Center Bulletin Vol. 3, No. 51

Volume 3, Issue 51
October 2, 2007

Total Number of Visitors Since October 2004: 327,780


Response to the Ma'ariv Article

Much interest was aroused by the media reports and discussion on the Ma'ariv opinion poll which once again shows Menachem Begin as the "best Prime Minister Israel has had since the creation of the State." The decision was generally acclaimed but old-time political opponents who fought against Begin in the days of the Irgun and the 29 years he led the Opposition in the Knesset still adhere to their prejudices.

The Menachem Begin Heritage Foundation received enthusiastic reactions by email and phone from people in Israel and abroad.

"Yearning for Zion: Yemenite Jewry"

On Monday during Chol HaMoed Sukkot, 350 people came to the Reuben Hecht Auditorium of the Menachem Begin Heritage Center to celebrate Yemenite Jewry—its culture, history, food and music. Geula Cohen emceed the event which opened with speakers from Yad Ben Tzvi who talked about Yemenite culture, its Zionist motivations and other similar topics.

The intermission was a celebration of Yemenite food served in the Sukkah with Yemenite music playing in the background.

Upon returning to the auditorium, Tzion Golan and the "Avihu Medina" singers entertained with traditional songs and the Inbal dance troupe featured traditional Yemenite dancing.

Brigadier General Avigdor Kahalani gave a lecture on the topic of Yemenite culture and traditions and the Yemenite Jews' commitment to Eretz Israel.

Israel Government Fellows Off to A Good Start

The Israel Government Fellows program which has been organized by the Menachem Begin Heritage Center is proceeding well after the initial two weeks of orientation and integration. The 19 students who are here from five countries have had a series of lectures and briefings at the Begin Center and have participated in the first tour program at Masada and the Judean Desert area. They also visited the Menachem Begin Museum for the first time and were greatly impressed by it.

After the Sukkot holiday, they will begin their internships in various government offices and Ministries. The program is being directed by Tamar Darmon and her assistant Alon Shani.

Los Angeles Commemoration

A "first time ever" commemoration of Menachem Begin will be held in Los Angeles on October 9. The idea was initiated by the Consul General of Israel in Los Angeles Ehud Danoch. Among those participating will be Yechiel Kadishai, Chassia Begin and Member of Knesset Gilad Erdan. The Begin Center is represented by Center Chairman Herzl Makov.

Comedy Event At the Begin Center

Honest Reporting, an organization dedicated to balancing media bias against Israel, organized an unusual event at Reuben Hecht Auditorium of the Menachem Begin Heritage Center. 150 English speakers came to see a stand-up comedy act by comic Avi Liberman. Avi Liberman was born in Israel, raised in Texas and currently lives in Los Angeles. He has been seen on a number of stages in the US, both in person and on television. He regularly tours in Israel to help support various causes.

Gluck Family Visit

Leading friends and supporters of the Menachem Begin Heritage Foundation Jean and Eugen Gluck of Forest Hills, New York, visited the Begin Center before Sukkot and were welcomed and updated by the Founder and President Harry Hurwitz and the Chairman of the Center, Herzl Makov. They were accompanied by their friends and neighbors Norman and Agnes Moskowitz who, like the Glucks, were greatly impressed by the museum, the Auditorium—where they learned about the Junior Knesset program—and the Beit Midrash Menachem—where they learned about the Rohr Family Parashat HaShavua program. At the end of the tour Mr. Gluck said he was profoundly moved by the manner in which the great leader Menachem Begin has been recaptured in the Center and he can understand why it makes such a great impression on visitors from Israel and abroad.

In Memoriam

We regret to record the death of Eliyahu Isaacson, a veteran Israeli land developer and agriculturalist. He is survived by his wife Ruth, a well-known WIZO leader, two sons and a daughter. His son, Miron Isaacson, is a poet and lecturer and was the editor of the Begin Album published by Yediot Ahronot 4 years ago.