1868 - 1945. Alfred Mond, 1st Baron Melchett, was a British industrialist, politician, and Zionist activist in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Alfred Mond. Source: Wikipedia, public domain. Alfred Mond played a significant role in the chemical industry's development. He was involved in the family business, Brunner Mond & Company. This business later merged to form Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI), one of the largest chemical companies in the world. In addition to his industrial pursuits, Mond entered politics and became a Member of Parliament. He held various government positions, including Minister of Health and First Commissioner of Works. In recognition of his achievements, Mond was elevated to Baron Melchett in 1928. Alfred Mond was also a fervent Zionist supporter. Due to his close relationship with Arthur Balfour, he helped shape the Balfour Declaration in 1917, which advocated for a homeland for the Jewish people in the Land of Israel. In 1921, he visited the Land of Israel, under British rule at that time, with Chaim Weizmann. In 1925 he was appointed as a member of the first Board of Trustees of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem which had just been established, headed by Weizmann. Mond contributed financially to the Jewish Colonization Corporation and became President of the British Zionist Foundation. In 1928, with the help of other British investors, he purchased 2,500 dunams of agricultural land in the Sharon area, north of Kfar Saba. An agricultural settlement was established and called Tel Mond. He also built Villa Melchett on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. You can learn more about this house in this YouTube video . Mond's significant contribution to Zionism was his active support for Pinhas Rutenberg. Rutenberg received exclusive concessions from the British Government for electricity production and distribution in Palestine. Mond played a key role on the Palestine Electric Company Board, advocating for its interests in London's political and industrial circles. Mond's legacy is commemorated in Israeli cities, includig Tel Aviv , with streets named. Sources: https://he.wikipedia.org/wiki/אלפרד_מונד https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=waANmZNkroQ&t=6s

Kaveret (meaning beehive in English) was an Israeli rock band formed in 1973, and active until 1976. The band is considered one of the most popular ones in Israel. Its members were Danny Sanderson, Gidi Gov , Yitzhak Klefter, Alon Olarchik, Meir Fenigstein, Ephraim Shamir and Yoni Rechter. Most of them met during their IDF service in the Nahal Music Band. After the band's breakup, its members continued independent careers and released solo albums. Sanderson and Gov continued working together on the successful bands Gazoz and Doda . All these artists and other bands have reached legendary status in Israel, and almost every Israeli has heard their songs. Their albums were characterized by a light melodic rock style rich in humor, which quickly entered the core of the Israeli mainstream. They all had significant commercial success and even reached cult status. Albums: Sipurei Poogy ( YouTube Link ), Pugi BePitah ( YouTube Link ), Tsafuf BaOzen ( YouTube Link ). Below are their most famous songs, helpful to learn Hebrew , with their YouTube links: Medina Ktanah , Natati La Khaiai , Shir HaMakolet , Hi Kol Kah Yaffa , Shiur Moledet (also performed by many other artists), Leh Saper Lasavta . On this link , you'll find a short play they did, full of Israeli references and word games, introducing the Medinah Ktana song. Some of their songs are available on our Spotify playlist (The Classics).

The Status-Quo Agreement, initially established through a letter on the 19th of June 1947, was an understanding reached with religious parties prior to the formation of the State of Israel. In this letter addressed to the Agudat Israel Party , Ben-Gurion (chairman of the Jewish Agency), Rabbi Yehuda Leib Maimon, and Yitzhak Greenboim outlined the protection of specific Jewish laws in the future state. The agreement ensured the observance of Shabbat, adherence to Jewish dietary laws (Kashrut), maintenance of family laws such as marriage and divorce under rabbinical courts, and the autonomy of Orthodox Jews to educate their own according to their beliefs, as all Jews. Ben-Gurion also guaranteed that the State would respect the religious philosophy and conscience of all Jewish people and not infringe upon them. Ben-Gurion sent this letter, which later evolved into an agreement. This was while the United Nations Special Committee on Palestine investigated the political future of Palestine after the British decided to end their administration under the mandate. Ben-Gurion, as the representative of the Jewish community in the Yishuv, aimed to assure the United Nations representatives from 11 countries that a Jewish State would uphold freedom of conscience and practice for all Jews, irrespective of their individual practices. He also pledged that the Jewish State would include