From Poverty To Prime Minister

Golda Meir: An Unlikely Leader

From Poverty to Prime Minister

Golda Meir, who served as Israel's prime minister during the Yom Kippur War, was an unlikely leader.

Born into crushing poverty in Kiev, Ukraine, in 1898, Meir emigrated to the United States with her family as a child. She worked her way through college and became a teacher before moving to Palestine in 1921.

In Palestine, Meir joined the Labor Zionist movement and quickly rose through the ranks. She was elected to the Knesset, Israel's parliament, in 1949 and served in various ministerial positions before becoming prime minister in 1969.

Meir's tenure as prime minister was marked by both challenges and achievements. She led Israel through the Yom Kippur War in 1973, and under her leadership, Israel solidified its independence.

Meir was a controversial figure, but she was also a respected leader. She was the first woman to serve as prime minister of Israel, and her story is an inspiration to women around the world.