Details
[ISRAEL]. BEN-GURION, David (1886-1973), Prime Minister of Israel. Autograph letter signed ("D. Ben-Gurion") to Heidi Allen, Tel Aviv, 9 July 1963. 2 pages, 8vo, on rectos only, envelope, small tear in upper right corner of page 1,, otherwise fine.
THE RECENTLY RETIRED PRIME MINISTER DISCUSSES JUDAISM
A fine letter written only one month after Ben-Gurion stepped down as Prime Minister of Israel. Responding to Allen's letter inquiring about aspects of Judaism, Ben-Gurion clarifies his view of the faith: "In my view the essence of the Jewish religion was expressed in two sentences by our prophet Jeremiah. He said: 'Thus says the Lord: Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, let not the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches; but let him who glories glory in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices kindness, justice and righteousness in the earth; for in these things, I delight, says the Lord' (Jer. 9.-23-24)." On the theological differences with Christianity, he writes: "According to our faith God was never incarnate, for he is not flesh, always invisible and incomprehensible; no human being can perceive or see him. Jesus was a great Jew, but born as all human beings, by a father and a mother. The words of Isaiah (7-14) were wrongly interpreted...There it is said; 'behold a young woman shall conceive [and] bear a son, his name shall be Immanuel.' It was never a virgin...." Ben-Gurion concludes with an appeal to peace and acceptance: "To love thy fellow man 'like yourself' - this is [the] main commandment of God and of all great religions."
Ben-Gurion was an integral part of the creation of the modern state of Israel, having been the president of the Mapai, or labor party, from 1930 to 1965. After independence in 1948, he was head of the provisional government and served as Prime Minister of Israel from 1949 to 1953 and again from 1955 to 1963.
THE RECENTLY RETIRED PRIME MINISTER DISCUSSES JUDAISM
A fine letter written only one month after Ben-Gurion stepped down as Prime Minister of Israel. Responding to Allen's letter inquiring about aspects of Judaism, Ben-Gurion clarifies his view of the faith: "In my view the essence of the Jewish religion was expressed in two sentences by our prophet Jeremiah. He said: 'Thus says the Lord: Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, let not the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches; but let him who glories glory in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices kindness, justice and righteousness in the earth; for in these things, I delight, says the Lord' (Jer. 9.-23-24)." On the theological differences with Christianity, he writes: "According to our faith God was never incarnate, for he is not flesh, always invisible and incomprehensible; no human being can perceive or see him. Jesus was a great Jew, but born as all human beings, by a father and a mother. The words of Isaiah (7-14) were wrongly interpreted...There it is said; 'behold a young woman shall conceive [and] bear a son, his name shall be Immanuel.' It was never a virgin...." Ben-Gurion concludes with an appeal to peace and acceptance: "To love thy fellow man 'like yourself' - this is [the] main commandment of God and of all great religions."
Ben-Gurion was an integral part of the creation of the modern state of Israel, having been the president of the Mapai, or labor party, from 1930 to 1965. After independence in 1948, he was head of the provisional government and served as Prime Minister of Israel from 1949 to 1953 and again from 1955 to 1963.