Portrayed by Rene Goodwin

Born in a stetl (ghetto) in Russia, Golda Meir, nee Mabovitch, learned early in life the consequences of her Jewish heritage when her father was unpaid for his carpentry work since paying Jews was only “optional.” Golda lost her father when he emigrated to the U.S. and could only afford to send for the rest of the family after a 2-year separation. Meanwhile, the pograms (riots) continued, Jewish children were being thrown out of windows, and many other atrocities were permitted or even encouraged by the government. Thus, the seeds were sown in Russia for Golda’s desire for a Jewish Homeland.  Emigrating to America, Golda lived in Minnesota and against her parents’ wishes, she went to school to be a teacher. After moving to Colorado, she became active in women’s suffrage and Zionism. She married, striking a bargain: “He got me and I got to live on a kibbutz.” The pair moved to Palestine and after World War II, the future Prime Minister participated in negotiations that resulted in the creation of the state of Israel, one of only two female signatories of the May 14, 1948 Israeli Declaration of Independence.

Rene Goodwin’s Golda Meir speaks to us in 1948: The Declaration of Separation has been agreed to by the UN, but it won’t be issued until May and the Yeshuv (interim government headed by Ben Gurion) knows that as soon as it is signed, the surrounding Arabs will attack. Meir is on the Executive Committee and Ben Gurion announces he will go to the United States to raise funds for defense. Golda has raised money for Israel before and she insists on being sent. They vote, she goes, she raises $25 million. Rene’s Golda is so poignant, so fully aware of her purpose. She speaks Golda’s words with Golda’s voice and brings the audience to both tears and laughter. “I refuse to believe” that Jewish and Egyptian mothers are raising sons to kill the sons of enemy mothers. “I believe there will come a time…not with tanks, but with farm tools…we will show each other how to grow better strawberries.” Goodwin’s Golda offers peace through negotiation, but not through compromise.

Invite Golda Meier to your event:

• Keynote Speaker: Individual or panel participants speaking on topics such as Leadership, Teambuilding, Negotiation
• Educational Programs: Programs for Schools, Libraries, Museums, Historical Sites
• Pair with George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Franklin Delano Roosevelt
• Golda Meir: Bio of Actor/Historian, Reenactor, or Impersonator