Golda Meir loved jokes, to laugh, and to be with people, and hated being alone and sleeping. So Tovah Feldshuh, who stars in the Broadway play “Golda’s Balcony,” discovered when she visited Milwaukee last January to research her character.
And Meir’s indomitable spirit, which Feldshuh described as having related “to Israel as if it had come out of her very own body,” lives on 25 years after her death.
To honor the memory of Israel’s only female prime minister, commemorative observances are being planned in Israel and around the world, including Milwaukee, where Meir is recognized as the city’s most famous daughter.
Various events are being coordinated here, the city where the Russian-born Golda Mabovitch lived from age 8 until she was almost 15, when she ran away to live with her sister in Denver and start her own life. She later returned to Milwaukee and studied at the old Milwaukee Normal School, now the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee; worked for the Poale Zion Zionist group here and elsewhere; and finally immigrated to Israel in 1921.
Representatives from the Milwaukee Jewish Federation, Milwaukee Jewish Historical Society, Milwaukee County Historical Society, Golda Meir Middle School, Hillel Foundation-Milwaukee, Israel Center, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Golda Meir Library, the Wisconsin Society for Jewish Learning and the Wisconsin Women’s History Project have formed a joint commemoration committee to plan a collaborative tribute.
“What’s really exciting is that her son, Menachem Meir, and his wife, Ayala, will share memories of his mother,” said Kathie Bernstein, director of the Jewish historical society.
“To ensure that the entire community has an opportunity to participate, the UWM Libraries and Friends of the Golda Meir Library will hold an afternoon event, while the federation will sponsor an evening program,” Bernstein added.
“A highlight of the federation’s program,” according to Bernstein, “will be the presentation of an original film put together by the Jewish historical society from pictures and materials we have in our archives.
“We attempted to capture Milwaukee’s special relationship with her. It starts with photos of young Golda in Milwaukee in 1917 and follows her life, including a return visit here in 1969 and a meeting with a group of Milwaukeeans in New York in 1970. What’s interesting is that the pictures may be old, but her message of peace is still timely.”
The university’s program, “Golda Meir, A 25th Anniversary Commemoration,” will be held on Wednesday, Dec. 10, 4-6 p.m. at the Golda Meir Library, 2311 E. Hartford Ave. Following remarks by her son, director of the Golda Meir Memorial Association in Israel Dr. Meron “Ronnie” Medzini will speak on “Golda Meir: A Historic Reevaluation.”
In addition, UWM will mount an exhibit, “Behold Golda! An Exhibition on the Life of Golda Meir” featuring photographs, letters and personal memorabilia — some of which is on loan from the Jewish historical society. It will run from Dec. 10-Jan. 15.
Meir and Medzini will also speak at the federation’s evening program, entitled “Remembering Golda,” on Thursday, Dec. 11, 7 p.m. at Congregation Shalom. This event is co-chaired by Barbara Kohl Spiro and Herman “Diney” Tuchman.
Bernstein said that the motivating goals of both events are to provide a venue for people to relate to Israel, to enhance the connection between Milwaukee and Israel, and to reach out to the Jewish and general communities through a joint program about the history of the Jews in Milwaukee.
Further, the commemoration committee is sponsoring a writing contest for all students in grades K-12. Based on Meir’s famous quote, “Our generation reclaimed the land, our children fought the wars, and our grandchildren should enjoy the peace,” the topic for the contest is “Golda Meir made the world a better place because…” One $180 cash prize will be awarded in each of seven age categories.
Entries must be submitted by Nov. 30 to the Golda Meir Committee, 1360 N. Prospect Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53202. For contest details, call Bernstein at 414-390-5730.
Also, in conjunction with the UWM event, the Friends of the Golda Meir Library will hold a drawing for a New York theater package for two to attend “Golda’s Balcony.” Round-trip airfare and overnight hotel accommodations in New York are included. The drawing is open to all existing and new Friends, and memberships will be available at the UWM event.
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