Menachem Begin A New Israel Jewish History Lecture by Dr. Henry Abramson

A study of the life of Menachem Begin (1913-1992). A native of Poland, he was a proponent of Vladimir Jabotinsky's Revisionist party that stood in dramatic contrast to the dominant left-wing tendency in the Zionist movement. A major figure in Israel's struggle for statehood, and a founder of the Likud party, he was elected to the office of Prime Minister in 1977. Despite his hawkish ideology, he was the first Israeli leader to sign a peace treaty with an Arab country. Lecture was recorded on Wednesday, May 1, 2013 at the Young Israel of Bal Harbour.

[@paulfitzpatrick1334]

Thank you so much, Im loving these lectures. Please add more

[@bobbechtel4187]

This lecture, and others about the major figures of Israeli history, is extremely helpful for anyone grappling with issues surrounding modern Israel. Highly recommended for (the sadly too few) Americans who are interested in an informed and thoughtful approach to this important part of the world.

[@fmazurczak88]

Another excellent lecture on Jewish history by Prof. Abramson; very good for those interested in Israeli history. Interesting anecdote: having been educated at the University of Warsaw, Begin was considered to be the "most Polish" of the Israeli PMs, for his traditional Polish gestures such as kissing women on the hands. Begin was fond of quoting Poland's national poet Adam Mickiewicz at length. Begin referred to Mickiewicz as a "Jewish poet". Certainly, Mickiewicz was a philo-Semite who advocated both Poles and Jews fighting for Polish independence in the 19th century (unlike the anti-Semitic nationalist Endeks of the 20th century), organized a Jewish legion in the Crimean War with his Franco-Jewish friend Armand Levy, had a Jewish-Frankist wife, and referred to Jews as "elder brothers" of Christians (Pope John Paul II would many years later use this same phrase, although despite the obviously positive intentions the phrase has a negative connotation among some Jews because of the elder brother Esau). However, some scholars believe that Mickiewicz's mother came from a converted Frankist family (one of the main arguments in favor of this hypothesis is that her maiden name was Majewska, a common name among Polish converts from Judaism to Christianity), although there is no evidence that either proves or disproves that Mickiewicz's mother was Jewish. In any case, just thought I'd share an interesting fact about Begin.

[@filhosdeabraao402]

One of the Great Prime Ministers of Israel, Menachem Begin. From Blessed memory!

[@doronmjtourguide]

Excellent! Gotta hear that lecture again. Thank you for making those complex subjects simpler.

[@HenryAbramsonPhD]

Glad it was helpful!

[@klf33]

Waoo, that Gentleman who saw the altalena!, that is amazing!

[@SeanWasserman]

Informative lecture.

[@faisalelhusseini9492]

What about lectures on Shamir or Stern and LEHi

[@49michael1960]

maybe the woman at 34:12 means the German Colony in Haifa, which have settled there. There are still a few houses and you can see the religious christian names in front of the houses.

[@tomaszstarling1343]

He looks like the leader of Poland when I was a small boy called gererał Jaruselski until 1991. Shalom ♥️☮🇺🇸

[@tomatizon1139]

Begin joined Polish army (called Anders Army) which never fought on the Eastern Front. Anders Army throught Soviet Union and Persia move to fought on the the Western Side. A litlle correction:) Begin deserted (whith followers) from Polish army to Palestine. They conntacted Anders Army HQ and after negotiations they were legally relesed from Polish Army.

[@thebomb299]

Rabin was the commander on the beach when Hagana fired on the Altalena

[@HenryAbramsonPhD]

Yes

[@GoldTradersNiche]

begin succeeded in 1976 because arik sharon built the likud coalition....

[@simpaticaism]

I note that the people he speaks about are EUROPEANS ! Not from the middle east in any way shape or form . Is yiidish cemetic ? What blood line links exist to any area of Palestine ?

[@simpaticaism]

***** Excuse my spelling !

[@yvettemoore3076]

simpaticaism there were a good number of Jews in Palestine, as there had been throughout the diaspora. There were also Zionist organisations in Israel/Palestine but there were more Jews outside Israel than inside it at that time (as now). The peril the Jews were in was very much present in Eastern Europe, leading to the Holocaust, but not quite so much in the mid east, hence the urgency of political movements in that area. Israel has always been our home, even when many of us are ex pats and more Jews are moving back all the time, so I would argue though there may not be bloodlines for every Jew, there's a very strong affiliation and affection for Israel.