non-Jewish citizens with equal rights, free from coercion or discrimination. Thus, the Jewish Agency, speaking on behalf of the future Jewish state, had no intention of establishing a theocracy. The Jewish community in the Yishuv consisted of diverse groups with varying religious beliefs. While most supported the idea of a Jewish-majority state, there were significant political differences, particularly due to the influx of newly arrived immigrants. Also, a significant divergence has emerged between ultra-Orthodox Jews and Zionists. The Haredim didn't accept the idea of a non-religious Jewish state imposed by secularists before the Messiah's coming. Ben-Gurion didn't want religious opposition to the existence of the Jewish State and negotiated in 1947 a compromise, called the Status Quo. After successfully reaching a compromise among different Jewish religious streams, Ben-Gurion had to address a political civil war in June 1948, immediately after independence was declared. He convinced militant Zionists to abandon their loyalty to the Irgun and instead dedicate themselves to the newly formed Israel Defense Forces. Ben-Gurion's ability to prevent two types of Jewish civil wars allowed Jewish forces to overcome much larger Arab armies and succeed in the War of Independence. Since the establishment of the Status-Quo Agreement, highly religious and strongly secular Jewish communities in Israel have continued to contend over political prerogatives, government funding, and personal privileges in the same four areas outlined by Ben-Gurion: observance of kosher laws, civil jurisdiction, education, and Sabbath observance. The document does not address various contentious issues commonly associated with the status quo today: exemptions from military service for yeshiva students and religiously observant girls, the interdiction of pig farming, El Al flights on the Sabbath, archaeological excavations, autopsies, and abortion. Religious parties raised these issues only after the original status quo agreement. They reflect the Orthodox parties' desire to extend their influence beyond the initial parameters of the status quo agreement. Sources: https://knesset.gov.il/main/eng/trivia/trivia_details_eng.asp?t_id=16#:~:text=What%20is%20the%20%E2%80%9Cstatus%20quo,Yitzhak%20Greenboim%20to%20Agudat%20Yisrael . https://israeled.org/resources/documents/david-ben-gurion-and-the-status-quo-agreement-jewish-laws-to-be-protected-in-the-coming-state/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Status_quo_(Israel)

A Kibbutz (meaning in Hebrew "gathering") is a form of cooperative settlement unique to Zionism, correlated to the Yishuv and the State of Israel. It is based on Zionist aspirations for renewed settlement in the Land of Israel and on socialist values. The kibbutz is usually a small settlement with several hundred residents, and its livelihood comes from agriculture and industry. The typical kibbutz was formed as a closely knit social grouping, sharing all property and means of production and labor. It also provided for all the needs of its members. As Israel evolved into a more liberal economy, many ideologically based aspects of the kibbutz vanished. The first "kibbutzim" were established long before Israel's creation, the first being Deganya Aleph (close to the Kinneret), founded in 1910. A resident or member of a kibbutz is called a "Kibbutznik". A Moshav is an agricultural or rural settlement, where there is no economic partnership between residents, with other cooperative characteristics, such as mutual guarantees and community management. In contrast to the original kibbutz, the family is an independent economic unit that operates within mutual aid rules. Each seat member is assigned a plot, usually for agriculture. Today, in some of the moshavim additional people live, who are not members of the cooperative framework and are referred to as residents. The Moshavim were originally developed by the Zionist socialist parties (Poale Zion and Ha'poel Hatzaïr , then Mapai ). Most of them received land allocated to them by the State / Yishuv institutions. The first Moshav, Nahalal (near Afula), was established in September 1921. A resident or member of a Moshav can be called a "moshavnik". Sources: https://embassies.gov.il/MFA/AboutIsrael/Maps/Pages/Kibbutz-and-Moshav.aspx#:~:text=A%20%22moshav%22%20is%20a%20unique,various%20elements%20of%20mutual%20assistance . https://milog.co.il/ Wikipedia

