Description:

David Ben-Gurion ALS: "If the facts are true - one cannot understand the behavior of the Rabbis and the offices"

A 1p autograph letter in Hebrew signed by Israeli politician David Ben-Gurion (1886-1973) as "D. Ben-Gurion" at center left. Written on January 28, 1955 at Sde Boker, Ben-Gurion's retirement home in southern Israel. On a single leaf of blue-ruled onionskin removed from a notebook. Expected folds and wrinkles. Double hole-punched at right, and unevenly torn along the perforation, else near fine. 4.75" x 8.375." Accompanied by an English translation of the letter.

Translated in full:

"Sde Boker

28.1.55

Dear Teddi -

I deliver you the letter of Armond Cohen.* If the facts are true - one cannot understand the behavior of the Rabbis and the offices.

We have to clear the situation and I wrote him that you will take care of it soon.

Hereby attached [is] his letter.* Find out what he does want!

Yours,

D. Ben-Gurion

and two more letters*

1) German 2) to your office."

*Please note that this lot does NOT any additional letters attached.

In January 1955, David Ben-Gurion was in between terms serving as Defense Minister and Prime Minister of Israel; he would resume his duties as Defense Minister in February 1955, and would return to the second term of his premiership in November 1955.

The identity of Ben-Gurion's recipient--Teddi--and of the subject of the letter--Armond Cohen--cannot be definitively confirmed, but we have two very good candidates. "Teddi" may be referring to Teddy Kollek (1911-2007), the director general of the office of Prime Minister Ben-Gurion between 1952-1964. If "Teddi" is indeed Teddy Kollek, it would make sense that Ben-Gurion was requesting his subordinate to fix the problem.

Ben-Gurion may be discussing well-known American rabbi Armond Cohen (1909-2007) in the letter. Cohen led the Temple of Anshe Emeth Beth Tefilo, or Park Synagogue, in Cleveland, Ohio between 1934 and the mid-2000s, making him the second longest serving rabbi in the United States. Cohen was a dynamic leader of the Conservative Jewish congregation. High-profile individuals like Golda Meir, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Henry Kissinger visited the synagogue during Cohen's tenure. The tone of Ben-Gurion's letter hints at some unknown controversy involving Cohen that requires expert handling. If so, the letter points to a rare moment of discord between Israeli Jews and American Jews.

David Ben-Gurion would serve two terms as Defense Minister and Prime Minister respectively, between 1948-1954 and between 1955-1963.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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