Victor Shem-Tov facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Victor Shem-Tov
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|---|---|
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| Ministerial roles | |
| 1969–1970 | Minister without Portfolio |
| 1970–1977 | Minister of Health |
| 1974 | Minister of Welfare |
| Faction represented in the Knesset | |
| 1961–1969 | Mapam |
| 1969 | Alignment |
| 1981–1984 | Alignment |
| 1984–1988 | Mapam |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1 February 1915 Samokov, Bulgaria |
| Died | 8 March 2014 (aged 99) Jerusalem, Israel |
Victor Shem-Tov (Bulgarian: Виктор Шемтов; Hebrew: ויקטור שם-טוב; 1 February 1915 – 8 March 2014) was an important Israeli politician. He held several government jobs, called "ministerial portfolios," during the late 1960s and 1970s. He helped make big decisions for the country in areas like health and social services.
Contents
Victor Shem-Tov: A Life in Politics
Early Life and Beginnings
Victor Shem-Tov was born in Bulgaria in 1915. His family were goldsmiths in a town called Samokov. He mostly grew up in the capital city, Sofia. As a young person, he was part of the Maccabi youth movement, which focused on sports and Jewish culture.
In 1939, Victor Shem-Tov moved to Mandatory Palestine, which is now Israel. In the same year, he joined a group called Hashomer Hatzair. This group was a Zionist youth movement. He became involved in local politics, joining the Jerusalem Workers' Council in 1946. From 1949 to 1950, he was the leader of the Bulgarian Immigrants Association. This group helped people who had moved from Bulgaria to Israel.
Serving in Government
In 1961, Victor Shem-Tov became part of the Histadrut's actions committee. The Histadrut is a large organization for workers in Israel. In the same year, he was elected to the Knesset. The Knesset is Israel's parliament, where laws are made. He was elected as a member of the Mapam political party.
He kept his seat in the Knesset after the 1965 elections. He also became a member of Jerusalem's City Council. During his time in the Knesset, his party, Mapam, joined a larger group called the Alignment. This was an alliance of several political parties.
What is the Knesset?
The Knesset is the parliament of Israel. It is where elected representatives meet to create laws, approve the government's budget, and oversee the government's work. It's like the main decision-making body for the country.
What is a Minister?
A minister is a high-ranking official in the government. Each minister is usually in charge of a specific government department, like health or education. They help lead and manage their area of responsibility.
Important Roles in the Cabinet
Even though Victor Shem-Tov did not win a seat in the 1969 elections, he was still given an important job. In December 1969, he was appointed Minister without Portfolio in Golda Meir's government. A "Minister without Portfolio" is a minister who is part of the cabinet but doesn't have a specific department to run. They often help with special projects or advise the Prime Minister.
In July 1970, he became the Minister of Health. This meant he was in charge of Israel's healthcare system. He continued in this role even after the 1973 elections, where he again did not win a Knesset seat.
When Yitzhak Rabin became Prime Minister in June 1974, Victor Shem-Tov was also appointed Minister of Welfare. This role meant he was responsible for social services and welfare programs. He held this job for a few months, until October 1974.
Later Political Career
After the 1977 elections, a different political party called Likud won. Victor Shem-Tov lost his place in the government cabinet and also did not win a Knesset seat.
However, he returned to the Knesset in the 1981 elections. He was elected as part of the Alignment party again. After being re-elected in 1984, his original party, Mapam, decided to leave the Alignment. They became an independent party in the Knesset. Victor Shem-Tov resigned from the Knesset on March 15, 1988. He was 99 years old when he passed away in Jerusalem on March 8, 2014.