Etzel : Ha-Irgun Ha-tsvai Ha-Leumi b-Eretz Israel National Military Organization in the Land of Israel Also called, Ha-Irgun . The Etzel was an underground military organization that operated in the Yishuv from 1931 to 1948. It aimed to protect the Jewish population of the Land in Israel, fought against the local Arab population, carried out acts of retribution, defense, and even terrorism, and fought the British mandate. Terrorism? The British Mandate government and the United Nations considered the Etzel to be a terrorist organization. Some of the organization's opponents in the Yishuv shared this statement (like the Jewish Agency), as well as other associations such as the Anglo-American Committee of Inquiry and international newspapers. The symbol of the organization underneath a hand holding a rifle in the foreground of a map showing both Mandatory Palestine and the Emirate of Transjordan (at the time, both were administered under the terms of the British Mandate for Palestine ). Its motto was רק כך (In Hebrew ''Rak Kah'', meaning only thus / only that way). History The Etzel was founded in 1931 by retired commanders from the " Haganah " who wanted to promote a more aggressive front in the struggle against the Arabs in the country . They opposed the Histadrut's dominance over the Yishuv. Some were also affiliated with the Revisionist Party, which was founded by Jabotinsky . His first leader and founder, Avraham Tehomi, was among other things, the one who assassinated one of the local Agudat Israel leaders in 1924 (Jacob Israel De Haan), for actively promoting an alliance with the Arabs against the Zionists. In 1937 the Etzel split up, and many of its members returned to the Hagana ranks, under the Jewish Agency's leadership. From then on, the Etzel was completely identified with the Revisionist Movement (which has strongly influenced modern right-wing parties, principally Herut  and its successor Likud ) , and Beitar, with Ze'ev Jabotinsky as the organization's founder and leader, until he died in 1940. Jabotinsky formulated the movement's ideology and inspired the organization overall. During this period, the number of operations and attacks carried out by the organization against the Arab population in Israel increased. Following the publication of the "White Book" in May 1939, the Etzel focused on attacking British targets. In September, World War II broke out, and Jabotinsky decided to stop fighting Britain and support it in the campaign against Nazi Germany. The decision led to the founding of the Lehi ( Lohamei Herut Israel , "Fighters for the Freedom of Israel) after several Etzel members protested against the decision to stop fighting the British. In 1943, the movement declared a rebellion against the British mandate and attacked its facilities. This was due to Britain's policy of limiting immigration while Jews were massacred in Europe. The Zionist leadership in the Land Israel asked that the Etzel refrain from attacking the British as long as they fought the Nazis. The Etzel refused, and it was decided to stop his activities by force. In November 1944, for about half a year, the Haganah members waged war against the Etzel members who refused to listen to the Yishuv's leadership. Some Etzel members were even kidnapped and handed over to the British. This short period is considered one of the lowest periods of the Jewish settlement. In July 1946, the Etzel blew up the King David Hotel in Jerusalem , killing 90 people (including Jews, Arabs, and British). Over the years, the British captured and imprisoned hundreds of Etzel members. Some were executed and many were exiled to detention camps in Africa. On the occasion of the Declaration of Independence , the commander of the Etzel, Menachem Begin, stated in his speech that the organization would stop its activities in the newly formed country and respect its government. He said: ''במדינת ישראל נהיה חיילים ובונים''. ''BeMedinat Israel Nihiye Hayalim vebonim''.* "In the State of Israel, we will be soldiers and builders." About a month later, in June 1948, the Altalana affair shocked Israeli opinion. The newly formed IDF bombed the ship carrying weapons and immigrants sent by the Etzel to Israel's shores. However, the Irgun personnel were integrated into the IDF and fought in the War of Independence. That same year, in the newly formed country, Menahem Begin founded the Herut party, succeeding the Etzel organization and embodying the Revisionist vision. Sources: * https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irgun https://www.nli.org.il/he/discover/israel/israeli-history/resistance-movements/irgun https://www.jabotinsky.org/ארכיון/חיפוש-פשוט/פריט-ארכיון/?itemId=103000

Haim Nahman's Bialik is considered one of the pioneers of Hebrew poetry and participated in the revival of the Hebrew language. In the following links, you will find YouTube videos with Bialik's poems interpretations. The songs are the backbone of Israeli culture and have several interpretations by many artists. Many of the children's songs below have become the soundtrack of childhoods for many children in Israel . The song for kids: Shtei Banot, Tsili VeGuili (Two little girls, Tsili and Gili) Kumi Tzei (Come out) Bein Nahar Prat lenahar Hidkl (Between the Euphrates and Tigris rivers) First interpretation by several singers Second interpreattion by Ofra Haza Tirza Yafa (Beautiful Linden) First interpreattion by Arik Einstein Second interpretation by Haparvarim The song for kids: Makhelat Nognim, Yossi Bakinor (A band of musicians, Yossi with the violin). The song for kids: Parash, Ruts Ben Susi (Run my little horse). The song for kids: Nadneda (Seesaw). One of his most famous poems, El Hatzipor, has a dedicated page here .

