Correspondence between Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion and President of the World Mizrachi Movement, Aryeh Leib ...

Correspondence between Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion and President of the World Mizrachi Movement, Aryeh Leib Gelman, on the Subject of Orthodox Judaism in Israel – Two Lengthy Letters Handwritten by Ben-Gurion – Sdeh Boker and Jerusalem, 1952-1954 – "The Editor of 'Hatzofeh' Newspaper is Publicly Disobeying One of the Ten Commandments"
Five letters, correspondence between Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion and World Mizrachi president Aryeh Leib Gelman (including two lengthy letters handwritten by Ben-Gurion); and a letter by the editor of the Mizrachi journal, Shabtai Don Yichyeh, following the publication of an article about David Ben-Gurion. Sdeh Boker and Jerusalem, October 1952 to November 1954. Hebrew.
1. A letter by Aryeh Leib Gelman to Ben-Gurion, October 5, 1952 (two printed copies, with handwritten corrections). Written after the Haredi parties "Agudat Israel" and "Poalei Agudat Israel" withdrew from the coalition over the issue of recruiting women to the IDF. Gelman writes: "It is certainly possible that you Mr. Prime Minister is the one to blame and the major cause, due to your failing to sufficiently consider the religious sensibilities of the people of Torah and faith".
2. A lengthy letter by Ben-Gurion, in response to the above letter by Gelman, October 15, 1952 (typewritten on the Prime Minister's official stationery, with handwritten corrections; hand-signed by Ben-Gurion):" I hereby accept the claim that your words imply, that the sensibilities of people of Torah and 'faith' should be considered, however I add that such people must also consider the sensibilities of other Jews who do not think the same as them. There are no privileged in Israel, we are all considered princes and we all have a portion in the world to come…".
3-4. Two lengthy letters by David Ben-Gurion to Aryeh Leib Gelman, October-November 1954 (handwritten and signed by him). Sent in response to an article published by "S. Daniel" (Shabtai Don Yichyeh), editor of the Mizrachi journal, "HaTzofeh", claiming that Ben-Gurion cursed Jewish Orthodox leaders during a visit of members of the Bnei Akiva youth movement in his home in Sdeh Boker. Ben-Gurion responds: " The editor of 'Hatzofeh' is publicly disobeying one of the Ten Commandments that says: 'Thou shall not bear false witness against thy neighbor', he is violating an explicit Torah prohibition that says: 'Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people'. He is disobeying an explicit Torah command: 'Keep far from a false matter'. And he does not do it in secret, but rather publicly, on the pages of 'HaTzofeh' journal, which advocates the sanctity of the Torah".
Enclosed is a printed copy of the letter from November 1954.
5. A letter by Aryeh Leib Gelman in response to the two above letters by Ben-Gurion, October 31, 1954 (typewritten on thin paper). A promise to conduct a "thorough examination" as to the article in "HaTzofeh".
6. Copy of a letter by Shabtai Don Yichyeh to Aryeh Leib Gelman, July 7, 1954 (typewritten on thin paper): "Mr. Ben-Gurion cannot stand his political and spiritual opinions being disputed…".
Six letters (two duplicates). Size and condition vary.