Center Bulletin, Vol. 5, No. 32

Menachem Begin Heritage Center Bulletin Vol. 5, No. 32 | 4 June 2009

TOTAL NUMBER OF VISITORS SINCE OCTOBER 2004: 493,959


NEW ADDITION TO THE ARCHIVES

The archives of the Menachem Begin Heritage Center this week received a banner that was used at an Irgun Zvai Leumi rally during the Mandate period. The history of the banner is that it was used at the rally, was taken down by a British policeman who apparently took it home to Britain. After his death, his daughter gave it to Dr. Michael Bloch who lives in Germany. Dr. Bloch then gave the banner to the Begin Center. This interesting story caught the attention of Mekor Rishon which published the pictures.


ISRAEL GOVERNMENT FELLOW MENTIONED BY NETANYAHU

Jason Reinin, a participant in the Israel Government Fellows program this year, was mentioned by name in a speech given by Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu at a MASA event on 26 May. He said:

And it's up to you, Jason Reinin. Jason is a 27 year-old Californian who is now an intern in the Ministry of Finance. Jason, you'll be joining the best people in our Government and I want you to help us cut down the bureaucracy. You'll make a wonderful, wonderful official.
It's up to you, Eera, and it's up to you, Jason, and it's up to you, and it’s up to all of us. By participating in MASA, you have shown that you are ready to stand up with Israel, and do what's right to preserve our future.



NATIONAL MOVIES AT THE BEGIN CENTER

The launch of the National Movies series sponsored by the 12 Tribe Foundation and the Menachem Begin Heritage Center was attended by about 130 people who were emotionally moved by the movie and speaker on the topic of the fall of Jerusalem in 1948.

UPCOMING: The next movie, Dubik will be on Thursday, June 11 at 8:30pm, after the Parashat HaShavua. Dubik is a story about a settler whose son is murdered and he must find a way to go on. Afterwards will be a discussion with the producer, Yehuda Betam. The movie is in Hebrew with English subtitles and the discussion afterwards will be in Hebrew. The cost is 30NIS.



ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL SHAVUOT

The Begin Center hosted another successful Shavuot all-night study session. The auditorium was full all the time and the seminar room and study groups had a consistent number of people coming in and out. Altogether the evening had approximately 600 people through the evening.


UPCOMING EVENTS

Sunday, June 7, at 6:30pm – "Just not civil war" On the 61st anniversary of the sinking of the Altalena, the Begin Center is hosting, in cooperation with Mekor Rishon and Shilo, an evening in remembrance for Yedidiah Segel and the launching of the book written by his nephew, Hagai Segel, about Yedidiah's kidnapping and subsequent torture at the hands of the Hagana. Opening speakers will be Amit Segel, Herzl Makov, Chairman of the Begin Center, and Shlomo Ben Zvi from Mekor Rishon. The main speakers will be Speaker of the Knesset Reuben Rivlin who will speak about Historical Justice and Legal Justice and Leader of the Opposition MK Tzipi Livni who will speak about Relations between the Right and Left, Then and Now. There will also be a panel discussion with Shalom Yerushalmi of Ma'ariv, Tzvi Barzel who was also kidnapped by the Hagana, and Aliza Forkush, Yedidiah Segel's sister. Music will be provided by Lior Yayne. For more information and to make a reservation, please call (02) 565-2020.

Tuesday, June 9, at 8:00pm – Another evening of poetry and sing-a-longs with Nahum Heyman. This evening's poems and songs will feature BILU pioneers and the 4th Aliyah.

Thursday, June 11, at 8:30pm – The National Film Series at the Begin Center, showing Dubik.

Sunday, June 14, at 5:00pm – The Begin Center in cooperation with the World Jewish Congress Research Center will host a seminar on Reevaluating American on the Shoah. Introductory remarks will be given by Mattiyahu Droblas, Co-Chairman of the World Jewish Congress, and Herzl Makov, Chairman of the Begin Center. The speakers that evening will be Dr. Rafael Medoff, Director of the David S. Wyman Institute of Holocaust Studies, on Abandonment and Rescue: American Christian and Jewish Responses to the Shoah and Dr. Ofer Schiff, Head of the Israel Studies Program, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Be'er Sheva, who will speak on Abba Hillel Silver: An American Zionist Leader and the Shoah. This event will be in English. Please make reservations at (02) 633-3003.


CONDOLENCES

We extend our condolences to the family of Dr. Ephraim Katzir who passed away this week. Dr. Katzir was a former president of Israel, a researcher at the Weizmann Institute and a member of the International Board of the Menachem Begin Heritage Foundation.


VISITORS

Eric and Suzy Graus of London, England, stopped by the Begin Center for a visit this past week. Eric Graus is the Chairman of the UK Friends of the Menachem Begin Heritage Foundation and is also on the International Board of the Foundation.