Menachem Begin Heritage Center Bulletin 2, Vol. 5

Menachem Begin
Heritage Center, Jerusalem
Volume 5, Issue 2
October 2008
Total Number of Visitors Since October 2004: 445,720

From the Pages of History:
October 28, 1956

On the eve of the Sinai campaign launched on Oct. 29, 1956 David Ben-Gurion asked Menachem Begin to visit him at his home in Tel Aviv. Given the strained and even hostile relations between the two, the event was unique. Begin arrived at Ben-Gurion’s home where he found the Prime Minister sick in bed with a high fever. Begin was surprised when Ben-Gurion informed him that Israel was to attack Egypt the next day in cooperation with England and France. Ben-Gurion explained that he desired maximum Knesset support and although his coalition policy was “without Herut and without Maki (the Communist Party)”, Ben-Gurion told Begin that in matters of state security, he trusted him implicitly.
As the late Eric Silver recorded in his Begin biography, p. 122, Begin had been campaigning for a ‘preventive war’ for almost a year and responded to Ben-Gurion: “I applaud your courageous decision. You can depend on our support.”
This could have been the start of a rapprochement but Ben-Gurion’s capitulation to American pressure in January and the decision to withdraw before assuring Israel’s defense needs, renewed the parliamentary battling in the Knesset between the two.

Marking 30 Days

Upon the occasion of the ‘Shloshim’ to mark the passing of the Founder and President of the Menachem Begin Heritage Foundation Harry (Zvi) Hurwitz z"l, a memorial ceremony will take place on Sunday, November 2, 2008 at the Menachem Begin Heritage Center, Jerusalem. The unveiling of the stone marker will be done at an earlier ceremony on that day at the cemetery. Please call 02-565-2020 for a place at either ceremony.

Prof. Levin's Book Launched

The Seminar Room was filled to overflowing on Sunday evening, October 26th, with persons who came to honor Professor Menachem Levin who has recently published a book of his memoirs. The speakers included Herzl Makov, Center Chairman, Prof. Yaakov Shavit, Yossi Achimeir, Prof. Hillel Weiss, Prof. Moshe Arens. Levin is one of the veteran Revisionists, who had worked with Ze'ev Jabotinsky and Menachem Begin, had served in various roles, both in the Underground and legal political activity as well as pursuing an outstanding academic career both in Israel and abroad as a guest lecturer and researcher. Prof. Levin even until this day continues to be involved in the issues of the rights to the Land of Israel, the security of the country and its economic and intellectual well-being.
Prof. Levin, in thanking the assembled members of the audience, emphasized how pleased he was that he merited that his book launch was held at the Begin Center, where the man he identified with, respected and served is memorialized. Prof. Levin, who is soon to be 91 and is significantly visually impaired, nevertheless continues his academic profession and the day after the event, flew off to lecture at New York University for the coming two months.

Mazal Tov!

To Dr. Micha Goodman, the popular lecturer of the Parshat HaShavua, and his wife Tzipi, the proud parents of twin girls. We wish a hearty Mazal Tov to the whole family, which includes the happy grandfather Mr. Arthur Fried.

Note to our readers: Now that we are past the holiday season, we hope to publish the News Bulletin regularly on Thursdays.

Visit our blog: http://begincenterdiary.blogspot.com/
The Menachem Begin Heritage Center
6 Nahon Street Jerusalem 94110 ISRAEL
972 (2) 565-2020; Fax: 972 (2) 565-2010 offices@begincenter.org.il http://www.begincenter.org.il/