Avi Beker facts for kids
Avi Beker (born May 3, 1951 – died June 4, 2015) was an important Israeli writer, leader, and university professor. He was known for his work with the World Jewish Congress, an international group that connects Jewish communities around the world. He served as their secretary-general from 2001 to 2003.
Avi Beker was born in Tel Aviv, Israel, in 1951. He served in the Israel Defense Forces, which is Israel's military, and became a captain. He studied at Tel Aviv University and later earned a Ph.D. in political science from City University of New York. Political science is the study of how governments work. From 1977 to 1982, he was part of Israel's team at the United Nations. He also attended several important meetings about disarmament, which means reducing weapons.
Working with the World Jewish Congress
Avi Beker was a key figure at the World Jewish Congress (WJC) for many years. He was the secretary-general from 2001 to 2003. Before that, he directed the WJC's international relations and led their office in Israel.
One of his most important jobs was working with different governments. He helped people get back property that was taken from them during the Nazi period. This involved working with groups like the Claims Conference against Germany and other foundations in Norway, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia.
After the World Jewish Congress
After leaving the WJC in 2003, Avi Beker continued his work in public policy. He led projects at the Hartog School of Government and Policy. He also taught classes about diplomacy and international law at Tel Aviv University and Georgetown University. Diplomacy is the art of dealing with people from other countries.
He also wrote articles for Israeli newspapers like Haaretz and Times of Israel. Avi Beker was a member of the boards of several important organizations. These included the Jewish Diaspora Museum Beit Hatfutsnot, Yad Vashem (Israel's Holocaust memorial), and Bar-Ilan University.
Avi Beker passed away on June 4, 2015, after a long illness.
Books by Avi Beker
Avi Beker wrote and edited many books, often focusing on history, international relations, and Jewish topics. Here are some of them:
- The Chosen: The History of An Idea, and the Anatomy of an Obsession
- Disarmament Without Order – The Politics of Disarmament in the United Nations (1985)
- The United Nations and Israel – From Recognition to Reprehension (1988)
- Chief Editor, Jewish Communities of the World (1999)
- Editor, The Plunder of Jewish Property During the Holocaust – Confronting European History (2001)
- Co-editor with Yaacov Ro'i – Jewish Culture and Identity in the Soviet Union (1989)
- Editor, Arms Control Without Glasnost – Building Security in the Middle East (1993)
- Co-editor, World Jewish Congress Jubilee 1936–1986 (1986)
- Editor, International Law and Foreign Policy (1991)
- Co-editor, German Unification: A Jewish-Israeli Perspective (1991)
