PRIME MINISTER DAVID BEN-GURION (ISRAEL) - AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED 11/20/1963 CO-SIGNED BY: NOACH DAGONI - HFSID 76144

DAVID BEN-GURION
Signed autograph letter in Hebrew, written the year he retired from office, pleading insufficient time to read a handwritten manuscript of a pending book
Rare ALS: "D. Ben-Gurion" in Hebrew, 1 page, 5x8¼ lined sheet. Sdeh Boker, Israel, 1963 November 11. To Noach Dagoni. In Hebrew, translated. Begins: "Peace be with you". In full: "You being one of [illegible] is not a worldly suffering, but an honorable symbol that is not equaled by many others. In the next coming months I could not, to my sorrow, free myself to read handwriting, as at this time I do not have even one free hour. If you are not pressed with time to publish your book, I shall read it willingly. However, it may not be a good idea to postpone its publishing. By the way, there is another book from one [illegible] and it is the book of Micarmel Kasor Averon - a book full of interest. Yours respectfully". Also signed: "Noach Dagoni". Lightly creased with folds, not at signature. Lightly shaded at right margin, which has two file holes (one nicks one word). "1" stamped at upper margin. Perforated edge. Overall, fine condition. With original envelope, 6x5. Not stamped. Addressed by Ben-Gurion to: "Noach Degono, 20 Remez St., Gevat Rambam". Initialed: "D. B-G." in Hebrew by Ben-Gurion on back flap. Lightly creased and soiled. Two file holes at blank right edge. Overall, fine condition. Signed the year he ended his term as Israel's third Prime Minister. Sdeh Boker was Ben-Gurion's kibbutz in Negev, Israel. He had joined Kibbutz Sdeh Boker in 1953 and made his home there. When Ben-Gurion retired from political life in June 1970, he returned to Sdeh Boker, where he died at the age of 87 in 1973. David Ben-Gurion (1886-1973), who became known as "The Father of Israel", became captivated with Zionism during his youth in Poland. Born David Gruen, he adopted the ancient Hebrew name Ben-Gurion in 1906 at age 20, when he immigrated to Palestine. Ben-Gurion, who proclaimed Israel's independence on May 14, 1948, was its first leader as Chairman of the Provisional State Council (May 14-May 17, 1948). On May 17, he became Israel's first Prime Minister (1948-1953) and Chaim Weizmann became President. Ben-Gurion devoted his life to establishing a Jewish nation, and encouraged the return of Jewish people from throughout the world. After serving again as Prime Minister from 1955-1963, Ben-Gurion devoted himself to writing. He published Israel: The Years of Challenge (1963) and The Jews in Their Land (1966). Two items.