By Jacob Kamaras
LA JOLLA, California — “Ben-Gurion.” What comes to mind for the average American when they hear that name?
Some may think of the airport. For others, it might be the man with an iconic hairstyle resembling that of Albert Einstein.
But this week, I had the privilege of teaching San Diego students—preschoolers at Beth Montessori of La Jolla and 2nd-graders at San Diego Hebrew Day School—about the pioneering spirit of David Ben-Gurion (Israel’s first prime minister) and the modern relevance of his legacy. My presentations came as part of the fourth annual Ben-Gurion Day in the USA, organized by Americans for Ben-Gurion University (A4BGU).
In Israel, Ben-Gurion Day has long been a national day of commemoration. Observed this year on November 19th and presented in partnership with The Ben-Gurion Heritage Institute, A4BGU’s Ben-Gurion Day in the USA uses creative avenues to raise awareness about the global impact of the university bearing David Ben-Gurion’s name—Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU).
Across the country, schools, synagogues, and community centers are participating in Ben-Gurion Day in the USA through engagement activities that are available to download online. Resources include a Ben-Gurion Alphabet Coloring Book, Spot It! Card Game, Matching Memory Game, a Timeline Poster tracing his path from activism to statehood, and talking points for sharing Ben-Gurion’s unique story. A4BGU’s community partners can also request a Ben-Gurion Day in the USA engagement box featuring t-shirts, stickers, and Hebrew-letter coloring activities designed to spark conversation and intergenerational connection.
A4BGU works to sustain David Ben-Gurion’s vision: creating a world-class institution of education and research in the Israeli desert, nurturing the community in the Negev region, and sharing BGU’s expertise locally and around the globe. The University embodies David Ben-Gurion’s vision for the Negev as a place of innovation—not just survival—by powering Israel’s leading-edge research in cybersecurity, AI, water conservation, and medicine.
I told the students this week that while they most likely recognize Carlsbad as the home of LEGOLAND, the same coastal city north of San Diego is also where they’ll find the Claude “Bud” Lewis Desalination Plant. Operated by IDE Technologies—an Israeli company—the plant provides 50 million gallons of fresh water each day to the San Diego County Water Authority.
Indeed, water-related technologies like desalination and drip irrigation—much-needed in California due to chronic droughts—are precisely what David Ben-Gurion envisioned for Israel’s role on the global stage when he said, “It is in the Negev where the creativity and pioneering vigor of Israel shall be tested.” Today, the Negev is where Israel develops solutions that benefit all of humanity.
These pursuits will be the focus of the upcoming 9th International Conference on Drylands, Deserts and Desertification (DDD 2025) conference, to be held at BGU from November 30th to December 4th. The conference will address expansion of desert regions and its far-reaching implications for food security, water resources, health, energy, and ecological sustainability.
“DDD 2025 stands as a living testament to Israel’s ability to lead global research on the critical challenges facing humanity—even in difficult times,” said Prof. Daniel Chamovitz, President of BGU. “The fact that hundreds of scientists from around the world are choosing to come to the Negev to work together on solutions for desertification, climate change, and sustainability strengthens the university’s standing as an international center of excellence. The desert, once a symbol of barrenness, has become here in the Negev a living laboratory for innovation and hope.”
For Ben-Gurion Day in the USA this year, A4BGU has also launched David Ben-Gurion Speaks, a three-part AI-powered video series that brings Israel’s founding prime minister to life.
Developed in collaboration with Jewish IdeaLab, the videos use archival images and authentic recordings of Ben-Gurion’s voice enhanced through advanced generative AI. This unique approach invites viewers to connect Ben-Gurion’s enduring vision with BGU—and with his belief that knowledge and creativity could transform a desert into a thriving center of innovation.
Further, on November 19th, A4BGU will host a national webinar featuring Prof. Arieh Saposnik—Associate Professor at the Ben-Gurion Institute for the Study of Israel and Zionism at BGU. The program will explore Ben-Gurion’s influence on Israeli identity and leadership, and will include a virtual tour of the Ben-Gurion Archives, offering participants an intimate look at the writings and images that shaped his legacy.
To watch the videos in the David Ben-Gurion Speaks series, visit: https://americansforbgu.org/benguriondayintheusa/dbg-speaks/
To learn more about Ben-Gurion Day in the USA, to register for the November 19th webinar, and to access participation resources, visit: www.americansforbgu.org/benguriondayintheusa
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Jacob Kamaras, a public relations executive, is a former publisher of San Diego Jewish World.