Ira and Larry Goldberg Auctioneers
Auction 98 6-7 Jun 2017
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Meir, Golda - Great TLS With Message to Soviet Jews: "thank you for having remained Jews" (1898-1978) Israeli stateswoman and fourth prime minister (1969-1974). Brought up in Milwaukee, WI, she emigrated to a kibbutz in Palestine in 1921 and became a leading figure in the Labor movement. She went to become the Israeli ambassador to the Soviet Union (1948-9), the minister of labor and foreign minister. As prime minister she encouraged the emigration of thousands of Soviet Jews to Israel, and strengthened relations with the United States.
Typed letter signed "Golda Mayerson" in Hebrew, as Minister of Labor, one page, 8¾ x 6¼", on official letterhead, Jerusalem, August 4, 1953. With English translation. Five months after the death of Joseph Stalin (on March 5th), during the power struggle to succeed him (Khrushev was named First Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union on September 14, 1953), Meir writes to S[hmuel] Eliashiv, the Israeli Minister to the Soviet Union: "I understand your feeling in returning to Moscow and to a vast land of suspicion, hostility and silence. You have undoubtedly received instructions as to what to say, and how to say it, to the government functions there. True, 'liberalism' is indicated by the new leadership towards the Jews, one important thing I ask that you demand repeatedly: the right of Soviet Jews to emigrate to Israel. In respect to the Jews I don't know what you will say to them, I know what I said to them in my mother tongue, 'thank you for having remained Jews.' Have a good trip and success in your duty."
Two punch holes, red pencil notation, and one tiny edge tear in right margin, else fine. Estimate Value $800 - 1,000
Typed letter signed "Golda Mayerson" in Hebrew, as Minister of Labor, one page, 8¾ x 6¼", on official letterhead, Jerusalem, August 4, 1953. With English translation. Five months after the death of Joseph Stalin (on March 5th), during the power struggle to succeed him (Khrushev was named First Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union on September 14, 1953), Meir writes to S[hmuel] Eliashiv, the Israeli Minister to the Soviet Union: "I understand your feeling in returning to Moscow and to a vast land of suspicion, hostility and silence. You have undoubtedly received instructions as to what to say, and how to say it, to the government functions there. True, 'liberalism' is indicated by the new leadership towards the Jews, one important thing I ask that you demand repeatedly: the right of Soviet Jews to emigrate to Israel. In respect to the Jews I don't know what you will say to them, I know what I said to them in my mother tongue, 'thank you for having remained Jews.' Have a good trip and success in your duty."
Two punch holes, red pencil notation, and one tiny edge tear in right margin, else fine. Estimate Value $800 - 1,000