Ben-Gurion, the Kibbutznik Who Built Israel

In Israel, in order to be a realist, you must believe in miracles."

David Ben-Gurion

Recently, I visited the grave of David Ben-Gurion in Sde Boker. As Israel’s first prime minister, he led the country through its early years, guiding it through war and uncertainty. Against all odds, Israel survived its war of independence, despite being outnumbered and surrounded by a seven nation army.

Ben-Gurion was a dreamer, a doer, and a believer in the impossible. But what set him apart was his willingness to take action. In 1948, when the British withdrew from the land, most world leaders advised him to wait, warning that declaring independence would bring immediate war. Ben-Gurion didn’t hesitate. He declared the establishment of Israel, knowing full well that within hours, the Syrian, Jordanian and Egyptian armies would invade. His decision changed history.

Despite building one of the most remarkable countries in modern history, Ben-Gurion remained, at heart, a kibbutznik. He was a man who believed in simplicity, hard work, and communal living. The kibbutz is a uniquely Israeli creation, a collective community where members share everything: work, food, and decision-making. The guiding principle of the kibbutz is that cooperation, rather than competition, can build a better society.

Even after leading Israel to victory and shaping its future, Ben-Gurion didn’t retire to luxury or seek endless political power. Instead, he moved to Kibbutz Sde Boker, a tiny community in the middle of the Negev desert. He lived in a modest "hut", without servants, waking up early to work the land alongside other kibbutz members. He truly believed that Israel’s future depended on settling and developing the Negev, and he chose to lead by example.

Ben-Gurion didn’t just dream of a strong Israel, he built it. And when he could have rested on his achievements, he chose to keep building, keep working, and keep making the impossible, possible.