Menachem Begin: The Battle for Israel’s Soul By Daniel Gordis Schocken, 320 pages, $27.95. Menachem Begin was one of the more complex personalities in Zionist history. Certainly, he was among the most controversial, and his story has been oft-told. Amos Perlmutter’s 1987 “The Life and Times of Menachem Begin” was conceived as a political biography,…
Ariel Sharon in Knesset, preparing his speech for opening of summer session, May 7, 2001 / Getty Images Amid the outpouring of tributes to Ariel Sharon following his death, a few seem particularly noteworthy for their unexpected insights — some into the life and character of Sharon, others into the character of the writers. Chemi…
“Why Sandra Bullock as the voice of Golda Meir?” I asked Richard Trank, director of the documentary “The Prime Ministers: The Pioneers” which opens October 18 at The Quad, in New York City. Bullock, now starring in the mega-hit “Gravity” may leave filmgoers speechless, but as the voice of prime minister Meir, she lacks the…
On a day in June 1977, in a Knesset buzzing with excitement — every seat taken, senior officials cramming reserved sections, and the galleries packed with ambassadors and other dignitaries — Menachem Begin, a picture of confidence and robustness, mounted the podium to present his newly elected government for parliamentary approval. He dryly outlined the…
TV journalism matriarch Barbara Walters will be hanging up her mic in May 2014. Over her 52-year career, she’s interviewed every US President and First Lady since Richard and Pat Nixon, Hollywood icons, world leaders, dictators, Justin Bieber, and even a member of the tribe or two. Here’s a look back at some of her…
Before Rozanne Gold wrote 12 cookbooks, won four James Beard Awards, created the menus for three of New York?s three-star restaurants, inspired the New York Times? ?Minimalist? column and invented the concept of Hudson Valley Cuisine, she was the private chef to Mayor Ed Koch. Gold, who was only 23 when she moved into Gracie…
One of the bitterest confrontations on record pitting Jew against Jew is soon to be dredged up ? quite literally. The Israeli government has given instructions for the raising of the Altalena, a Jewish ship on which the country?s prime minister, David Ben-Gurion, ordered his army to fire shortly after he declared independence, in 1948….
100% of profits support our journalism
