Israelis You Should Know: Golda Meir

The Fellowship  |  December 8, 2017

Lived: May 3, 1898 – December 8, 1978

Occupation: Politician, teacher

Why she’s impressive: After making aliyah (immigrating) to the Holy Land from the U.S. with her husband Morris in 1921, Meir served Israel in many key positions, including envoy to Moscow, Minister of Labor, and Minister of Foreign Affairs. After World War II, she traveled around the world to rally support for the establishment of the Jewish state.

When she was elected Prime Minister of Israel in 1969, Meir became Israel’s first (and the world’s third) woman to hold such an office.

In her own words: “I am also grateful that I live in a country whose people have learned how to go on living in a sea of hatred without hating those who want to destroy them and without abandoning their own vision of peace. To have learned this is a great art, the prescription for which is not written down anywhere. It is part of our way of life in Israel.” (from Meir’s 1975 book, My Life)