Description:

Golda Meir TLS Regarding Josef Stalin and Russian Immigration to Israel

A 1p typed letter in Hebrew signed by Golda Meir (1898-1978), then Israeli Minister of Labor, as "Golda Meyerson" (Meyerson was Meir's married name) at center left. Written in Jerusalem, Israel on March 27, 1954, on a single leaf of buff-colored stationery pre-printed with the Emblem of Israel at top. Docketed in blue colored pencil at lower right. Double hole-punched along the right edge. Expected transmittal folds, with the central vertical fold a little fragile near the bottom. Else near fine. 6.125" x 8.625." Accompanied by a full English translation.

Golda Meir wrote this letter to Shaul Avigor (1899-1978), who was also known as Saul Meyeroff and Saul Meirov before 1948. Avigor, who had been influential in establishing the Israeli intelligence community during World War II, now commanded the Israeli Liaison Bureau (Lishkat Hakesher, or Nativ) between 1953-1970. The Liaison Bureau was tasked with maintaining contact with Jews living in the Soviet Union, and encouraging their immigration to Israel, a relocation process known as "aliyah."

Meir wrote in part: "To my great regret, we are not doing enough for the emigration of the Jews of the Soviet Union, who amount to two million souls. Now is the time not to let up, after the changes in the Russian leadership, now that Stalin is gone. Also postwar Polish Jews, who amount to over fifty thousand souls, can expect cultural and spiritual extermination. Part of the Jewish public there has not yet given up on the idea of emigration to Israel. And it is our duty to exert every effort for them and ourselves, to extend to them a brother's hand and bring them here…"

In her letter, Meier refers to two significant historical events: the Holocaust and the death of Josef Stalin.

Meir deliberately used the word "extermination"-- associated with the Holocaust--to stress the urgency of helping fellow Jews escape the Eastern Bloc of the Soviet Union. Though not threatened with actual extermination as during the Holocaust, the Polish Jews faced "cultural and spiritual extermination" by remaining in the Soviet Union.

Soviet Premier Josef Stalin had died a little over one year earlier, in early March 1953. Meir emphasized the continuing need to promote immigration to Israel considering "the changes in the Russian leadership, now that Stalin is gone." Meir was referring to Stalin's successor, Georgy Malenkov (1901-1988), who served as Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Soviet Union between March 1953-February 1955. As Stalin's protégé, Malenkov was involved in a few of Stalin's most egregious purges. City leaders, doctors, and intellectuals were routinely and falsely accused of treason or crimes against the state and imprisoned, banished, or executed. Malenkov had dismantled the Jewish Anti-Fascist Committee (organized to provide material means, fundraising, and publicity in the Russian fight against Nazism). He also supervised the execution of twelve leading Jewish and Yiddish poets, translators, editors, historians, and doctors on August 12, 1952 during the so-called the Night of the Murdered Poets.

Meir's strong convictions and powerful language are on full display. She speaks of potential emigres to Israel not just as people, but as "souls." Meir speaks about the Jewish people as one people regardless of nationality. In this way, Meir emphasized Jewish universalism and brotherhood.

Meir's personal history and political career enabled her to speak to the question of Russian Jews immigrating to Israel with a degree of expertise. Meir herself had been born in modern day Ukraine (part of the future Soviet Union) and she had served as Israeli Minister Plenipotentiary to Moscow between September 1948 and March 1949.

Golda Meir acted as Israeli Minister of Labor between 1949-1956 before serving as Israeli Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1956 to 1966, and as the 4th Prime Minister of Israel between 1969-1974. She was also a signer of the Israeli Declaration of Independence on May 14, 1948.

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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