“In order to be a realist, you must believe in miracles.”—David Ben-Gurion
David Ben-Gurion is often referred to as Israel’s version of George Washington.
To celebrate the yahrzeit of Israel’s founding father and first prime minister, more than 120 organizations across the United States will join the nonprofit Americans for Ben-Gurion University (A4BGU) for its third annual “Ben-Gurion Day in the USA” on Sunday, Dec. 8.
This year’s organizational partners in the Baltimore area include Pikesville’s Chizuk Amuno Congregation and Jewish Educational Services of The Associated: Jewish Federation of Baltimore.
Other partners throughout the state include Ohr Kodesh Congregation-Lifelong Learning in Chevy Chase), Shaare Torah Synagogue in Gaithersburg, Temple Emanuel in Kensington, Rockville’s Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School, the Berman Hebrew Academy in Rockville and Silver Spring’s Kemp Mill Synagogue.
Located in the southern Israeli city of Beersheva and only 22 miles from Gaza, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev was directly and disproportionately affected by the atrocities of Oct. 7, 2023. In massive numbers, BGU community members volunteered in hospitals, aided families of IDF soldiers, and organized logistical operations to circulate critical food and supplies.
This year’s “Ben-Gurion Day in the USA” offers a message of resilience and unity in the face of adversity, rooted in the vision of Ben-Gurion, who died on Dec. 1, 1973, at age 87.
“Ben-Gurion Day” has long been a national day of commemoration in Israel. With this third iteration of “Ben-Gurion Day in the USA,” A4BGU is again inviting Americans to honor the Israeli leader’s spirit of resilience, unity and hope.
A4BGU’s organizational partners — including approximately 75 synagogues, 25 day schools, 10 Jewish community centers and five Jewish federations — are participating in “Ben-Gurion Day in the USA” by engaging with A4BGU’s “Program in a Box,” a free toolkit of resources and activities designed to help communities reflect on the Israeli statesman’s legacy.
The box includes educational tools, posters and a lesson plan to guide participants through discussions about resilience and Israel’s role on the global stage.
“We are gratified to see so many Jewish institutions use ‘Ben-Gurion Day in the USA’ to rally around the theme of Israel’s remarkable resilience in a world indelibly changed by Oct. 7,” said Doug Seserman, CEO of the New York-based A4BGU. “David Ben-Gurion’s historic promise was that Israel would be a light unto the nations. This robust, nationwide participation inspires and empowers A4BGU to lead the way forward in shaping that brighter future.”
This year, “Ben-Gurion Day in the USA” also features a 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 highlighting his leadership during Israel’s early years, and discussions on how his philosophy remains relevant in today’s context.
For information or to register for the webinar, visit BenGurionDayUSA.org. To learn about A4BGU, contact Jason Pressberg at jason@a4bgu.org.
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