1826 - 1882. Charles Netter was a French businessman and a founding member of the Alliance Israelite Universelle. He is also known for being the founder of Mikveh Israel, the first modern Jewish agricultural settlement in the Land of Israel. Charles Netter in 1850. Source: Wikipedia (AIU Library), public domain. Born in Strasbourg (France) in 1826 to a Rabbinic lineage, Netter's educational journey took him through Strasbourg, Belfort, and later, into the business realms of London, Moscow, and Lille, before ultimately settling in Paris. In Paris, in May 1860, amidst rising antisemitism, including the Damascus affair where Moshe Montefiore intervened to free falsely accused Jewish prisoners of killing a Christian Monk, Netter joined five others to establish the Alliance Israélite Universelle (AIU). One of their objectives was " To create a society of young idealist and militant Jews that feel solidarity with all those who suffer from their condition as Jews or all those who are victims of prejudice, regardless of their religion." The AIU's motto is "Kol Yisrael Arevim Ze Laze". You can explore the dedicated article about this motto and its impact on Israeli society by clicking on the following link . Netter was appointed general secretary of the newly formed organization. In 1868, he embarked on his first voyage to the Land of Israel, commissioned by the AIU to assess the needs of the Jewish local population. Propelled by his findings, he advocated for the creation of a new agricultural settlement, intended to serve as an educational hub for Jewish men. In 1870, Mikveh Israel was established, though its early years were fraught with challenges. The concept of an agricultural school was innovative in the Land of Israel and met with suspicion. Arab neighbors, fearing competition, encroached upon the land, sabotaged it, or stole agricultural equipment. Recruiting agricultural instructors in both Israel and the diaspora proved difficult. The social status of farmers in the Land of Israel was low due to the generally low status of agriculture. Jews of the " Old Yishuv " feared that support for the new school would come at the expense of the Haluka (funds coming from abroad to help the local communities and traditional institutions) and declared a ban on the school, claiming it would be secular. The name of the school is taken from the Biblical Verse, from the Book of Jeremiah (17:13): "O Lord, the hope of Israel (Mikve Israel - מִקְוֵה יִשְׂרָאֵל ) , all who forsake you shall be put to shame; those who turn away from you shall be written in the earth, for they have forsaken the Lord, the fountain of living water." Netter managed the school until 1873, and he injected personal finances and rallied support from fellow philanthropists (Including Edmond de Rothschild and Cremieux) to maintain the settlement. He overcame the difficulties of establishing and maintaining the settlement, but after a short period, his health deteriorated. Heeding medical counsel, Netter returned to Europe but remained ardently engaged in fundraising efforts and AIU initiatives, including safeguarding the Jewish community in Morocco and facilitating the emigration of Russian-Jewish refugees to North America. In 1882, Netter facilitated the settlement of the Biluim in the Land of Israel and played a pivotal role in educating members of the first Aliyah. Tragically, during a visit to Mikveh Israel that same year, he passed away in Jaffa on October 2nd. He was laid to rest in Mikveh Israel, his tombstone a testament to his enduring legacy as a pioneer of Jewish agriculture in Israel. His impact is commemorated through streets bearing his name in Israeli cities like Haifa , Tel Aviv , and Jerusalem . Additionally, Kfar Netter, a moshav founded in 1939 by Mikveh Israel graduates, stands as a tribute to his visionary leadership. Source: https://he.wikipedia.org/wiki/קרל_נטר

In Hebrew: Meshel Haagala hameleah veHaagala hareikah The parable of the full cart and the empty cart is the name given to an opinion expressed by the Chazon Ish to Israeli Prime Minister Ben-Gurion, to explain the ideal relationship seculars and religious should have. On October 20, 1952, during the coalition negotiations to form the fourth Israeli government, David Ben Gurion met Hazon Ish in his house in Bnei Brak. According to Yitzhak Navon, Ben-Gurion 's assistant (and future President of Israel), the Prime Minister initiated the meeting after he realized the Rav was the main source of authority on Religious Parliament members and practitioners. Such authority over others intrigued him, and he asked to meet with him. The purpose of the visit was a general exchange of views on the problem: how religious and non-religious people can live in coordination and cooperation in the State of Israel. The question of recruiting girls into the IDF was not discussed at all and the visit had nothing to do with current political affairs. According to Navon's report, Ben-Gurion asked : "I came to talk to you about one issue. How can religious and non-religious Jews live together in this country, without exploding from within? Jews come here from many countries, by the hundreds and thousands, with diverse traditions, cultures, and views. The State is in external danger, the Arabs still want to destroy us, and we must