Thái, sức lao động cùng quyết tâm chính trị, bằng nghị lực phi thường và cả những ý tưởng táo bạo ông là người đặt nền móng cho nhà nước Israel hiện đại, dẫn dắt đất nước đi qua những thử thách khó khăn nhất trong giai đoạn đầu lập quốc. Để hiểu được gốc rễ của nhà nước Israel, hiểu về con người Do Thái cùng những thành tựu đáng kinh ngạc của họ bạn không thể bỏ qua tác phẩm này.

[Manikandan VR · Rating 5 out of 5]

The right man at the right time at the right place

Very rarely in history has the above combination happened. Very few would have the guts and foresight to take apparently unpopular but decisions for the greatness and security of the nation and its people. I came across a saying that Israel is an article of faith so it is bound to survive and achieve greatness. We can modify it to Israel is an article of Faith and Ben Gurion.

For the story of Ben Gurion is the story of the modern state of Israel.

[Trọng Tùng · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book i ever read in my life

[daniel dirnfeld · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book

Is pretty interesting everything Israel has to go through to where is today.Even though I prefer begin politics Ben Gurion commuted a crime with the Yemenite Jews

[Edwin Ortiz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent very readable biography..

The author delves into the first prime minister David Ben-gurion and his life . a tale told briskly with many interesting facts .

[Stan Manilov · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it.

[Anup Narayanan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A true depiction of the man's life and views. Made me more curious and started exploring more about him.

[Santhosh Kumar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Right man at right time in right place

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am reviewing how I feel about this book after reading it for a 2nd time:

Michael Bar-Zohar has given us a clear and compassionate portrait of a true patriot and leader devoted to his country. Probably there are versions that differ, perspectives that contradict but in this version, we are introduced to a fearless man who never turns his back on doing his homework. He was tireless and never gave up until he wore himself out.

[Daled · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting in background of Ben-Gurion--tied to birth of Israel, and parallels between then and now.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding. Well written, and from a fascinating perspective. The only shortcoming, IMHO, is that there was very little information on his personal & family life. But, a very worthwhile read.