David Ben-Gurion, who declared the establishment of the state of Israel and became its first prime minister, was arguably one of the most outstanding figures of the 20th century. Not only did he dream that the Negev could flourish, he and Paula practiced what he preached by becoming members of Kibbutz Sde Boker in 1953. In 1963 the couple retired to a modest ‘hut’ on the kibbutz, where they lived a simple life-style that amazed the bevy of world leaders who visited Ben-Gurion at home over the years.