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arrived in Tel Aviv we went right away to Ben-Gurion. Ben-Gurion was alone in
his office. They left me space to sign, in the second column, at the top. Although it
wasn't the official ceremony, I was quite moved. I recited the "Shehehiyanu" blessing,
and signed."
14. Rachel Kagan: " Like a bride under the wedding canopy"
R epresentation of the "weaker" sex among the signatories on the Scroll was rather
scarce. Only two women were members of the People's Council: Rachel Kagan
(representing the WIZO list and the Women's Union for Equal Rights) and Golda
Meyerson (Meir) of Mapai. What they shared was their attendance at the declaration
ceremony by dint of luck.
Mrs. Kagan was brought from Jerusalem on the last plane before the declaration,
and arrived in Tel Aviv following a fascinating flight via Jericho. In fact, this plane
had been meant for Mr. Eliyahu Berlin, but he fell suddenly ill, so his seat became
vacant. Ms. Kagan recounts, "I was notified at the last minute that I could go; I flew
out immediately, without even taking anything…"
A s a veteran fighter for women's rights, Mrs. Kagan permits herself to emphasize
the "feminine" aspect of her experience of the declaration ceremony: "On my way
from the JNF building to the museum, I took a taxi. The driver was actually… a red-
headed woman who I happened to have travelled with previously. For some reason
I had the sense that she was a sort of third partner; feminine reinforcement to the
signatories. Nevertheless, I can't say that during the ceremony I felt specifically like a
woman. I just asked myself, by what right have we (not 'I'!) achieved this? And it was
clear to me that it was by virtue of the nation having remained loyal to its land for
thousands of years of exile, and I felt that it was being given to us not only by virtue of
the blood that would be shed, but also by the blood that had been shed."
We asked Mrs. Kagan to recall some details of the appearance of the museum on that
occasion.
"I remember that all the pictures were covered - perhaps because there were
also some that were slightly 'problematic'; and the unnatural light that gave an air
of unreality to everything. I also remember very clearly the dress I wore on that
occasion. It was a simple blue dress, with a white collar, with a pin. Nothing special.
It was the style they used to sell then, but there was something about it that suited it
to the festive feeling. Since then I have worn it on special occasions, although it's no
longer quite so fashionable."
T he Member of Knesset speaks about her feelings at the moment of the signing
itself in her soft Russian accent: "Firstly, I signed 'Kagan' and not 'Cohen' because in
Russian there is no letter for 'h'. I wanted very much to add my maiden name, too.
It was a momentary hesitation – to add 'Lubarsky,' or not? I wanted my father's name
56 The Friday That Changed Destiny
his office. They left me space to sign, in the second column, at the top. Although it
wasn't the official ceremony, I was quite moved. I recited the "Shehehiyanu" blessing,
and signed."
14. Rachel Kagan: " Like a bride under the wedding canopy"
R epresentation of the "weaker" sex among the signatories on the Scroll was rather
scarce. Only two women were members of the People's Council: Rachel Kagan
(representing the WIZO list and the Women's Union for Equal Rights) and Golda
Meyerson (Meir) of Mapai. What they shared was their attendance at the declaration
ceremony by dint of luck.
Mrs. Kagan was brought from Jerusalem on the last plane before the declaration,
and arrived in Tel Aviv following a fascinating flight via Jericho. In fact, this plane
had been meant for Mr. Eliyahu Berlin, but he fell suddenly ill, so his seat became
vacant. Ms. Kagan recounts, "I was notified at the last minute that I could go; I flew
out immediately, without even taking anything…"
A s a veteran fighter for women's rights, Mrs. Kagan permits herself to emphasize
the "feminine" aspect of her experience of the declaration ceremony: "On my way
from the JNF building to the museum, I took a taxi. The driver was actually… a red-
headed woman who I happened to have travelled with previously. For some reason
I had the sense that she was a sort of third partner; feminine reinforcement to the
signatories. Nevertheless, I can't say that during the ceremony I felt specifically like a
woman. I just asked myself, by what right have we (not 'I'!) achieved this? And it was
clear to me that it was by virtue of the nation having remained loyal to its land for
thousands of years of exile, and I felt that it was being given to us not only by virtue of
the blood that would be shed, but also by the blood that had been shed."
We asked Mrs. Kagan to recall some details of the appearance of the museum on that
occasion.
"I remember that all the pictures were covered - perhaps because there were
also some that were slightly 'problematic'; and the unnatural light that gave an air
of unreality to everything. I also remember very clearly the dress I wore on that
occasion. It was a simple blue dress, with a white collar, with a pin. Nothing special.
It was the style they used to sell then, but there was something about it that suited it
to the festive feeling. Since then I have worn it on special occasions, although it's no
longer quite so fashionable."
T he Member of Knesset speaks about her feelings at the moment of the signing
itself in her soft Russian accent: "Firstly, I signed 'Kagan' and not 'Cohen' because in
Russian there is no letter for 'h'. I wanted very much to add my maiden name, too.
It was a momentary hesitation – to add 'Lubarsky,' or not? I wanted my father's name
56 The Friday That Changed Destiny