find everything that is common between the parts of the people. And there is a fundamental problem: these are Jews and these are Jews, so how will they live together?" The Chazon Ish replied to him with a parable (sourced from the Babylonian Talmud, Tractate Sanhedrin), known as the parable of the empty cart : "If two camels meet on the road in a lane, and one carries a load, and the other does not, the one who does not carry a load must make way for the camel that is loaded. We religious Jews are likened to a camel that is loaded - we have a lot of mitzvots. We have the burden of a lot of commandments. You have to clear us the way". Ben-Gurion reacted indignantly to the claim about the empty wagon: "Is settling the land not a mitzvah? Is it not a burden? Is protecting life not a mitzva? And what of the boys, whom your people object to: they sit on the borders and guard you. Is this not a mitzvah?" And the Chazon Ish replied : " Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain. " (Psalm 127:1). The official announcement by the government to the press said that the purpose of the visit was a general exchange of views on coordination and cooperation between secular and religious groups in the State of Israel. Contrary to the initial announcement, this meeting had more significance than just a "general exchange of views." During the meeting, the Prime Minister took a step towards yeshiva students by agreeing to maintain a limited exemption from military service for them. In fact, as early as February 1948, an agreement was reached to provide a limited exemption for ultra-Orthodox youth from military conscription. Then, on January 9, 1951, the Prime Minister ordered the Chief of Staff to exempt yeshiva recruits from regular service. While the meeting between Ben Gurion and the Chazon Ish did not establish the ultra-Orthodox exemption, it did provide a significant boost to this controversial arrangement. Additionally, it carried symbolic support, which was no less significant. Nowadays, mentions of these 'carts' frequently appear in the news, often referring to who carries the empty cart and who carries the full one. This metaphor is widely used by secular groups in Israeli society to advocate for a more balanced distribution of responsibilities, or 'equality in burden' (שוויון בנטל - Shivion BaNetel). Sources: https://he.wikipedia.org/wiki/משל_העגלה_המלאה_והעגלה_הריקה https://blog.nli.org.il/hazon_ish/

1886 - 1973. David Ben-Gurion (born David Grun) was an Israeli politician and the first Prime Minister of the State of Israel. Born in Poland, he grew up in a Jewish Zionist family. His father was a Hebrew teacher and member of the Hovevei Zion movement. As a young teenager, David established the "Ezra" youth group for Zionist education and the renewal of the spoken Hebrew language. He emigrated to the Land of Israel in 1906, when the region was part of the Ottoman Empire. He first worked in agriculture in Petah-Tikva , Kfar Saba, Rishon Letzion , Rechovot, and Sejera (Ilania). He joined the Poalei Zion, a Zionist socialist party. In 1910, he became a journalist for the party's newspaper in Jerusalem and adopted the Hebrew name Ben Gurion. The name was inspired by Josef Ben Gurion, a Jewish leader who fought against the Romans in the year 66. In 1912, he studied law at the University of Istanbul, the capital of the Ottoman Empire. He wanted to forge links with the future Ottoman elite to make them more favorable to the Zionist project. In 1914, at the start of World War 1 , Ben Gurion stuck to a loyalist attitude towards the Empire and promoted it within the Yishuv . After the United States entered the war and the Balfour Declaration , he distanced himself from the Ottoman Empire. In 1917, he married Paula, and joined Jewish units formed by the British army to wage war in the area. In 1919, Ben Gurion participated in the creation of the Ahdut Ha'avoda (Labor Unity), the socialist Zionist party that succeeded the Poale Zion. In 1921, Ben Gurion was elected secretary general of the Histadrut ("General Association of Workers of Eretz Israel"). His leadership was efficient, but sometimes authoritarian. Ben Gurion speaking at a foundation ceremony at the Histadrut Building in Jerusalem, 1924. Photo: Israeli Government Press Office He played a decisive role in the merger of Ahdut Ha'avoda and Hapoel Hatzaïr , Zionist left movements, to create a new political party called Mapai . Also, as one of the leaders of the right-wing of Zionist socialism, he opposed non-Jewish workers (Arabs) from being part of the Histadrut. In 1935, he resigned from the Histadrut, became president of the Jewish Agency, and became the main leader of the Yishuv. At that time (1939), the British published their third “White Paper”, limiting the Jewish population in the Land of Israel to 75,000 Jews. Ben Gurion managed the Yishuv's opposition to this policy, and in the years following, to the British mandate as a whole. Illegal immigration was carried out through the Mossad Aliyah Beth. The British and the Zionist movement had a worsening relationship. In 1942, Ben-Gurion demanded a Jewish State for the whole Land of Israel , which meant the British had to leave. Earlier, in 1937, the Peel Commission proposed a plan where the British wanted to retain a portion of the