Meir Shamgar facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Meir Shamgar
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| מאיר שמגר | |
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| Born | August 13, 1925 |
| Died | October 18, 2019 (aged 94) |
| Citizenship | Israeli |
| Alma mater | Hebrew University of Jerusalem University of London |
| Employer | Israeli Supreme Court |
| Title | President (1983–95) |
| Parent(s) | Eliezer and Dina Sterenberg |
| Awards | 1996 Israel Prize for special contribution to society and the State of Israel |
Meir Shamgar (born August 13, 1925 – died October 18, 2019) was a very important judge in Israel. He served as the chief justice of the Israeli Supreme Court from 1983 to 1995. This means he was the top judge in the country for over a decade.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Meir Shamgar was born in a city called Danzig (which is now Gdańsk, Poland). His parents, Eliezer and Dina, believed strongly in the idea of a Jewish homeland. In 1939, when he was 14, Meir moved to Palestine, which is now Israel. He went to high school in Tel Aviv.
Joining the Fight for Israel
As a young man, Meir joined groups that were working to create the State of Israel. First, he was part of the Palmach, which was a fighting force. Later, he joined the Irgun, another group involved in the struggle.
In 1944, he was arrested because of his activities against the British rule in Palestine. He was sent to a detention camp in Eritrea, a country in Africa. Even while he was held there, he continued his education. He studied law by taking a special course through the University of London. He even tried to escape from the camp!
Returning Home and Further Studies
When Israel became an independent country in 1948, Meir Shamgar and other detainees were allowed to return home. He immediately joined the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and fought in the 1948 Arab-Israeli War.
After the war, he continued his studies. He learned about history and philosophy at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. He also studied law at the Government Law School of the University of London.
Meir Shamgar passed away on October 18, 2019, at the age of 94.
A Career in Law
After finishing his studies, Meir Shamgar went back to the army, but this time as a lawyer. He became a military prosecutor, which means he handled legal cases for the army.
Rising Through the Ranks
He quickly moved up in his legal career. In 1956, he became the Deputy Military Advocate General. Then, in 1961, he was appointed the Military Advocate General. This was a very high legal position in the army. He even reached the rank of Brigadier General.
After the Six-Day War, Meir Shamgar was responsible for setting up the legal system in the areas that Israel took control of, like the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
Top Legal Roles
After leaving the military, he became the Attorney General of Israel in 1968. This meant he was the chief legal advisor to the government. He held this important role until 1975.
In 1975, he was appointed a justice on the Israeli Supreme Court. This is the highest court in Israel. He became the Deputy President of the Supreme Court in 1982. Just one year later, in 1983, he reached the very top position: the chief justice of the Supreme Court. He retired from this role in 1995.
In 1996, after he retired, Meir Shamgar led a special investigation. This was called the Shamgar Commission, and it looked into the sad event of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin's murder.
Personal Life
Meir Shamgar had three children with his first wife, Geula, who passed away in 1983. Later, he married Michal Rubinstein, who was also a retired judge.
See also
- List of Israel Prize recipients
Images for kids
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Meir Shamgar at 18 years old
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Meir Shamgar in a detention camp in Eritrea, 1946
