golda meir and her ties to Wisconsin (Essay Sample)

Golda Meir and her ties to Wisconsin Name Institution  Golda weir’s name ranks high among the pantheon of worldwide acclaimed national leaders and head of states. She was Israel’s first woman prime minister, the third woman in the world and the most vocal woman as well during the early 1950s to the 1970s. She was as a risk taker, a pioneer, a visionary leader and a first order activist (Blashfield, 2010).Meir played a major role as one of Israel's signatories as well as one of the advocators of the Zionist movement, drawing inspiration from Theodor Herzl. She was born in Kiev, now in modern day Ukraine on 3rd may 1898. Her father, Moshe Mabovitch, was a carpenter and moved to New York to look for employment in 1903. This prompted the rest of the family as well to move to the United States, fleeing the Russian pogroms in 1906. A year before, Moshe Mabovitch had moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin. After securing employment with the railroad yard, he managed to save enough to bring his family from the Russian Empire. Upon their arrival, the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society helped them to settle (Blashfield, 2010).  Golda’s ties to Wisconsin begin at a tender age of 6 years old. Her mother, Blume Neiditch, had set up a store on the northern side of Milwaukee and frequently let Golda watch it while she went for market supplies when she was 8 years old. From the age of 6 years to 10 years old, she attended The Fourth Street Grade School (Burkett, 2013). The school was since renamed Golda Meir School in her honor. Her leadership potential was already in action at such a tender age. Through a fundraiser, she was able to raise money to buy textbooks for her classmates. She then formed the American Young Sisters Society and went on to graduate as the class valedictorian despite her not being a native English speaker (Burkett, 2013).  Her progression from high school was marred with a lot of challenges as her parents opted for her to get married against her wishes. She finally managed to join North Division High School, at 14 years of age, and as well as working part time so supplement her school fees. Eventually, Golda moved to Denver, Colorado to stay with Sheyna Korngold, her sister who was already married. At her sister’s residence, Golda managed to interact with labor Zionists, social Zionists as well as anarchists who held radical views (Burkett, 2013). She was exposed to trade unionism, literature, women’s suffrage, Zionism amongst other topics of discussion. As a result, she developed she defined her political philosophy and passion for Zionism. She ended up falling in love with Morris Myerson. It was not until 1915 that Golda returned to Milwaukee after her parents apologized to her. Upon her return, Golda went on to graduate from high school and later on joined a three year teacher’s training course at the Wisconsin State Normal School now the University of Wisconsin. Golda went on to teach in several public schools in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In the process, Golda joined the Young Poale Zion, which evolved into the labor Zionist Youth movement. She became a local member of the movement, even hosting Palestine visitors (Burkett, 2013).  However, she managed to get a teaching position at Jewish Center of Milwaukee, a Yiddish school, where she taught history, reading and writing to children three times a week. However, her teachings on Labor Zionism were done on the streets, much to the dismay of her father. It was these ideologies that went on to shape the rest of her career. In 1917, her father became an American citizen. Being under 21, she acquired citizenship as well by descent. Golda went on to become Milwaukee’s delegate to the American Jewish Congress in Philadelphia. Golda was also the youngest delegate at the meeting, and believed this to be the starting point of her political career (Burkett, 2013).  Despite still being at the infancy stages of her career, Golda Meir and her ties to Wisconsin were evidently developing. The ties began at the tender age when still in grade school. Despite being young, she had already developed the need to make an impact to the community in Milwaukee (Steinberg, 2008). Through the fundraiser, the young Golda Meir had already made a name for herself as a future leader. Her earlier achievements cannot be understated. Her contribution to society in Milwaukee can be highlighted given the fact that she taught several public schools in the area. Moreover, she also facilitated the development of young Jewish children in Milwaukee while teaching at the Jewish Center of Milwaukee. In addition, her public lectures on the streets were selfless efforts to educate the public on her ideologies. This endeared her to many as she represented the state of Wisconsin at the American Jewish Congress at a young age. This further exemplifies Meir's close ties with Wisconsin. Golda Meir’s contribution to the Zionist movement and education in Milwaukee, Wisconsin was intertwined together (Burkett, 2013).  She had began dating Morris Meyerson earlier on in 1913 and the two got married in 1917, with Golda’s precondition was that they would be them settling in Palestine. Before moving to Palestine, Golda and her husband were involved in fundraising activities for the Poale Zion across the United Sates (Steinberg, 2008). The fundraiser took her back to Milwaukee where she was extremely popular and already and inspiration to many at the point in time. In 1921, the two went on to join a Kibbutz in Palestine. Morris got sick, and they moved to Tel Aviv where the couple had a son, Menachem in 1924 and daughter Sarah later on in 1926.  Golda worked for the Histadruth as a treasurer in what was considered Israel’s most important economic organization while in Jerusalem.. In addition, she was elected as the Working Women’s Council’s secretary. Her role required her to move back to the United States as an emissary which she did so. Meir went with her children, but her husband remained behind. As a result, their marriage grew apart but the two never divorced formally. She returned to Jerusalem in 1934, moving up in ranks of the Histadrut to head the political department. This provided her with further training ground as Israeli’s future Premier. Meir was a delegate to the World Zionist Organization while in the Unitec States, attending most of the meetings. This also included the Pioneer Women as well as International labor meetings. Golda Meir'S main political agenda was to convince the British to increase the number of Israeli immigrants to go to Israel. She fought the famous British ‘white paper’ in 1939 while at the same time illegally organizing for immigrants move to Israel at the height of the 2nd world war. She had been disappointed by Franklin Roosevelt’s Evian Conference which failed to come up with a common goal on the future of Israeli refugees (Steinberg, 2008).  1946 saw Golda Meir appointed as the head of the Jewish agency’s political department, due to the rounding up of all male leaders of the Zionist movement. She took the role diligently and served as a mediator between British authorities and the Jews in Palestine. Meir held on to the position until the establishment of the state of Israel in 1948. However, the new state was in financial turmoil as the American Jewish Community could not raise more than 8 million dollars to aid the new state. Already acclaimed as an international figure and quite popular in the Unites States, Meir took it upon herself to raise funds. She returned to America and managed to raise an astonishing $50 million dollars. The funds proved to be sufficient to help Israel buy arms. Moreover, she was one of the two women signatories among the 24 to Israel’s declaration of independence. During the signing of the declaration, Meir reflected on her days as a schoolgirl in Milwaukee, reading American history on America’s declaration of Independence (Blashfield, 2010). Finally, she was part of a team that had made the same happen for Israel. This was followed by a ministerial post as Israel’s minister to the Soviet Union for a year ending in 1949. This was followed by her appointment as Israel’s first minister of labor, where she initiated road construction, housing projects as well as integrating immigrants into Israel’s workforce. Afterwards, Meir was appointed as the next Israeli foreign minister from 1956, facilitating former European colonies to develop after colonialism. This was followed by her appointment as secretary-general of Israel’s major party, Mapai in 1965, couple...