Through the study of Ben-Gurion's biggest decisions, the center will explore ideas of leadership and democracy. Visitors will learn about the past, they will understand the connection between the past and the present, and they will be able to imagine the future of Israel and the world. This is why it will be called a "Contemporary Heritage Center."
The Ben-Gurion Center will be:
David Ben-Gurion, the founder of the state of Israel, its first prime minister and Defense Minister, has dedicated his life to creating a safe home for the Jewish people. His vision was to create a democratic and just society, based on Zionist values and ideals, as he himself defined them, based on his extensive reading and learning.
In his will, Ben-Gurion bequeathed his familial private residency in Tel-Aviv, along with his outstanding library containing over 20,000 books in over 20 languages, to the state of Israel, as a place for reading and researching. Since his passing in 1973, The Ben-Gurion House has been operating as a museum, telling the stories of some of the most significant events in the history of the Jewish people, as they occurred in this very house - a political focal point where major decisions were made in the early days of the State of Israel, decisions and actions that affect us to this day.
Building the Ben-Gurion Contemporary Heritage Center, which will be established adjacent to the historic residence, will allow us to expand the House’s educational activities, educate and engage current and future leaders, both in Israel and internationally and create an engaging experience with the political and intellectual legacy of David Ben-Gurion.
The BGCHC will serve as a new and innovative model for heritage centers and will reflect pioneering thinking in accordance with the spirit of the first leader of the State of Israel. The BGCHC will be a space for an open and respectful discourse on the past, present and future of the State of Israel, democratic society and leadership, in light of the actions and values of David Ben-Gurion. The center will encourage critical, open and inclusive thinking, along with dialogue with the other, with the aim of developing awareness and active civic responsibility.
The BGCHC will set itself apart from other centers by using a complex and innovative methodological approach to form the exhibitions which will be designed and curated by various contemporary artists, creatively showcasing and exploring the major decisions made by Ben-Gurion.
The events of October 7th have further deepened the need for the establishment of this center, targeting international audiences in representing the deep values of Zionism and democratic foundations which lie in the base of Ben-Gurion’s thought and action. Therefore, today more than ever, it is our sincere and deep belief that the establishment of the center is a task of national importance for the present and future generations of the State of Israel and Jewish communities across the globe.