Description:

David Ben-Gurion ALS to Dr. Chaim Sheba Mentioning Moshe Dayan and Israel Defense Forces

A 1p autograph letter in Hebrew signed by former Prime Minister of Israel David Ben-Gurion (1886-1973), as "David Ben-Gurion" near lower left. Dated March 3, 1971. N.p., but probably Sde Boker, Ben-Gurion's retirement home in southern Israel. On a single leaf of blue-ruled onionskin paper removed from a notebook, and waxed verso. "42" is stamped in the upper left corner of the leaf. Expected gentle wear including transmittal folds and a few extra wrinkles, else near fine. 4.625" x 8.375." Accompanied by a full and complete Hebrew transcription and English translation.

David Ben-Gurion had retired from Israeli public life the previous year. He wrote this letter to Dr. Chaim Sheba (1908-1971), the founder and director of Tel HaShomer Hospital in Tel Aviv (formerly known as Army Hospital #5 and today known as the Chaim Sheba Medical Center.) Dr. Sheba served as director of the hospital which would later bear his name between 1953 and his death in July 1971 (only four months after receiving this letter.)

Ben-Gurion wrote in full:

"22.3.71

Dear Sheba

You have probably received Moshe Dayan’s message from December 15, 1970, but to be sure I am copying [the message] quite clearly

'The truth is that the Ministry of Defense very much appreciates the excellent and devoted treatment that the medical team are giving to IDF casualties.

Kind Regards,

Moshe Dayan, The Minister of Defense'

Was Ezra Danin operated on? And how is his condition now? Is he still in the hospital? Do you know where he lives? I would like to visit him and see how he is doing.

With appreciation,

David Ben-Gurion

Dr. Sheba

Tel HaShomer Hospital."

Israeli statesman and military commander Moshe Dayan (1915-1981) was then serving as Minister of Defense. Dayan faced crisis after crisis during his 7-year-long ministry, from 1967-1974. Israel was in a state of near constant conflict with its Arab coalition neighbors, Jordan, Egypt, and Syria. Israel Defense Forces fought in the Six-Day War of 1967, and in the 1967-1970 War of Attrition, a series of special operations and raids culminating in a 4-month-long sequence of sorties of Israeli fighter bombers into Egypt called Operation Priha. Dayan appreciated Tel HaShomer Hospital not only because of its attentive care to those wounded in action, but also because he himself had and would receive medical attention there (indeed, Dayan would die at the hospital in October 1981.)

The Tel HaShomer Hospital was founded by Dr. Chaim Sheba in 1948, at the request of Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion. Sheba converted old barracks into a military hospital; its first patients were Israel Defense Forces. By 1953, the Tel HaShomer Hospital was treating both soldiers and civilians. It is now known as the Chaim Sheba Medical Center, its name after 1971. It is the largest and best hospital in modern-day Israel, and in 2021 ranked as the 10th best medical facility in the world.

Dr. Chaim Sheba was born in modern-day Romania and emigrated to British-controlled Palestine in 1933. Sheba served as a Jewish Brigade medic during World War II, and joined the Haganah, the Zionist paramilitary organization, in 1947. He headed the Israel Defense Forces Medical Corps from 1948-1950. While director of Tel HaShomer Hospital, Sheba also founded other medical schools in Israel and served as a professor of medicine at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

The identity of Ezra Danin--the individual whom Ben-Gurion inquired about in this letter--remains unknown. Was Danon a mutual friend of Ben-Gurion and Sheba? In what way was Danin sick or injured? Was he a member of the Israel Defense Forces?

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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