Land of Israel under their control, leaving only 15% for the Jews. Additionally, a divergence has arisen between ultra-Orthodox Jews and the Zionists. The Haredim didn't accept the idea of a non-religious Jewish state imposed by secularists before the Messiah's coming. Ben-Gurion didn't want religious opposition to the existence of the Jewish State and negotiated in 1947 a compromise, called the Status Quo . On May 14th, 1948, in the middle of the War of Independence, David Ben-Gurion read, in Beit Dizengoff in Tel Aviv , the Declaration of Independence of the State of Israel ( YouTube video here ). Video below. From the days of the World Zionist Conference in 1920 in London, until the founding of the State of Israel, Ben-Gurion participated in all important decisions of the Zionist movement: As a delegate at the Zionist congresses, as a member of various committees, and as the Chairman of the Jewish Agency in Jerusalem. On the 26th of May, he created the IDF (Tsahal), which gathered the different Jewish forces: the Hagana , the Lehi, and the Irgun. Later, he also dissolved the Palmach, Hagana's elite unit. From 1948 to 1953, Ben Gurion served as Israel's first Prime Minister. This period was marked by a significant influx of Jewish refugees . A lot came from Europe. Another significant part came from Arab countries. Their integration will be difficult. Many consider this issue one of Ben-Gurion's main failures. The other major issue was Israel's security . Attacks by Arab refugees were frequent and some of them were backed by the neighboring Arab countries. Ben Gurion kept the defense portfolio and encouraged reprisals. Military cooperation between France and other Western countries helped Israel get arms and the Atomic bomb. He worked intensively to ensure Jerusalem's status as the capital of Israel. About a year after the War of Independence, he initiated the decision to move the Knesset and all of the government offices to Jerusalem. He claimed that this move would abolish the demand to internationalize Jerusalem, a demand that kept appearing in various international contexts. His attitude toward Jerusalem was most likely influenced by the fact that the Old City was lost to Israel during the War of Independence. In December 1953, David Ben-Gurion announced his retirement from the Prime Ministership and settled in Kibbutz Sde Boker in the Negev . This step was intended to create a settlement boom in the Negev, based on his vision. Some say that it was a calculated act, to show that it is not possible to run the country without him and to receive more power upon his return. Moshe Sharet was appointed as his replacement. Indeed, after almost 2 years of absence, he came back to his functions in 1955, until 1963. During this period, David Ben Gurion: Organized the 1956 Sinai War against Egypt, in response to Egyptian threats to destroy Israel. The war was a military success: Sinai was occupied and Ben Gurion planned to keep it. However, with the opposition of the United States and the Soviet Union, Sinai was returned to Egypt in 1957. Set in motion the process to establish diplomatic ties with West Germany. Favored rapprochement with Turkey and signed an economic and military agreement. In 1963, Ben Gurion resigned again from the government due to political pressure and recommended Eshkol as his successor. In 1965, a Mapai conference revealed Ben-Gurion's minority support, leading to his retirement from Mapai and the creation of RAFI with notable members like Shimon Peres and Moshe Dayan. In the November 1965 elections, RAFI won only 10 seats compared to Mapai and Ahdut Haavoda's 45. In December 1967, RAFI members joined Mapai and Ahdut Haavoda to form the Labor Party, Haavoda. David Ben Gurion remained a Knesset member until 1970. He retired at age 84 and died in 1973 at age 87. Sources: https://he.wikipedia.org/wiki/דוד_בן-גוריון https://knesset.gov.il/vip/bengurion/eng/BenGurion_Bio_eng.html https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/select-quotations-of-david-ben-gurion

1859–1924. Rabbi Yaakov Mazeh served as the government-appointed chief rabbi of Moscow. Rav Yaakov Mazeh in 1910. Source, Wikipedia, public domain. Born in 1859 in Mogilev, Belarus, Mazeh's family name is an acronym signifying their lineage as Kohanim: MiZera Aharon Hacohen (from the seed of Aaron the Priest). Following the early passing of his father, he was raised by his maternal grandfather. His education was comprehensive, encompassing both religious and secular studies. He graduated from Moscow University's law school and briefly practiced law. He supported the Hovevei Zion ideology and even created a Zionist association. In 1884 he was one of the founders of the circle "Bnei Zion" together with Menachem Ussishkin and Hichiel Chelanov. In 1890, he organized a group of capital owners in Odessa for settlement in the Land of Israel, traveled to the Land of Israel, and purchased the land of Mahanaim in the Galilee region. Due to financial difficulties, the land was sold to Baron Rothschild. In 1893, Mazeh was appointed by the Russian government as the Rabbi of Moscow, a position he held until his passing on December 19, 1924. That same year, under his encouragement, a circle of Hebrew language enthusiasts began to operate in Moscow. Mazeh gained fame in the Jewish world for his courageou s testimony in the Beilis trial (a Jewish man falsly accused of ritual murder in Kiev) in 1911-1913 , where he defended the accused alongside  Israel Gruzenberg , showcasing his impressive rhetorical skills. At one of the court sessions, when Rabbi Mazeh was asked to describe the variety of Jewish people, he said: “There are the Sabbathists – who come every Shabbat to Shul. There are the Yomtovists, who come about five times a year to Shul – on the holidays. There are the Yahrzeitists, who come twice a year to say Kaddish. And there are also the Pogromists, who come every time there is a pogrom; that’s when their Jewish spark that loves its nation and its homeland awakens.”