Born 120 years ago, Warhaftig signed Israel’s declaration of independence, brokered a key compromise in the document’s wording, spent nearly three decades in Knesset, wrote the Law of Return, was a longtime cabinet minister and knew the Talmud inside and out. Oh, and he helped to save thousands of Jews during the Shoah.
The Diplomat: Five Stations in the Life of Abba Eban
He was the greatest diplomat the State of Israel ever produced, and perhaps the greatest in Jewish history. He became the articulate and devoted voice of big ideas, some of which he did not always accept privately, yet he believed wholeheartedly in the clear and undeniable right of the Jews to political independence in their historic homeland. This is the story of a man born at the southern tip of Africa, raised and educated in Britain between the two world wars, who became the official spokesman of the young State of Israel at its most critical moments.
A Pilot and a President: Remembering Ezer Weizman
June 15 marked a century since the birth of the former Israeli President and Air Force chief
Declaring Independence With 150 Lira in Your Pocket
In May of 1948, designer Otte Wallish was given his “mission impossible”: Get everything ready for a Declaration of Independence ceremony. You have 24 hours. Also: Were there nude images hiding behind Theodor Herzl’s portrait?
The Ballad of Golda Meir and David Ben-Gurion
She was “just a girl from Milwaukee” when he was already the famous “Ben-Gurion.” He was a few steps ahead of her throughout their public and political careers. Still, Golda Meir and David Ben-Gurion formed a delicate and meaningful friendship, which ended suddenly due to an ugly political scandal. After years of detachment, towards the end of his life, Ben-Gurion tried to reconcile with her. Did it work?
When a Grenade Exploded in the Knesset, Israel’s Parliament
No one believed it could happen, and even today it is difficult to comprehend how easy it was. In 1957, a man walked into the Knesset, then located in downtown Jerusalem, with a grenade in his pocket. He proceeded to throw it into the assembly hall. David Ben-Gurion and Golda Meir were among those injured. The explosion can be heard in a recording found in the National Library of Israel’s Sound Archive…
Photographed Together: Begin’s Father and Sharon’s Grandfather
Long before the State of Israel, the two men worked together at a Jewish bank and Jewish self-defense organization in Brest-Litovsk
The First Woman to Sign Israel’s Declaration of Independence
Rachel Cohen-Kagan was one of the most prominent activists for the advancement of women’s rights in the young State of Israel. Her efforts led to her being among the signatories of the Declaration of Independence
Golda Meir: A Woman Empowered
Golda Meir, one of the most powerful women in Israel’s history, was the third woman in the 20th century to become a leader of a nation. Though a frequent critic of the feminist movement, Golda herself was the focus of interest and criticism due to her gender. How did she deal with it? Why did she agree to enter a synagogue in Moscow but not in Tel Aviv? And what does this have to do with the Israeli Hatmakers’ Union?
The Bizarre True Story of Israel’s First Government
It met in a movie theater, had a really weird assassination attempt, was led by a shockingly diverse coalition, and ended in resignation…
