Ben-Gurion Research Institute for the Study of Israel and Zionism Ben-Gurion University of the Negev

History and Founding

The Ben-Gurion Research Institute for the Study of Israel and Zionism was established under the David Ben-Gurion Law of 1976 and formalized by an agreement signed in 1982 between the Ben-Gurion Heritage Institute and Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU). Located on the BGU Sde Boker campus, the institute serves as the primary academic center for Israel Studies and Zionist history research in Israel, housing an archive, academic library, and digital information centre.

Archive and Collections

The institute houses the Ben-Gurion Archives, which contain more than 3 million items reflecting the history of Israel from the early 20th century to the present day, including protocols of central Zionist and Israeli organizations, minutes of meetings, memoranda, letters, photographs, and personal documents. The institute's academic library and digital information centre provide resources to researchers, students, and visiting scholars working in Israel Studies, Zionist history, and related fields. Close operational ties with the Ben-Gurion Heritage Institute support joint management of the Ben-Gurion Archives.

Academic Programs

The institute's 15 faculty members lead an undergraduate Israel Studies program at BGU's Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences and the Woodman-Scheller Israel Studies International Program (WSISIP). The institute also hosts doctoral and postdoctoral researchers from Israel and abroad, and its faculty are internationally recognized scholars in Israeli history, politics, society, culture, and geography.

Access and Usage

The archive and library are accessible to researchers and students at BGU and to visiting scholars by arrangement. A significant portion of archival holdings has been digitized and is searchable online through the Ben-Gurion Archive website (bengurionarchive.bgu.ac.il).