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By Jacob Kamaras
David Ben-Gurion, the man largely known for declaring Israel’s independence at an art museum in Tel Aviv, also declared that “the future of Israel lies in the Negev” and that “the people of Israel will be tested in the Negev.” More than one year on from the October 7th Hamas terrorist attacks, the words of Israel’s founding prime minister are proving more prescient than ever.
Understanding Israel’s future requires a look into its past. But 1948 should not be the only foundational year in modern Israeli history that we inextricably associate with Ben-Gurion. The other is 1953, when he resigned from the prime minister’s office and moved to his retirement home in the Negev desert kibbutz of Sde Boker.
Sde Boker—not Tel Aviv or Jerusalem—is where Ben-Gurion began implementing his blueprint for Israel’s future. It is where he worked to make the desert bloom by revitalizing the towns surrounding the kibbutz.
“The desert provides us with the best opportunity to begin again,” he wrote. “This is a vital element of our renaissance in Israel. For it is in mastering nature that man learns to control himself…The trees at Sde Boker speak to me differently than do the trees planted elsewhere. Not only because I participated in their planting and in their maintenance, but also because they are a gift of man to nature and a gift of the Jews to the compost of their culture.”
Today, David Ben-Gurion’s vision is carried out on a broader scale at the academic institution bearing his name, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU), where world-leading research enables Israel to fulfill its promise as a “Migdal Or” (beacon of light) by helping solve humanity’s biggest challenges such as climate change, water scarcity, cybersecurity, AI, robotics, global health, marine biology, and more. In fact, BGU’s water research is what inspired former San Diego residents Dr. Howard and Lottie Marcus to make the largest-ever philanthropic gift in Israeli history, $500 million in 2016.
Then on October 7th, 2023, the people of Israel were tested in the Negev — just as Ben-Gurion predicted.
Eighty percent of the Israelis killed in the October 7th attacks were from the Negev, while close to 3,000 were treated at Soroka University Medical Center (BGU’s teaching hospital) and Barzilai Medical Center, and 200,000 Negev residents were displaced from their homes. The atrocities disproportionately impacted the BGU community compared to other universities in Israel, with 115 people killed (including fallen soldiers, faculty, students, and first-degree family members), 42 students wounded, to three students missing or kidnapped (and one hostage who was rescued, Noa Argamani); to 162 students, faculty, and staff evacuated from their homes; more than 7,000 community members called to IDF reserve duty; 35 bereaved students; and 44 survivors of the Nova Music Festival massacre.
And yet, BGU is simultaneously rising to the challenges of this moment by spearheading Israel’s rebuilding and recovery. In massive numbers, BGU community members volunteered in hospitals, aided families of IDF soldiers, and organized logistical operations to circulate food and supplies. On a parallel track, Americans for Ben-Gurion University (A4BGU) is galvanizing American supporters of the University into action through its leading role in “Way Forward”—BGU’s landmark $1 billion global fundraising campaign to strengthen the future of Israel through the South, with the University as the region’s anchor institution and engine for growth.
“On October 6th, it was already evident that the future of Israel is in the South and that Ben-Gurion University would drive that future. On October 7th, BGU’s community was disproportionately affected by the attacks. In the days that followed, the University began demonstrating just how vital it is to the remarkable resilience of the entire nation,” said Doug Seserman, CEO of A4BGU.
All of which brings us to December 8th, 2024—A4BGU’s third annual “Ben-Gurion Day in the USA,” with this year’s observance focusing on resilience and unity in the face of adversity amid the ongoing aftermath of October 7th, rooted in the increasingly relevant legacy of David Ben-Gurion.
Ben-Gurion Day has long been a national day of commemoration in Israel, honoring the founding prime minister’s vision and legacy. A4BGU is once again bringing this important day across the Atlantic, inviting American Jews to join in honoring Ben-Gurion’s spirit of resilience, unity, and hope in the face of challenges.
For San Diegans who already have an affinity for southern Israel due to the local Jewish Federation’s longtime sister-city relationship with Sha’ar HaNegev, A4BGU’s observance provides a new touchpoint for cultivating that region-to-region connection. Ben-Gurion Day in the USA 2024 features an engaging webinar hosted in partnership with the Ben-Gurion Heritage Institute, focusing on Ben-Gurion’s teachings on resilience. The webinar will feature rarely seen archival documents that highlight his leadership during Israel’s early years, and discussions on how his philosophy remains relevant in today’s context. Experts will offer reflections on the lasting impact of Ben-Gurion’s vision for Israel’s future.
Additionally, organizational partners across the U.S.—including approximately 75 synagogues, 25 day schools, 10 JCCs, and five Jewish Federations—are participating in Ben-Gurion Day in the USA by engaging with A4BGU’s Program in a Box, a free resource designed to help communities reflect on Ben-Gurion’s legacy. The box includes educational tools, posters, and a lesson plan that will guide participants through meaningful discussions about resilience and Israel’s role on the global stage.
Seserman believes that Americans who have a special place in their heart for George Washington also stand poised to find one for Israel’s founding father.
“Americans are familiar with both fact and fiction about George Washington. However, many American Jews know much less about David Ben-Gurion,” Seserman said. “Ironically, in their times, they both faced similar challenges—formidable enemies, internal rivalries, immigration, economic woes, and many other issues that continue to impact our two great nations. Both Washington and Ben-Gurion assumed the mantle of leadership during challenging times to help form new, independent democracies. Today, we continue to benefit from both their vision and the structures they helped conceive for the benefit of their people.”
He added, “Particularly in this time of uncertainty, their legacies offer much to celebrate. And their memory gives us hope for the future of the United States and Israel.”
For more information on Ben-Gurion Day in the USA, or to register for the webinar, please visit: BenGurionDayUSA.org
As the torchbearer of a new 21st century unifying vision for Israel, Americans for Ben-Gurion University (A4BGU) builds a movement of Americans who are committed to improving the world. This mission is rooted in the pioneering spirit of David Ben-Gurion, who envisioned that Israel’s future would be emerge from the Negev. Today, that vision is manifested in the cutting-edge research carried out at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU), resulting in scalable solutions for all of humanity in water conservation, environmental science, medical research, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and more. Lead the way forward with A4BGU by supporting the campaign to raise $1 billion by 2030 to transform the Negev: americansforbgu.org/way-forward/
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