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THE SOUTHERN ISRAELITE November 7, 1986 Page 13 Ben-Gurion’s Zionist vision Living in Israel a must for world Jewry by Richard Bono TSI staff writer The story goes that French President Charles de Gaulle once asked renowned Israeli Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion, “What are your secret dreams?” The reply: “To have more Jews, not more territory, in Israel.” Ben-Gurion told de Gaulle he expected Jews to emigrate to Israel from France, from the United States, from Russia, from Yemen. He expected them to give up their color televisions and Cadillacs. And, using their “faith as their passport,” Ben- Gurion said of Jews in the Dias pora, “Their yearning for their homeland is the greatest force in their lives.” Ben-Gurion’s 35-year-old grandson, Alon Ben-Gurion, con firmed the story during a recent interview with The Southern Israelite. Alon was in Atlanta for an Israel Bonds reception and as a representative of the David Ben-Gurion Centennial Commit tee, which seeks to honor and to celebrate the man. who, more than any other, was responsible for the establishment of the State of Israel, on the centennial of his birth. Last year the Israeli Knesset, in an overwhelming display of unity, proclaimed there would be a celebration of Ben-Gurion, from his 100th birthday on Oct. 19, 1986, until May 4, 1987. Israel’s Independence Day. Alon Ben-Gurion agreed to undertake a month-long excur sion to the United States to pro mote the Centennial celebration. He will visit two dozen cities, speaking to a variety of groups, Jews and non-Jews. Atlanta was his 11th American port of call. The reception here was hosted by the Atlanta Division of New Leadership of Israel Bonds. The force of David Ben- Gurion’s Zionist vision did not culminate with the creation of the State of Israel, historians maintain. In Ben-Gurion’s eyes, they say, the state was never an end in itself. Alon Ben-Gurion agrees. “For Ben-Gurion, for Jews to resettle to Israel was all-import- ant,” Alon said. “To Ben-Gurion, to be a Jew means you live in Israel. ‘It took us 2,000 years to get this piece of land,’ he used to say, ‘now that we have it, come to Israel.’ That’s where he believed Judaism has got to exist.” According to Alon. Ben-Gurion was ashamed of the long period Jews were in the Disapora: “‘What were we?’ he asked. “We were all over the world, begging and fighting for our lives. We didn’t live in our own country. We felt ashamed for those 2,000 years.’ " Alon, who holds a master’s degree in hotel management from Cornell University, is the execu tive assistant manager in charge of food and beverage services for the Tel Aviv Hilton. In fact, it is Hilton International that is sponsoring Alon’s trip to the U nited States, not only to bring the American people some of the essence of his grandfather's vision and values, but also to promote tourism in Israel. “Two years ago tourism was Alon Ben-Gurion the number one industry as far as foreign currency coming to Israel,” Alon noted. “When Americans stopped coming because of terrorism, it hurt. It hurt a lot. It’s not only my job, but 50,000 young Israelis are working in that industry.” Alon said that one trip to Israel is worth a hundred speak ers and books about the Jewish homeland, yet “eighty percent of the Jewish people in the United States do not visit Israel even once,” he said. Drawing on his grandfather’s fierce nationalism, Alon asks, “Who is a better Jew? Is it the Jew in New York, who goes to synagogue three times a day, keeps a kosher home, learns in the Yeshiva, fasts on Yom Kip- pur? Or, is it the Israeli kid, who doesn’t go to synagogue except for his bar mitzva, but when the STEVE GREENBERG INSURANCE 329-0674 (office) 325-6606 (home) Your independent agent who serves the community. PO Dox 5557 Arlonro, 6A 00307 AUTO-HOME-HEAETH-GROUP-UFE-DUSINESS-PERSONAL =^> 364-0100 Grand Opening Plasker Chiropractic Center Located in Cherokee Plaza Shopping Center (on Peachtree between Lenox and Brookhaven) Special Offer Free Consultation $50 examination and X-rays (Offer good through November 30, 1986). m, w, f 9-1,3-7 ' JJ 3 0 T, Th 3-7; Sat. 9-12 chips are down, he goes to war? My grandfather would say the Israeli is the better Jew because to Ben-Gurion Judaism and nationalism goes one with the other.” Biographers and other writers have noted with frustration that little exists on the personal life of David Ben-Gurion. “You and I would think it’s good to go to the movie or the theater or a football game,” Alon said. “Ben-Gurion said it is a waste of time. What he considered his personal life was to build the State of Israel.” The apparent lack of a truly per sonal side to David Ben-Gurion extended into the political realm, according to Alon. “Ben-Gurion never took political attacks per sonally. It was a game. If he believed in an issue, he would go for it with all his guts. But it was never personal.” When Alon was a child, his grandfather was no longer prime minister. Ben-Gurion left office in 1963. He left the Knesset in 1969. “There was a political dispute within his own party when Ben- Gurion left government,” Alon said. “He was pretty much iso lated, so it wasn’t such a big deal then to be the grandson of David Ben-Gurion.” Noting his grandfather’s lone liness on Kibbutz Sde Boker in his later years, Alon commented. “Today they look at him as a legend but then no one wanted to talk to him. Then he was iso lated. Today he is a hero.” When recalling their frequent family visits, Alon noted his grand father’s obsession with reading. For birthdays and other occa sions where there were gifts, Ben- Gurion would always ask, “What kind of book do you want?” according to Alon. “Ben-Gurion did not tell small stories,” he said. “There was never any chit-chat. He would talk to me about history; lecture to me for hours. Always asking ques tions.” Through a child’s eyes, accord ing to Alon, your grandfather is just your grandfather, no matter that he be the prime minister or the president or whoever. But, even as a child. Alon noticed, and later came to appreciate, the awe with which people greeted David Ben-Gurion, whose small frame did not match his presence. “People were in shock. You cannot understand. People just watched him. They could not talk,” Alon said. “If Ben-Gurion walked into a room filled with people talking, they would be so silent when he came in. You’ve got to see it to understand. It’s unbelievable. It was something in the room when he walked in. I cannot express to you the feeling.” The Atlanta Region of Women’s American ORT is proud to be the Hostess Area for the 700 Delegates of the 16th National Board Conference to be held at the Westin Peach tree Plaza November 9 through Nov. 11th. Featuring: • Addresses and reports by Gertrude S. White, National President, Nathan Gould, National Vice President and Reese Feld man, National Executive Committee Chairman. • Banquet and Keynote Address by Daniel Schorr, National Affairs Correspondent for National Public Radio, speaking on his analysis of the recent political elec tions and the effect the growing Funda mentalist Movement has upon them. Fur thermore, he will address the implications of the election results regarding Ameri can foreign policy, domestic issues, women’s issues and human rights. • Informal Fashion Show of ORT students’ fashions from Israel & France. “Improving the quality of Jewish life worldwide through techno logical and vocational education”.