Golda’s family decided to move to the United States  They did not have enough money for everyone to move. Golda’s father, who was a carpenter, went first to earn money to pay for the rest of the family to come.  Finally, the whole family was together in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  Golda was excited to be in the United States.  In Russia, her family did not have water from faucets.  In Russia, they were always afraid.

But Golda’s  family was not always happy.  They fought a lot and Golda’s sister Sheyna ran away from home and got married.  Later, Golda’s parents did not want her to go to high school.  They wanted her to work in their store or to get married.  She was only 14 years old.  Golda ran away to live with her sister and brother-in-law in Denver, Colorado.  Their home was always filled with people talking about building a country in Israel.  Golda helped them to raise money for the Jewish National Fund which was trying to buy land for the Jews in what was then called Palestine.  Golda changed her name from Mabovitch to a Hebrew last name, Meir.

Golda met a wonderful man, Morris Meyerson,  who also wanted to move to Israel.  They married and moved to a new kibbutz.  Golda had many jobs there.  At one point she was the head of the chicken coop (just like Rody in the story, Chicken Man). She was so good at her job that people came from all over the country to learn from her how to raise chickens. 

Life on the kibbutz was difficult.  Many people got sick and there were no doctors or medicine to help them.  Golda’s husband wanted to leave the kibbutz.  Together, they decided to try living in Jerusalem.  There they had a child, Menachem.  Golda had a hard time taking care of their small apartment.  The kitchen was outside and there was always dirt around.  She missed working with other people. She decided to teach school for a while and then to get a job in the government.  Golda was wonderful at whatever job they gave her.  She helped create a political party called the Mapai.  She went to the United States to help get tzedakah money for the new State of Israel.  She spoke so beautifully that she convinced people to give five million dollars, which is more than anyone had raised before.

Later, she was a representative of the new State of Israel to Russia.  This was amazing.  Fifty years before she had escaped from Russia, hoping for freedom.  Now, she was there to represent the Jewish State!  Many Jews in Russia were very proud of her...Many eventually were able to make aliyah to Israel.

Golda Meir had many different jobs in the government of Israel.  Finally, in 1969, she was elected Prime Minister (the head of the government) of Israel. It was very unusual for a woman to be a Prime Minister.  Several times she wanted to retire from the government.  She was sick with cancer.  Finally, in 1978 Golda Meir died.  There has not been another woman Prime Minister since her in Israel.