The Brothers Green
Arie Ben Gurion’s grandfather was one of the founders of Hovevei Zion, and his uncle was Israel’s first prime minister. With a family like that, it’s no wonder young Arie grew up to be a leading figure in Jewish-Zionist education. Here’s the first chapter of his journey
Eleven children were born to Avigdor Green, one of the first members of Hovevei Zion. Only five survived (the rest died in infancy). David Green, AKA Ben Gurion, was the fourth of the surviving children.
His younger sister, Ziporah, was born in 1890. She left her home in Poland as an adult and was sent by her father to study gardening in Berlin, where she later met a medical student named Moshe Kortini, who became her husband.
Avigdor Green with his daughter Ziporah and her husband Moshe Kortini, 1912.
In 1914 the couple moved to Russia. Moshe became the region’s surgeon and received much admiration. He was also active in the Jewish Sports Association. In the photo: Ziporah and Moshe after their marriage (1913), Ziporah’s sister Rivka Green on the left.
In 1916, Arie, Ziporah and Moshe’s first child, was born. A year following his birth, the Russian revolution broke out, the persecution of Jews spread, and the family’s position wavered. In February 1922, the family was struck with tragedy – Moshe was murdered while he was at work.
Ziporah fled with their children to her father’s house in Poland. Word of the disaster reached her brother David, who was in Israel, and he made all efforts possible in order to bring his sister and her children to Israel.
He registered them as members of his household in order to secure them certificates. In a moving letter to Ziporah, Ben Gurion wrote, “Don’t let your spirit fall, there is still much work for you here, in our country.”
In 1924, David manages to bring Ziporah and her two children to Israel as his “wife and children”. In the photo from 1926: Paula Ben Gurion with her daughter Geula (in the back), Arie and his mother Ziporah next to her brother David Ben Gurion, his son Amos, and his nephew Benyamin (on the left).
Just before his 70th birthday, Avigdor Green emigrated to Israel. In the picture from 1927: Celebrating grandfather Avigdor’s birthday.
Arie with his classmates at Hariali School in Haifa, April, 1934.
.jpg)
Leaving Haifa for a school trip, December, 1932.
Passover trip, taking a rest nearby Pardes Hanna, March, 1933.
Arie as a summer camp guide in Haifa, 1934.
Arie graduates from high school and leaves for training at Kibbutz Na’an, 1935.
Special thanks to Hagai, Arie Ben Gurion’s son, who helped with this article.
To view last week's trip to the past click here
