Page 36 - big friday
P. 36
The 37 Signatories on the Scroll
of Independence
T he 37 signatories on the Scroll of Independence, members of the People’s
Council, represented all sectors of the Yishuv (Jewish community in the Land
of Israel) in the pre-state years. With one single exception, none of them had
been born in the land; they had immigrated from ten different countries. They
all had extensive experience in public service. The order of the names below
follows their order of appearance in the Scroll of Independence. First Ben-
Gurion's name appears, followed by the other 36 members of the Provisional
State Council in alphabetical order (in accordance with the Hebrew alphabet).
The names appear here as they do on the Scroll; some of the signatories later
Hebraized their names. The age of each at the time of signing is noted. (Prior
to the establishment of the State, the Provisional State Council was known
as the People's Council, while the Provisional Government was known as the
People's Administration).
David Ben-Gurion
(62). P revious family name: Grün. Born in Poland. Immigrated to
Palestine in 1906. Among the leaders of Po'alei Tzion, Ahdut HaAvoda,
Histadrut HaOvdim (Labor Federation), and Mapai. Volunteered in
the British army during the First World War. First secretary of the
Histadrut HaOvdim, 1921-1935. Delegate to Zionist Congresses.
Chairman of the Zionist Executive and of the Jewish Agency Executive,
1935-1948. De facto leader of the Yishuv – the Jewish population in
the Land of Israel in the pre-state years. Prime Minister of Israel 1949-1963 (excluding
the period between December 1953 and the beginning of November 1955). Called for
development of the Negev, and settled in Kibbutz Sde Boker. Died in 1973.
D aniel Auster
(55). Born in eastern Galicia (then part of the Austro-Hungarian
Empire). Immigrated in 1914 and started out as a teacher. Following
the First World War he settled in Jerusalem, where he lived for the
rest of his life. Alongside his work as a lawyer he was involved with
economic initiatives and political activity. Elected in 1935 as Deputy
Mayor of Jerusalem, and in the years to come, after the establishment
of the state, he was mayor de facto for several years. During the final
months of the British Mandate, the six Jewish members of the city council appointed
themselves as the "Hebrew Jerusalem municipality," and Auster was named mayor. He
served in this capacity until the beginning of 1951. Died in 1963
34 The Friday That Changed Destiny
of Independence
T he 37 signatories on the Scroll of Independence, members of the People’s
Council, represented all sectors of the Yishuv (Jewish community in the Land
of Israel) in the pre-state years. With one single exception, none of them had
been born in the land; they had immigrated from ten different countries. They
all had extensive experience in public service. The order of the names below
follows their order of appearance in the Scroll of Independence. First Ben-
Gurion's name appears, followed by the other 36 members of the Provisional
State Council in alphabetical order (in accordance with the Hebrew alphabet).
The names appear here as they do on the Scroll; some of the signatories later
Hebraized their names. The age of each at the time of signing is noted. (Prior
to the establishment of the State, the Provisional State Council was known
as the People's Council, while the Provisional Government was known as the
People's Administration).
David Ben-Gurion
(62). P revious family name: Grün. Born in Poland. Immigrated to
Palestine in 1906. Among the leaders of Po'alei Tzion, Ahdut HaAvoda,
Histadrut HaOvdim (Labor Federation), and Mapai. Volunteered in
the British army during the First World War. First secretary of the
Histadrut HaOvdim, 1921-1935. Delegate to Zionist Congresses.
Chairman of the Zionist Executive and of the Jewish Agency Executive,
1935-1948. De facto leader of the Yishuv – the Jewish population in
the Land of Israel in the pre-state years. Prime Minister of Israel 1949-1963 (excluding
the period between December 1953 and the beginning of November 1955). Called for
development of the Negev, and settled in Kibbutz Sde Boker. Died in 1973.
D aniel Auster
(55). Born in eastern Galicia (then part of the Austro-Hungarian
Empire). Immigrated in 1914 and started out as a teacher. Following
the First World War he settled in Jerusalem, where he lived for the
rest of his life. Alongside his work as a lawyer he was involved with
economic initiatives and political activity. Elected in 1935 as Deputy
Mayor of Jerusalem, and in the years to come, after the establishment
of the state, he was mayor de facto for several years. During the final
months of the British Mandate, the six Jewish members of the city council appointed
themselves as the "Hebrew Jerusalem municipality," and Auster was named mayor. He
served in this capacity until the beginning of 1951. Died in 1963
34 The Friday That Changed Destiny
