Ezra Taft Benson and the State of Israel - Brandeis Institutional ...

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AcknowledgementsI am indebted to Professor Jonathan Sarna for repeatedly finding time to guide and helpme in every stage of my project, from discussing my initial ideas, to keeping me on trackwith my drafts, and answering any questions along the way. His patient mentoring,wealth of knowledge and fresh perspectives have been been invaluable.Likewise, Professors Tona Hangen and Maura Farrelly have been knowledgeable andinsightful members of my committee. Their preliminary guidance and later poignantadvice on my writing and ideas have helped me to present a more clear, well-balancednarrative.I am grateful to Professor Ilan Troen for his early direction and support. He guided me tomany of the people I would later enlist in my project, and remained a supportive and wisementor throughout this experience.Both the Tauber Institute for the Study of European Jewry and the Schusterman Centerfor Israel Studies provided research funding without which I would not have been able toaccomplish all of my research. I thank them for their support.Finally, many family members and friends have lent frequent counsel, support and alistening ear as I worked through this process. I am grateful for their love and wisdom.ii
AbstractWithin the emergent study of the complex relations between the State of Israeland American Christianity is a little-known story of a Mormon-American leader whosefriendship with the nascent Jewish State spanned nearly five decades. Ezra Taft Benson,apostle in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (commonly referred to asMormons) from 1943-1994, also served as Secretary of Agriculture in President DwightD. Eisenhower's cabinet from 1953-1961. During that time, and thereafter, he proclaimedhis assurance, both to his Mormon followers and to the world, of the State of Israel'smiraculous fulfillment of Biblical prophecy. Likewise, through his political leadership hecreated lasting friendships with early Israeli leaders, particularly David Ben Gurion. Hisinterest in the fate of the Jewish people was relatively representative of his Latter-daySaint heritage, but his relationship with Israeli leaders, as well as his consistently zealousmessage of religious-based support for the State of Israel, made him distinctive amongboth religious and political leaders of his day.iii
Page 4 and 5: Table of ContentsIntroduction - 1Ch
Page 6 and 7: elationship in any depth.In researc
Page 8 and 9: friendships with various Israeli le
Page 10 and 11: Joseph Smith taught that Latter-day
Page 12 and 13: Gentiles, and it will be again inha
Page 14 and 15: for their long suffering. Yet, he,
Page 16 and 17: focus on both the fulfillment of pr
Page 18 and 19: Smith and Brigham Young, as previou
Page 20 and 21: Smith, the members of the group “
Page 22 and 23: Jews.'” 46Benjamin further descri
Page 24 and 25: Chapter 2: Benson's Religious Leade
Page 26 and 27: audiences. The first, called, “Je
Page 28 and 29: Benson's sense of kinship for the J
Page 30 and 31: eturn of the Jews to the land of Pa
Page 32 and 33: general mention of his efforts at s
Page 34 and 35: Or perhaps it did not aid in his ap
Page 36 and 37: about Jews and Israel, throughout t
Page 38 and 39: and Peter Grose describe the frustr
Page 40 and 41: Israel's victory in the Six Day War
Page 42 and 43: the Messiah. Indeed, both Benson an
Page 44 and 45: those visits, as opposed to those o
Page 46 and 47: U.S. agricultural products on credi
Page 48 and 49: The American public, though divided
Page 50 and 51: States.” 133Indeed, a Gallup poll
Page 52 and 53:
with Britain and France, for their
Page 54 and 55:
many Americans that Israel was now,
Page 56 and 57:
those experiences to give validity
Page 58 and 59:
Benson, “I want you to pray to Go
Page 60 and 61:
gathering. Some of those themes inc
Page 62 and 63:
Ben Gurion and Levi Eshkol, both of
Page 64 and 65:
sending “two Mormon Books,” and
Page 66 and 67:
Yet Ben Gurion's next letter, dated
Page 68 and 69:
on this occasion with Shimon Peres
Page 70 and 71:
cultivate land for crops in the 194
Page 72 and 73:
attitude in the Synagogue Light art
Page 74 and 75:
United States, his views on Israel
Page 76 and 77:
eminded the host that he had not be
Page 78 and 79:
Thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and
Page 80 and 81:
"Though Thy servant is now far from
Page 82 and 83:
BibliographyAlteras, Isaac. Eisenho
Page 84 and 85:
Madsen, Truman G. “Mormon Attitud
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