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

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attitude in the Synagogue Light article already mentioned, in which he asserts, “It isnatural that the people of Israel desire to expand agricultural output, and marvels havealready been accomplished.” Later he continues, “Given an ample supply of sweet waterand the power with which to pump it, Israel could materially expand her agriculturaloutput. There is land available which could be made to bloom.” Thus, whether speakingto members of his own church, his cabinet and government, or the Jewish people at large,Benson's overriding themes are of support and certainty of the fulfillment of prophecy,even using biblical imagery as often as possible.For their part, Jews and especially Israelis must have been at least marginallyaware of Benson's interest. His visits to Israel as Secretary of Agriculture wereanticipated in Israeli newspapers, where he was often billed as “Secretary ApostleBenson.” 201 The Secretary himself told the President of the Church, David O. McKay,after his 1957 trip, that he and his family had been “effective ambassadors of good will”for the Church, as well as the United States. 202Indeed, in 1955 Benson had appeared “onthe first of a new series of radio programs being broadcast over a local station with thecooperation of the American Zionist Council. Also present for the first program in theseries, known as 'The Bible in Action,' was Abba Eban, Ambassador of Israel.” 203Benson's prominence in the Jewish/Israeli community was further strengthened decadeslater when Benson's “Message to Judah” was recognized in The United Israel Bulletin. 204Covering nearly a full page of broadsheet, the 1978 article outlines Benson's recent201202203204Dew, Biography, 350.Dew, Biography, 327.“Secretary of Agriculture Speaks on Radio Program of Zionist Council,” JTA, October 3, 1955,http://archive.jta.org/.“Ezra Taft Benson Stresses Close Affinity Between the Mormons and the Jewish People,” United IsraelBulletin, December 25, 1978. Obtained from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Archives(Salt Lake City, Utah).68
speech in Calgary and subsequent locations, emphasizing that the Jews were “not alone.”This of course came at a time when American support of Israel had begun to wane,finding itself replaced in many instances by greater interest in the plight of displacedPalestinians, or simply by a renewed fascination with the Middle East, akin to whatEdward Said termed Orientalism. 205This apparent decrease in American support of Israel does not imply thatAmerica's government had by any means lessened its commitment to Israel. In 1973,after some initial reticence, the United States stepped in to provide urgently neededmilitary supplies to Israel in the surprise Egyptian-Syrian attack known as the YomKippur War. 206 All succeeding administrations likewise sustained American support forIsrael. 207Despite Carter's frustrated efforts at peace, which often included criticism ofIsrael's settlement of the West Bank and Gaza, he remained a committed proponent of theJewish State. 208Likewise, Evangelical Christians had by this time numerically surpassedthe less sympathetic Protestants, and Restorationism once again began to take hold in themind of American Christians, as did the perception of Islam as a “tool of the anti-Christ.” 209Benson's own rhetoric was never antagonistic to the Muslim religion or its people,but his unyielding support of Israel and insistence on its legitimate claim to the landnever faltered. While Benson's rhetoric regarding Israel pre-dates much of the resurgenceof pro-Israel sentiment that pulsated throughout the late 1960s and well into 70s in the205206207208209Oren Power, Faith and Fantasy, 541-543; see also Edward Said, Orientalism (New York: RandomHouse, 1978).Oren, Power, Faith, and Fantasy, 531.Oren, Power, Faith, and Fantasy, 535-537.Oren, Power, Faith, and Fantasy, 538.Oren, Power, Faith, and Fantasy, 538.69
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AcknowledgementsI am indebted to Pr
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Table of ContentsIntroduction - 1Ch
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elationship in any depth.In researc
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friendships with various Israeli le
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Joseph Smith taught that Latter-day
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Gentiles, and it will be again inha
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for their long suffering. Yet, he,
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focus on both the fulfillment of pr
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Smith and Brigham Young, as previou
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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 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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