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Menachem Begin remains one of the least understood giants of the twentieth century.
A freedom fighter, a terrorist, a liberator of Jewish people, his own and subsequent generations, a Nobel Peace Prize winner, a champion of Jewish dignity after the Holocaust, and Israel’s sixth Prime Minister,
Begin transformed the country’s politics forever. He brought peace with Egypt, welcomed Soviet and Ethiopian Jews home, ordered the destruction of Saddam Hussein’s nuclear reactor, and gave voice to Israelis who had long felt ignored by the political establishment.
Yet behind the history books was a deeply principled, intensely private man whose moral convictions shaped every decision he made.
Our guest today has dedicated much of his life to preserving that extraordinary legacy.
Herzl Makov is the CEO of the Menachem Begin Heritage Center in Jerusalem, the national institution entrusted with safeguarding Begin’s archives, museum, educational programmes and research. For decades he worked closely with Begin himself, offering a rare personal insight into the man behind the statesman.
In a distinguished career in public service Herzl was also Chief of Staff to Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir.
We’ll discuss how Begin’s ideas continue to influence Israel today, why his life story still matters to democracies around the world, and the work of the Heritage Center in bringing his values to new generations.
We’ll also explore the acclaimed documentary Upheaval, which tells the remarkable story of Begin’s rise from persecution in Europe, through the underground struggle for Jewish statehood, to the office of Prime Minister.
Jonny Gould's Jewish State is proudly supported by Dangoor Education and UK Toremet, promoting philanthropy.
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