Americans in search of hope and optimism amid Israel’s multifront war as well as surging antisemitism on the home front can find it on Dec. 8 through “Ben-Gurion Day in the USA,” Americans for Ben-Gurion University’s (A4BGU) annual observance that is rooted in the increasingly relevant vision of Israel’s founding father and first prime minister.
David Ben-Gurion’s teachings focused on one of the most prevalent words in the Jewish lexicon ever since the Oct. 7 Hamas terrorist attacks: resilience. That was precisely the value embodied by the humanitarian response of the Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) community. In massive numbers, BGU students, faculty, and staff volunteered in hospitals, aided families of IDF soldiers, and organized logistical operations to circulate food and supplies.
This came despite the atrocities’ disproportionate impact on BGU compared to other Israeli academic institutions, given the university’s location in the South. Within the BGU community, 115 people were killed (including fallen soldiers, faculty, students, and first-degree family members), 42 students were wounded, four students went missing or were kidnapped, with one hostage rescued (Noa Argamani); 162 students, faculty, and staff were evacuated from their homes; more than 7,000 community members were called to IDF reserve duty; 35 students were bereaved; and 44 survived the Nova Music Festival massacre.
“On Oct. 6, it was already evident that the future of Israel is in the South and that Ben-Gurion University would drive that future. On Oct. 7, BGU’s community was disproportionately affected by the attacks. In the days that followed, the University began demonstrating just how vital it is to the remarkable resilience of the entire nation,” said Doug Seserman, CEO of A4BGU.
Now, A4BGU is bringing Ben-Gurion Day to the USA for the third time — and for the second time since the fateful day of Oct. 7, 2023. Ben-Gurion Day is commemorated every year in Israel on the 6th of the Hebrew month Kislev. A4BGU is once again bringing this important day of reflection and forward-thinking across the Atlantic on Dec. 8, inviting Americans to honor David Ben-Gurion’s spirit of resilience, unity, and hope in the face of challenges.
Ben-Gurion Day in the USA 2024 features an engaging webinar hosted in partnership with the Ben-Gurion Heritage Institute. The webinar will feature rarely seen archival documents that highlight Ben-Gurion’s leadership during Israel’s early years, and discussions on how his philosophy remains relevant in today’s context. Experts will offer reflections on the lasting impact of Ben-Gurion’s vision for Israel’s future.
One of those experts — Paula Kabalo, Head of the Azrieli Center for Israel Studies as well as BGU’s Ben-Gurion Research Institute for the Study of Israel and Zionism — explained how Ben-Gurion’s vision for the Negev is more relevant than ever after the Oct. 7 attacks.
“The Western Negev — recently coined ‘the envelope of Gaza’ — took upon itself to fulfill Ben-Gurion’s vision, and realized it successfully, in spite of the never-ending security challenges,” Kabalo said. “The communities that thrived there realized Ben-Gurion’s highest expectations of being creative, pioneering, committed, and resilient. Yet following the massacre of Oct. 7, these communities are now uprooted, and some have been devastated in ways that are beyond imagination. Reconstructing those communities and this part of the Negev as a whole will have to be defined as a leading national objective — echoing Ben-Gurion’s view that ‘if the Negev fails to stand, so will Tel Aviv.’”
A wide array of organizational partners across the U.S. — including approximately 75 synagogues, 25 day schools, 10 JCCs, and five Jewish Federations — are also participating in Ben-Gurion Day in the USA by engaging with A4BGU’s “Program in a Box,” a free toolkit of resources and activities designed to help communities reflect on Ben-Gurion’s legacy. The box includes educational tools, posters, and a lesson plan that will guide participants through meaningful discussions about resilience and Israel’s role on the global stage.
“We are gratified to see so many Jewish institutions use Ben-Gurion Day in the USA to rally around the theme of Israel’s remarkable resilience in a world indelibly changed by Oct. 7,” Seserman said. “David Ben-Gurion’s historic promise was that Israel would be a light unto the nations. This robust, nationwide participation inspires and empowers A4BGU to lead the way forward in shaping that brighter future.”
For more information on Ben-Gurion Day in the USA, or to register for the webinar, please visit: BenGurionDayUSA.org.
As the torchbearer of a new 21st century unifying vision for Israel, Americans for Ben-Gurion University (A4BGU) builds a movement of Americans who are committed to improving the world. This mission is rooted in the pioneering spirit of David Ben-Gurion, who envisioned that Israel’s future would be emerge from the Negev. Today, that vision is manifested in the cutting-edge research carried out at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU), resulting in scalable solutions for all of humanity in water conservation, environmental science, medical research, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and more. Lead the way forward with A4BGU by supporting the campaign to raise $1 billion by 2030 to transform the Negev: americansforbgu.org/way-forward/.
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