One Hundred Years Old

Last night, Sunday evening, we marked the 100gth birthday of Professor Ben-Tzion Netanyahu, scholar, historian, editor of the Encyclopedia Ivrit, essayist, publicist and activist, father of Yoni z"l, Benjamin and Ido.

The event took place at the Begin Center. Some 350 guests heard and saw Former Supreme Court President Justice Meir Shamgar, Jabotinsky Institute Director Yossi Achimeir, Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu, President Shimon Peres and Professor Yirmiyahu Yuval make remarks.

Professor BZ Netanyahu and son, Iddo, entering the Center:



Justice Shamgar:



Prime Minister Netanyahu:



President Shimon Peres:



Daughter-in-law and personal friend, Dafna Netanyahu:



(Further report here)


Besides exchanging greetings over the years, I had one true BZ Netanyahu experience.

When "Pillar of Fire" came out, the multi-part TV documentary on the history of Zionism, the role of the nationalist wing, the Revisionists, Jabotinsky, Irgun and Lechi was, of course, mis- and underrepresented. Some eight professors of the Right, including Netanyahu, Joseph Nedava, Israel Eldad and others had published a letter in Hebrew and the English version was composed by me, a cross between 80% translation and 20% adaption.

I gave it in and was told that I had to obtain Prof. Netanyahu's approval. I went to his home on HaPortzim Street in Jerusalem, was shown into the enormous library/study, and gingerly placed the page and half double-spaced English before him.

I don't think it took longer than an hour or so but we finished after he went over every word, balanced various nuances and alternatives, made some corrections, altered some punctuation and added and subtracted.

All and all, a normal Netanyhau editing experience.