Ben-Gurion stands on his head

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This morning the usual group went down south to the Ben-Gurion Heritage Institute at Sde Boker for this season's last Shishi Zioni session.
We saw two presentations on the subject "Movies and Internet social media as instruments of social change."

This little statue by Dina Babay is part of an exhibition there. 

On the Institute's brochure is the iconic photo of David Ben-Gurion standing on his head at Herzlia beach in 1957.
It is juxtaposed with the equally famous photograph of "The Old Man" proclaiming the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948.
The caption above says something like "The man who turned worlds upside down in order to stand a nation on its feet."

In this 2009 colored ink print by Moshik Lin the tables are turned: here it is the map of Israel that is upside down.
I think B-G would appreciate the humor because he always stressed that our southern desert, the Negev, should have top priority; and indeed he himself retired to Kibbutz Sde Boker and is buried there.

You can read here all about the exhibition “David Ben-Gurion and his Legacy in the Mirror of Israeli Art."

Ben-Gurion's "personal trainer"  who slowly slowly got him ready to do the headstands was none other than Moshe Feldenkrais (the famous founder of the Feldenkrais Method for mind-body improvement). 
What I didn't know was that Feldenkrais was recruited in London in the early 1950s and brought to Israel to work as a rocket scientist!
Read the fascinating story in Haaretz.
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Shabbat shalom.
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Face to face with David Ben-Gurion

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Today I was down at the Midrasha and Kibbutz Sde Boker, where David Ben-Gurion lived.
I'm glad I immigrated to Israel in time to hear one of his last lectures before he died in 1973.

While standing near the big stone I was surprised to find the tempered glass sign ringed with little portraits of Ben-Gurion.
While looking now at the photo on my computer, I'm surprised to find my reflection.
Just in time for James' Weekend Reflections.
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(Linking to signs, signs meme.)
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Speeches today at Ben-Gurion's grave

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For several days I've been posting about my visit to Ben-Gurion College at Kibbutz Sde Boker.
Here you can see the kibbutz perched above  deep Nahal Zin, in the wilderness of Zin.

Today the leaders of Israel gathered at the kibbutz, at the tomb of David Ben-Gurion and his wife, to mark 40 years since his passing.

See what Prime Minister Netanyahu spoke about at
www.timesofisrael.com/netanyahu-pleads-for-a-palestinian-ben-gurion/

including this:

Turning to the need to make the Negev bloom in accordance with Ben-Gurion’s vision, Netanyahu promised that there would soon be a rapid and dramatic increase in the percentage of Israelis living in the Negev — which has long hovered at around 8 percent. A huge “critical mass” would start flowing south, he vowed.

And Shimon Peres' Facebook page quotes our President as saying this:

We have gathered here today in memory of David Ben Gurion, but also to remind ourselves of our duty to continue his legacy of making the desert bloom and securing peace among ourselves and our neighbors. His legacy will continue to light our way.
We must ensure that we control our own destiny and make the two state solution a reality. Ben Gurion was adamant that Israel should give up land if that meant maintaining a Jewish majority, for without it, there will be no Jewish State. Since then, many changes have occurred, but this issue has remained as it was 66 years ago.

See also http://www.jpost.com/Diplomacy-and-Politics/PM-says-waiting-for-Palestinian-Ben-Gurion-to-end-Mideast-conflict-331163
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Ibex, free and friendly!

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I was delighted to see ibex wandering free  right next to the Midreshet Ben-Gurion building I showed you yesterday!

Right behind them is the main street of  Kibbutz Sde Boker.
There were three young ones and several adult ibex with curved horns.
Actually the kibbutz is home to Ben-Gurion's Tomb National Park. 
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Linking to Camera Critters meme.
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Greening the desert

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See the bust down on the ground floor of this unusual building?

It is David Ben-Gurion,  Israel's first prime minister.

Today I was there  at Ben-Gurion College at  Sde Boker, Ben-Gurion's kibbutz.
One Friday a month they offer great lectures and/or guided tours.

At the entrance to the kibbutz is Ben-Gurion's famous prophecy about how we would make the desert bloom and make the Negev a blessing to the State of Israel.
The green shrubbery overtaking the writing on the wall seems to prove that it  really is happening.
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(Linking to Whimsical Windows, Delirious Doors meme.)
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