David Ben-Gurion

David Ben-Gurion
Official Medal 1999/5759
First Medal in the "Prime Ministers Of Israel" Series.

History looked favorably upon the Jewish people by giving them a strong leader and fighter at a crucial time. This man of vision and action, lead the nation through the difficult storm of returning to the Land of Israel and establishing the State of Israel. Ben-Gurion was born in Plonsk, Poland in 1886. At the age of 20, he immigrated to the Land of Israel, in order to work the land. He settled in Sejera and quickly became a leader of the workers. He traveled abroad to Saloniki to study Law together with Izhak Ben-Zvi (Israel's 2nd President). Because of their Zionist activities, both were exiled from the Land of Israel by the Turks. They traveled to the U.S. where they organized the "Hechalutz" (Pioneer) Movement as well as a battalion of Jewish volunteers to fight on the side of the allied forces in the Land of Israel. He met and married Paula Munweis. In 1935 he began his career as the General Secretary of the Histadrut Labor Union and for 30 years, led the Jewish nation to overturn its fate. He accepted the critical decision in favor of partitioning the Land of Israel and on May 14, 1948, declared the establishment of the State of Israel. When the Independence War broke out, he gave the order to establish one unified army – The Israel Defence Force. After the war and despite the hardships facing the young state, a new era began marked by immigration, construction, building roads, and establishing towns at a furious pace. Ben-Gurion developed the Military, educational system, and democracy. He challenged scientists to capture the sun's energy, desalinate water, and make the Negev bloom. In 1955, because of the security situation and after two years' retirement at Kibbutz Sdeh Boker, he was called to return to the government as the Minister of Defence and was elected again as Prime Minister. Serving until 1963, he led the country to economic prosperity, relative quiet on the borders, and elevated regard around the world. Ben-Gurion died at age of 87, in 1973, with an exalted place among the Jewish national pantheon.

Obverse: Portrait of Moshe Sharett, around the right-hand-side border, an olive branch and around the left, "David Ben-Gurion" in Hebrew and English.

Reverse: Inscription "Prime Minister Medal" in Hebrew and English and to the right, the Israel State Emblem and above it, the Israel Flag.

Edge: State emblem with the words "STATE OF ISRAEL" inscribed in Hebrew on the right and in English on the left; the serial number and metal.

Designer: Eliezer Weishoff.

Engraving: Tidhar Dagan.

Mint: Government Mint, Jerusalem.