The final resting place of Israel’s first prime minister and his wife, in a desert garden
By Israel Nature and Parks Authority
The graves of David and Paula Ben-Gurion overlook a breathtaking view of the
Tsin canyon
and the
Avdat
highlands in the heart of the
Negev. The path from the parking lot to the tranquil grave site goes through a garden of carefully nurtured local flora that can thrive in the arid climate and saline conditions of the local soil. David Ben-Gurion, who declared the establishment of the state of
Israel
and became its first prime minister, was arguably one of the most outstanding figures of the 20th century.
Not only did he dream that the
Negev
could flourish, he and Paula practiced what he preached by becoming members of
Kibbutz Sde Boker
in 1953. In 1963, the couple retired to a modest ‘hut’ on the kibbutz, where they lived a simple life-style that amazed the bevy of world leaders who visited Ben-Gurion at home over the years.
The ‘hut’ on Kibbutz Sde Boker is now a
museum
managed by an institute dedicated to preserving Ben-Gurion’s heritage.
A fee is charged for a visit to the hut