* After the February Revolution in 1917, Mazeh was chosen to represent the Jewish list at the All-Russian Democratic Conference. In 1923, he protested against attempts to close the Great Synagogue in Moscow. In 1924, Mazeh met with Lenin in an attempt to stop the pogroms in Ukraine and the persecution of Jews in the Soviet Union. Maza Street in Tel Aviv and streets in Herzliya, Netanya and Holon were named after him. Sources: https://he.wikipedia.org/wiki/יעקב_מזא%22ה * https://www.chabadbasel.com/templates/blog/post.aspx?aid=2570355&postid=46840&p=1&lang=de

Ha'poel Hatzair is the first Zionist socialist party founded in the Land of Israel in 1905 by Russian Jewish immigrants. The party's goals were Zionism's realization and the creation of a working Hebrew society. The party considered it a duty to embrace productive (industrial and agricultural) labor work in settlements and to work on Hebrew language revival. Hapoel Hatzair settled on land bought from Arab landowners , with the help of the Jewish National Fund ( KKL ). Its members were among the first settlers in Kibbutz Degania and in Moshav Nahalal (North of Israel) and had a large role in the establishment of the Agricultural Histadrut. The party did not rely on a parent party from abroad. Party members rejected Marx's theory and class struggle, and opposed participation in international socialist organizations. In 1923, the party changed its attitude to socialism and the international workers' movement. It even sent observers to the International Socialist Congress in Hamburg. In 1930, the party merged with Ahdut Ha'Avoda to form the “Workers’ Party of the Land of Israel” (Mapai, Mifleget Poalei Eretz Yisrael), which went on to dominate Israeli politics for several decades. A few decades later, in 1968, Mapai merged with other left-wing parties to create the current Israeli Labor Party (HaAvoda). Source: https://he.wikipedia.org/wiki/הפועל_הצעיר

The Workers Party of the Land of Israel Established in 1930, the Mapai party resulted from the union of two parties: Ahdut HaAvoda and HaPoel HaTzair . The left union was not complete, as Hashomer Hatzair and Poalei Zion Smol (Left) were left out of the union. Throughout its existence, Mapai was the largest, strongest, and most dominant party on the political map. During the British Mandate , it controlled the main institutions, the Zionist Congresses, and the Histadrut labor federation. The Histadrut was founded in 1920 by socialist parties. During its first decade, it established economic and governmental institutions. It became a sort of 'State within a state' under British mandate rule. It founded Bank Hapoalim (under Berl Katznelson 's influence), an insurance company, an agricultural company, and cooperative institutions. It even had its own newspaper (Davar), a theater, a youth movement, and a sports organization. It also established large enterprises and entities such as Solel Boneh, HaMashbir (chain of department stores), the General Health Insurance Fund, and Mishaan (retirement homes). During the Yishuv period, the leaders of Mapai were David Ben-Gurion , Berl Katznelson, and Haim Arlosoroff. Mapai also forged its military power. Its men were at the head of the Haganah and even regulated Jewish Brigade recruitment according to quotas. Mapai, led by Ben-Gurion, has been preparing itself for the establishment of the state for about a decade. From the decision to fight against the British mandate, the agreement to the partition plan, to the preparation of the War of Independence, Mapai worked as a ruling party. Each of these decisions involved a difficult internal battle. The British-oriented Chaim Weizmann harshly criticized the fight against the British. Divisions occurred between those who supported the integrity of the land, those who supported a binational state, and those who denied the establishment of the state. As the British mandate neared its end, Mapai emerged as the entity in charge. In the precursor to the Knesset, known as the "People's Council," Mapai held the majority, and in the "People's Administration," it had four out of thirteen members. Before announcing the State of Israel, doubts arose within Mapai and the People's Administration regarding this step's viability and potential rejection. Threats of invasion by Arab armies and wavering support from the United States caused prominent Mapai members to oppose an immediate independence declaration. However, on May 11, 1948, the Mapai central committee met to support an immediate declaration in line with Ben-Gurion's position. The final vote favored declaring