16.11.2026

David Ben-Gurion (1886-1973) came to Eretz Israel with the Second Aliyah, was head of the leadership of the "Emerging State," and the leader and promoter of the establishment of the State of Israel. He announced the State’s establishment, after which he led the new country for about 15 years, from 1948 to 1963. In 1935, as part of the 19th Zionist Congress, Ben-Gurion was elected Chair of the World Zionist Organization and the Jewish Agency. In this position, he worked to advance the Jewish Yishuv, the aliya of Jews to Israel and the establishment of settlements. During World War II, David Ben-Gurion established a Jewish unit in the British Army, the Jewish Brigade. With the establishment of the State, Ben-Gurion served as the Prime Minister and the first Minister of Defense of the State of Israel and was one of the leaders of the Labor movement. David Ben-Gurion died in 6 Kislev, 5734 (1974).