Ben-Gurion’s Historic Speech Launching Israel Bonds at MSG

Israel Bonds was officially launched with an electrifying U.S. coast-to-coast tour of David Ben-Gurion, starting on May 10, 1951 at New York City’s legendary Madison Square Garden, drawing massive crowds inside and outside for the inaugural Independence Bond Issue. He called the bond drive “an absolute obligation of American Jewry” and had hoped for $25 million in first-year sales. The Jewish world delivered $52 million.