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the Mandate, we remember with gratitude the vision which accompanied it
at the outset. We remember the nations, great and small, that played their part,
under the auspices of the United Nations, in the international resolution that
confirmed our right to political independence. My heart is with the Yishuv at this
fateful and festive time. May God's blessing be upon you all."
Chaim Weizmann, The First President – a Selection of Letters and Speeches, published
by the State Archive, Jerusalem, 5755
Ben-Gurion's Day
E xcerpt from Prof. Michael Bar-Zohar's biography of Ben-Gurion, in
which he describes Ben-Gurion's activities on that great day – the
day of the establishment of the state.
M ichael Bar-Zohar
Moshe Sharett "couldn't come." The two who did – Zisling and Fishman – approved the
wording after arguing over a brief section that was meant to bridge between the religious
and the non-religious. Rabbi Fishman insisted that mention be made of the God of Israel,
but was agreeable to the formula "placing our trust in the Rock of Israel and its Redeemer".
Zisling, who opposed any religious expressions, demanded that the entire section be
removed. Eventually they both accepted the original formula conceived by the "Old Man" ]
Ben-Gurion] who mentioned only "the Rock of Israel" and stated that each could interpret
this in accordance with his world-view: for the religious, it would mean the God of Israel;
for the secularists, it would mean "the strength of Israel” or “the stronghold of Israel".
The State Council ultimately approved Ben-Gurion's text, which was accepted almost
without amendments, as the official wording of the Declaration of Independence.
We may assume that Moshe Sharett absented himself from the meeting of the
committee because he was offended by Ben-Gurion's criticism and his decision to
"amend" his wording. The next day Sharett told Moshe Gourarie, who had helped him to
polish his proposed text: "Ben-Gurion murdered us," he said, perhaps in jest, perhaps in
A State is Born 21
at the outset. We remember the nations, great and small, that played their part,
under the auspices of the United Nations, in the international resolution that
confirmed our right to political independence. My heart is with the Yishuv at this
fateful and festive time. May God's blessing be upon you all."
Chaim Weizmann, The First President – a Selection of Letters and Speeches, published
by the State Archive, Jerusalem, 5755
Ben-Gurion's Day
E xcerpt from Prof. Michael Bar-Zohar's biography of Ben-Gurion, in
which he describes Ben-Gurion's activities on that great day – the
day of the establishment of the state.
M ichael Bar-Zohar
Moshe Sharett "couldn't come." The two who did – Zisling and Fishman – approved the
wording after arguing over a brief section that was meant to bridge between the religious
and the non-religious. Rabbi Fishman insisted that mention be made of the God of Israel,
but was agreeable to the formula "placing our trust in the Rock of Israel and its Redeemer".
Zisling, who opposed any religious expressions, demanded that the entire section be
removed. Eventually they both accepted the original formula conceived by the "Old Man" ]
Ben-Gurion] who mentioned only "the Rock of Israel" and stated that each could interpret
this in accordance with his world-view: for the religious, it would mean the God of Israel;
for the secularists, it would mean "the strength of Israel” or “the stronghold of Israel".
The State Council ultimately approved Ben-Gurion's text, which was accepted almost
without amendments, as the official wording of the Declaration of Independence.
We may assume that Moshe Sharett absented himself from the meeting of the
committee because he was offended by Ben-Gurion's criticism and his decision to
"amend" his wording. The next day Sharett told Moshe Gourarie, who had helped him to
polish his proposed text: "Ben-Gurion murdered us," he said, perhaps in jest, perhaps in
A State is Born 21
