What will allow for a “full recovery” from these atrocities, while providing hope and optimism for the future of Israel and the Jewish people? It may sound cliché to suggest that the solution involves stepping into a time machine, but that’s precisely the way forward. Gleaning inspiration from the vision of Israel’s first prime minister takes us back to the future.
Let’s start with what Americans for Ben-Gurion University (A4BGU) already understood well before October 7th, 2023: David Ben-Gurion’s promise that the future of Israel would emerge from the Negev. In the heart of the desert, where others saw desolation, Ben-Gurion saw the promise of a blooming future. He declared, “It is in the Negev where the creativity and pioneering vigor of Israel shall be tested.”
Today, Ben-Gurion’s vision is actualized through the world-leading research conducted at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) enables the Jewish state 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.
Ben-Gurion’s blueprint also offers a framework for changing the conversation from constantly debating what’s wrong with Israel to rallying around what’s right. Twenty-first century Zionism requires a global enlightenment around Israel’s groundbreaking scientific and technological contributions. That mission begins with the Jewish Diaspora, where the Zionist dream can be revitalized by reimagining it for the modern world. BGU — the largest employer in the Negev region and the beating heart of the region, where education, research, and community meet — is the living laboratory for that revitalization. It’s why I refer to David Ben-Gurion as “the #2 Jew of all time,” as admittedly, #1 goes to Moses. With younger generations of American Jews feeling less connected to Israel, Ben-Gurion’s ideas stand poised to shape the Jewish community’s collective future in a way that arguably no other Jewish leader’s ideology has done.
This was the essence of the way forward until October 6th. Then October 7th amplified the roles of the Negev and BGU as beacons of hope for the future of Israel.
Eighty percent of Israelis killed on October 7th were from the Negev, 2,800 were treated at Soroka University Medical Center and Barzilai Medical Center, and 200,000 Negev residents were displaced from their homes. Within the South, BGU was directly and disproportionately affected by the atrocities in comparison to other universities in Israel. In the University’s community, 115 students, faculty, and staff or their first-degree family members were killed on October 7th or have fallen in service during the war; 42 students were wounded and three are missing or kidnapped; 162 community members were evacuated from their homes in the South; and more than 7,000 have been called to IDF reserve duty, with approximately 910 still serving.
And yet, BGU emerged as a pillar of strength embodying the resilience that David Ben-Gurion envisioned for Israel’s future. In massive numbers, BGU community members volunteered in hospitals, aided families of IDF soldiers, and organized logistical operations to circulate critical food and supplies.
Today, as we face new and evolving challenges, David Ben-Gurion’s core messages call us to reflect on our own strength and unity. That’s why A4BGU, on December 8th, will mark the third annual Ben-Gurion Day in the USA as an affirmation of the timeless values of Israel’s first prime minister and the spirit of resilience that defines Israel today.
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.
At the same time, A4BGU’s organizational partners — including approximately 75 synagogues, 25 day schools, 10 JCCs, and five Jewish Federations across the U.S. — are participating in Ben-Gurion Day in the USA by engaging with A4BGU’s “Program in a Box,” a free digital toolkit of resources and activities 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.
As American and world Jewry remain focused on the way forward for Israel in a post-October 7th world, they should look no further than the ideas of the modern state’s founding father. That’s because David Ben-Gurion takes us back to the future.
