My Life

WITH A NEW INTRODUCTION BY JULIA NEUBERGER

Golda Meir was without doubt one of the most incredible women of her - and any - time. Born in 1898 in Kyiv, she was the daughter of an impoverished carpenter - and became the first (and only) female Prime Minister of Israel. Meir's earliest memory is of her father boarding up the front door in response to rumours of an imminent pogrom. The family emigrated to the US and for a while Meir lived with her sister, where she was exposed to debates on Zionism, women's suffrage, literature and socialism. She became a teacher, and after her marriage emigrated again to Palestine, settling on a kibbutz.

Always politically active, she became Israel's first envoy to Moscow; was promoted to Foreign Minister and ultimately elected as Prime Minister, leader of Israel. In her autobiography she wrote: 'To me, being Jewish means and has always meant being proud to be part of a people that has maintained its distinct identity for more than 2,000 years, with all the pain and torment that has been inflicted upon it'

About the Author

Golda Meir was an Israeli politician, teacher and the world's fourth, and Israel's only, woman to hold the office of Prime Minister. Often described as the Iron Lady of Israeli politics, David Ben-Gurion used to call her 'the best man in government'. She has been recognised with numerous awards including the James Madison Award for Distinguished Public Service by Princeton University and the Israel Prize for her special contribution to society and the State of Israel. She has been inducted into Halls of Fame, and there are numerous memorials to her, including the Golda Meir library, Golda Meir Square in New York City and Golda Meir Boulevard in Jerusalem.