Bidspirit auction | ”It Seems to Me That

”It Seems to Me That This Painful Matter Calls for a Humane Clarification...” – Early Letter by David Ben-Gurion to Rabbi Meir Bar-Ilan - Early reply letter signed by David Ben-Gurion to Rabbi Meir Bar-Ilan, written in response to Bar-Ilan's protest over critical remarks Ben-Gurion had made about members of the Mizrachi movement. Signed by David Ben-Gurion. Sent on the official letterhead of the General Federation of Hebrew Workers in the Land of Israel (Histadrut). October 17, 1932. Accompanied by Rabbi Meir Bar-Ilan's strongly worded, typewritten letter. Shortly before, during a meeting of the Vaad Leumi (Jewish National Council), Ben-Gurion had argued that the views of the Mizrachi representatives were not accepted and that their influence within the national movement was limited because they failed in matters ”between man and his fellow man”—that is, in their ethical conduct toward others. Rabbi Meir Bar-Ilan, who had been present at the meeting, promptly responded with a forceful letter vigorously challenging Ben-Gurion's criticism. Among other arguments, Rabbi Bar-Ilan maintained that even if Ben-Gurion were correct in claiming that some members of Mizrachi did not sufficiently uphold ethical obligations toward their fellow human beings, this could not justify disregarding the views of Mizrachi's representatives as a whole. As he wrote: ”Have we not read, heard, and seen that even under the banner of unity, equality, freedom, and liberty, men have murdered and plundered? Yet because of such wicked individuals who have corrupted these ideals, are the noble, sincere, and worthy principles themselves to be rejected?” In the accompanying four-page letter, Rabbi Bar-Ilan develops this argument at length, systematically refuting Ben-Gurion's assertions. (Rabbi Bar-Ilan's letter is unsigned.) In his reply, Ben-Gurion writes that ”I feel that these matters touch the soul, ” apologizing that he cannot adequately express in writing everything he wishes to say on the subject. He adds that he would prefer to meet Rabbi Bar-Ilan in person, explaining: ”For it seems to me that this painful matter calls for a humane clarification—not through debate in a public meeting, but rather through the sincere desire of people who respect one another, despite their profound differences of opinion, and whom the great issues standing at the very summit of our people's life nevertheless unite within one movement...”. During the 1930s, at the height of the struggle over the character of the Jewish Yishuv, David Ben-Gurion voiced pointed and nuanced criticism of members of the Mizrachi movement. On the one hand, he regarded them as indispensable political partners in building the Zionist coalition and respected their commitment to the national cause. On the other, he sharply criticized what he perceived as their willingness to subordinate the interests of the emerging national institutions and the broader Zionist movement to narrow sectarian and religious demands. [1] leaf. Typewritten on official stationery and signed by David Ben-Gurion. Filing holes. Good condition. [4] typewritten leaves – Rabbi Meir Bar-Ilan's letter. Unsigned.