the state by a majority of six to four. After the establishment of the State of Israel, Mapai assumed a central position in the Knesset , in the government, in most local authorities, and in many other institutions and organizations. The main challenge faced by Ben-Gurion and Mapai was transitioning from a voluntary settlement to a State. Transitioning to official institutions and imposing opinions on residents was difficult. In Mapai itself, left-wing voices arose, especially from Ahdut HaAvoda which maintained its organizational framework. The retirees united with "Poalei Zion Smol" and "Hashomer Hatzair" to form another political party called MAPAM . During the first election campaign in January 1949, Mapai won 46 delegates, while Mapam got 19. Herut (right) received 14, and the "United Religious Front" 16. Ben-Gurion made an important decision regarding the first coalition. He formed a coalition that relied on religious and liberal support. This government was assigned considerable and difficult tasks. The war had to be ended, and while preserving its achievements, it was necessary to absorb hundreds of thousands of immigrants, Holocaust refugees, and expatriates from Arab countries, and establish the governmental institutions of the new state. In its early years, the country made significant decisions and achievements, such as reparations agreements, economic policies, absorbing mass immigration, and building up the military. Mapai played a central role in making these decisions. Mapai also conducted an effective campaign against Menachem Begin's Herut party. Mapai's support bases included the Histadrut, the cooperative settlement movement ( moshavim ), and the collective settlement movement ( kibbutzim ). Four Prime Ministers - David Ben-Gurion, Moshe Sharett , Levi Eshkol , and Golda Meir - were from Mapai. Mapai’s security policy was also pragmatic compared to its sister parties in Europe, due to Israel's unique security problems. This position made it easier for Mapai to form coalitions with right-wing parties. On matters of religion and state , the party supported maintaining the status quo . This meant integrating religious and ultra-Orthodox concepts and populations into Israeli society while opposing a state governed by Jewish law (Halacha). In December 1953, David Ben-Gurion announced his retirement from the Prime Ministership to settle in Kibbutz Sde Boker in the Negev. This step was intended to create a settlement boom in the Negev in the spirit of his vision. Some say that it was a calculated act, to show that the country cannot run without him. In addition, it was thought that he would receive more power upon his return. Moshe Sharet was appointed his replacement. After almost 2 years of absence, David Ben-Gurion came back to his functions in 1955, until 1963. In the elections in July 1955, he was the head of Mapai's list. Mapai went to the elections with a program that called for the establishment of Olims, economic security, the settlement of empty areas, the development of agriculture, supervision of armistice agreements, the elimination of transit camps, and maintaining the Histadrut's independence. After Ben-Gurion's return from Sde Boker, his rule was no longer disputed. Both within and outside his party, no leadership figure has arisen to challenge him. Menachem Begin was not seen as a ruling option in those days and people like Yigal Alon were seen as too young to reach leadership. In these years, the country has reached many achievements. The Textile Factory (if you know, you know) was built in Dimona, the economic situation improved, and Mapai's situation improved from election to election. In the elections of November 1959, the party reached 47 Knesset members. The slogan "Say yes to the old man" ("Ken LaZaken") conveyed stability and economic security. In 1961, Ben-Gurion announced his resignation from the Prime Ministership due to "disgraceful business". He felt that he was no longer able to manage the country as in the old days. After his retirement took place in 1963, he recommended Eshkol as his successor as Prime Minister. In February 1965, a Mapai conference convened to discuss the unification with Ahdut Haavoda and the establishment of a Legal Investigation Committee. As soon as the conference convened, it became clear that Ben-Gurion's people belonged to the "minority" camp, while Eshkol's people were the "majority." In June 1965, Ben-Gurion announced his retirement from Mapai, and the creation of the List of Israeli Workers (RAFI) . The list was joined by "Ben-Gurion youths" like Shimon Peres, Moshe Dayan, Teddy Kolek, Yitzhak Navon, and Yosef Almogi. In the November 1965 elections, Rafi was severely discriminated against and won only 10 mandates. This was compared to 45 mandates given to the unified list of Mapai and Ahdut Haavoda. In December 1967, Rafi members decided to join Mapai and Ahdut Haavoda in the "alignment" (Ma'arach) and unite with them into one party - the Labor Party, Haavoda. The official union occurred in 1968, and Golda Meir was appointed party secretary general. Mapai ended its time as a single ruling party. Sources: http://www.zionistarchives.org.il/en/datelist/Pages/Mapai.aspx https://en.idi.org.il/israeli-elections-and-parties/parties/mapai/ https://he.wikipedia.org/wiki/מפא%22י