Zalman Shazar facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Zalman Shazar
זלמן שז"ר |
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Shazar in 1963
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| 3rd President of Israel | |
| In office May 21, 1963 – May 24, 1973 |
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| Prime Minister | David Ben-Gurion Levi Eshkol Yigal Allon (Acting) Golda Meir |
| Preceded by | Yitzhak Ben-Zvi |
| Succeeded by | Ephraim Katzir |
| Member of the Knesset | |
| In office 14 February 1949 – 8 October 1956 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born |
Shneur Zalman Rubashov
November 24, 1889 Mir, Minsk Governorate, Russian Empire (now Belarus) |
| Died | October 5, 1974 (aged 84) Jerusalem |
| Citizenship | Russian Empire Mandatory Palestine Israel |
| Political party | Mapai |
| Spouse | Rachel Shazar |
| Children | 1 |
Zalman Shazar was a very important leader in Israel. He was born as Shneur Zalman Rubashov on November 24, 1889, and passed away on October 5, 1974. Shazar was a politician, a writer, and a poet. He served as the third President of Israel for ten years, from 1963 to 1973.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Zalman Shazar was born in a town called Mir, which was then part of the Russian Empire and is now in Belarus. His family followed the Hasidic Jewish tradition, specifically the Chabad-Lubavitch group. When he was young, Shazar received a religious education.
He stayed connected to the Chabad movement throughout his life. He helped Rabbi Yosef Yitzchok Schneersohn start the village of Kfar Chabad in Israel. He also helped the religious community in Israel create their own school system. Later, he wrote letters to and visited Menachem Mendel Schneerson, another important Chabad leader.
As a teenager, Shazar joined the Poale Zion Movement, which supported a Jewish homeland. He worked as a translator for a Zionist publishing company. In 1911, he visited Palestine, but he had to return to Russia to serve in the army. After his army service, in 1924, he moved to the land that would become Israel, then called the British Mandate of Palestine. He settled in Tel Aviv and became a member of the Histadrut, a large workers' organization.
Shazar was married to Rachel Katznelson-Shazar, and they had one daughter. He passed away on October 5, 1974, and was buried on Mount Herzl in Jerusalem.
Journalism and Political Career
Before becoming president, Shazar had a successful career in journalism and politics.
Working as a Journalist
From 1944 to 1949, Shazar was the main editor of a well-known Israeli newspaper called Davar. This job allowed him to share his ideas and influence public opinion.
Serving in the Knesset
In 1949, Shazar was elected to the Knesset, which is Israel's parliament. He was a member of the Mapai political party. In the first government led by David Ben-Gurion, Shazar was made the Minister of Education. He continued to be a member of the Knesset in the elections of 1951 and 1955. In 1952, he also joined the leadership of the Jewish Agency for Israel, an organization that helps Jewish people around the world. He left the Knesset in 1956. From 1956 to 1960, he was the acting chairman of the Jewish Agency's Jerusalem office.
President of Israel
Zalman Shazar was chosen to be the President of Israel by the Knesset in 1963. He served two terms as president.
Key Presidential Moments
- In 1963, he attended the funeral of U.S. President John F. Kennedy after he was assassinated.
- In 1964, when Pope Paul VI visited Israel, Shazar quoted a verse from the Book of Micah to him. The verse said that even if other nations follow other gods, "we will walk in the Name of our Lord God forever."
- He was re-elected for his second term as president in 1968.
- In 1969, Shazar sent a special message to NASA for the first moon landing by Apollo 11. This message was one of 73 from world leaders. It is still on the moon today and says, "From the President of Israel in Jerusalem with hope for 'abundance of peace so long as the Moon endureth' (Psalms 72,7)."
- In 1973, Ephraim Katzir became the next President of Israel after Shazar.
International Visits as President
During his time as president, Shazar traveled to many countries. He attended important events and met with other world leaders.
- United States: He attended the funerals of Presidents John F. Kennedy (1963), Dwight Eisenhower (1969), and Lyndon B. Johnson (1973). He also met with President Richard Nixon in 1971.
- United Kingdom: He attended the funeral of Prime Minister Winston Churchill in 1965.
- Nepal: He visited and met with King Mahendra of Nepal in 1966.
- South America: He visited Uruguay, Chile, and Brazil in 1966, meeting with their presidents.
- Canada: He attended Canada's 100th birthday celebrations in 1967 and met with the Governor General and Prime Minister.
- Denmark: He attended the funeral of King Frederick IX of Denmark in 1972.
Awards and Recognition
- In 1966, Shazar received the Bialik Prize for literature. This is a very important award for Hebrew writers. He shared the prize with Israel Efrat.
- You can see Shazar's picture on the 200 shekel banknotes in Israel.
- A junior high school in Kfar Saba is named after him: Zalman Shazar Junior High School.
Images for kids
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A robot image.
See also
- List of Bialik Prize recipients
