Chaim Herzog facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Chaim Herzog
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חיים הרצוג
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Herzog in 1990
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| 6th President of Israel | |
| In office 5 May 1983 – 13 May 1993 |
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| Prime Minister | Menachem Begin Yitzhak Shamir Shimon Peres Yitzhak Shamir Yitzhak Rabin |
| Preceded by | Yitzhak Navon |
| Succeeded by | Ezer Weizman |
| Member of the Knesset | |
| In office 20 July 1981 – 22 March 1983 |
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| 5th Permanent Representative of Israel to the United Nations | |
| In office 1975–1978 |
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| Preceded by | Yosef Tekoah |
| Succeeded by | Yehuda Zvi Blum |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 17 September 1918 Belfast, Ireland, UK |
| Died | 17 April 1997 (aged 78) Tel Aviv, Israel |
| Resting place | Mount Herzl, Jerusalem |
| Nationality | Israeli |
| Political party | Alignment |
| Spouse |
Aura Ambache
(m. 1947) |
| Children | 4, including Isaac and Michael |
| Alma mater | University College London University of London |
| Signature |  |
| Nickname | "Vivian" |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom (1943–47) Israel (1948–62) |
| Branch/service | British Army Israel Defence Forces |
| Rank | Major (UK) Major-general (Israel) |
| Battles/wars | World War II 1948 Arab–Israeli War |
Chaim Herzog (Hebrew: חיים הרצוג; 17 September 1918 – 17 April 1997) was an important figure in Israeli history. He was born in Ireland and became a general, lawyer, and author before serving as the sixth President of Israel from 1983 to 1993.
Herzog was born in Belfast and grew up mostly in Dublin. His father, Yitzhak HaLevi Herzog, was a well-known rabbi. In 1935, Chaim moved to Mandatory Palestine, which is now Israel. There, he joined the Haganah, a Jewish defense group. After World War II, he fought in the 1948 Arab–Israeli War, which led to Israel becoming an independent country. He later became a major-general in the Israel Defence Forces before leaving the military in 1962.
After his military career, Herzog became a lawyer. He even helped start one of Israel's biggest law firms. From 1975 to 1978, he was Israel's Ambassador to the United Nations. He is famous for tearing up a UN resolution that said "Zionism is Racism," calling it unfair and false. In 1981, he became a member of the Knesset, Israel's parliament. Two years later, in 1983, he was elected President. He served two five-year terms. He passed away in 1997 and was buried on Mount Herzl in Jerusalem.
Interestingly, his son, Isaac Herzog, later became the current President of Israel. This makes them the first father and son to both serve as the nation's president.
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Who Was Chaim Herzog?
Chaim Herzog was born in Belfast, Ireland. His father, Yitzhak HaLevi Herzog, was the Chief Rabbi of Ireland and later became the Chief Rabbi of Israel. His mother was Sarah (née Hillman). The family moved to Dublin in 1919.
Chaim's father was known for supporting Irish independence. Chaim himself studied at Wesley College, Dublin. As a teenager, he was involved in Zionist youth groups, which supported the idea of a Jewish homeland.
In 1935, his family moved to Mandatory Palestine. Chaim joined the Haganah, a Jewish defense group, and served during the Arab revolt in the region. He also studied law at University College London and the University of London. He became a barrister, which is a type of lawyer.
Herzog's Military Service
Herzog joined the British Army during World War II. He was a tank commander in Germany. He got the nickname "Vivian" because his commander found "Chaim" hard to say. He joined the Intelligence Corps in 1943.
During the war, he helped free people from Nazi concentration camps. He also helped identify a captured German soldier as Heinrich Himmler, a very high-ranking Nazi leader. He left the British Army in 1947 as a Major.
After the war, he returned to Palestine. When Israel became a country in 1948, he fought in the 1948 Arab–Israeli War. His experience in intelligence was very useful. He became the head of the IDF Military Intelligence Branch from 1948 to 1950 and again from 1959 to 1962. He also worked as a defense representative at the Israeli Embassy in the United States from 1950 to 1954. He retired from the IDF in 1962 as a major-general.
Becoming a Lawyer
After leaving the army, Herzog started his own law practice. In 1967, during the Six-Day War, he returned to public life as a military expert on the radio. After the war, he was put in charge of East Jerusalem and other areas.
In 1972, he partnered with other lawyers to create Herzog, Fox & Ne'eman. This firm grew to become one of the biggest law firms in Israel.
Diplomat and Politician
In 1975, Herzog became Israel's Ambassador to the United Nations. He served in this role until 1978. During his time, the UN passed a resolution that said "Zionism is Racism." Herzog strongly disagreed with this. He famously tore up the resolution in front of the assembly. He said it was based on "hatred, falsehood and arrogance" and had no value for the Jewish people. This speech is now considered one of the most important speeches in history.
In 1981, Herzog entered politics. He won a seat in the Knesset, Israel's parliament, as a member of the Alignment party.
President of Israel
On 22 March 1983, Chaim Herzog was elected the sixth President of Israel by the Knesset. He took office on 5 May 1983. He served for two five-year terms, which was the maximum allowed. He retired from political life in 1993.
As president, Herzog traveled to many countries. He was the first Israeli president to make an official visit to Germany. He also visited countries in Asia, Australia, and New Zealand.
In 1985, during a visit to Ireland, Herzog visited his old school, Wesley College, Dublin. He also opened the Irish Jewish Museum in Dublin. A park in Dublin, Herzog Park, is named after him.
Herzog was against the government of Saddam Hussein in Iraq. He believed it was a center for terrorism. He warned the world that some Western countries were helping Hussein build up his military power.
Personal Life and Family
Chaim Herzog passed away on 17 April 1997. He is buried on Mount Herzl in Jerusalem.
His father was Yitzhak HaLevi Herzog, the chief rabbi of Ireland and later Israel. His brother, Yaakov Herzog, was Israel's ambassador to Canada. His brother-in-law was the diplomat Abba Eban. Chaim Herzog had four children. His son, Isaac Herzog, is currently the President of Israel. This is the first time a father and son have both held the position of president in Israel.
Works and Publications
Chaim Herzog was also an author. He wrote several books, including:
- Who Stands Accused?: Israel Answers Its Critics (1978)
- The Arab-Israeli Wars: War and Peace in the Middle East from the 1948 War of Independence to the Present (1983)
- Heroes of Israel: Profiles of Jewish Courage (1989)
- Living History: A Memoir (1996)
- Battles of the Bible: A Military History of Ancient Israel (1997)
- The War of Atonement: The Inside Story of the Yom Kippur War (1998)
Images for kids
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Chaim Herzog's signature
See also
In Spanish: Jaim Herzog para niños
