Shmuel Ben-Artzi
Encyclopedia
Shmuel Ben-Artzi was an Israeli writer, poet and educator. Ben-Artzi was also the father in-law of the Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu
.
(nowadays located in Poland
). Growing up Ben-Artzi learned in a cheder
and in a branch of the Novardok yeshiva
in Mezhirichi
. Later on in his life Ben-Artzi immortalized the world of the Novardok yeshiva in three of his books.
He made aliyah
to Mandate Palestine in 1933 and began studying at the Beit Yosef yeshiva in Bnei Brak which was headed by Rabbi Yaakov Yisrael Kanievsky
. After about a year he left the yeshiva and went to work as a farmer in groves of Bnei Brak and as an agricultural administrator in Netanya. In 1945 he served in the Irgun
underground military group, and afterwards, from 1946 until 1948 in he served in the Jewish paramilitary organization Haganah
, which soon afterwards became the core of the Israel Defense Forces
.
During the next several decades Ben-Artzi worked as a teacher, raised a family and earning a bachelor's and a master's degree in Bible
, literature
and Hebrew language
from the University of Haifa
. In addition, through the years Ben-Artzi also published several books, including poetry books, children's books and a novel.
Ben-Artzi began his career in teaching at 1946 in the school in Tiberias. In 1950 he began teaching at Kibbutz Mahanayim
. After two years the family moved to Kfar Hittim
. Afterwards the family moved to Kiryat Tiv'on. From 1967 Ben-Artzi began teaching in a seminar for teachers at Nahalal
, and afterwards he also worked as the school principal of this seminar for a decade.
After many years in which he lived a secular lifestyle, during his last years Ben-Artzi returned to maintain a religious lifestyle.
During 2010 Ben-Artzi helped his 15-year-old grandson Avner Netanyahu, prepare for the International Bible Contest, which Avner won.
During the last months of his life, after his health deteriorated, Ben-Artzi was cared for by Sara Netanyahu at the prime minister's residence in Jerusalem.
Ben-Artzi died at the Hadassah Ein Kerem Medical Center in Jerusalem on November 9, 2011 at the age of 96.
Matanya Ben-Artzi, the professor of Talmud
and Jewish Thought
Hagai Ben-Artzi, and the psychologist Sarah Netanyahu, whom is also the wife of the Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu.
Benjamin Netanyahu
Benjamin "Bibi" Netanyahu is the current Prime Minister of Israel. He serves also as the Chairman of the Likud Party, as a Knesset member, as the Health Minister of Israel, as the Pensioner Affairs Minister of Israel and as the Economic Strategy Minister of Israel.Netanyahu is the first and, to...
.
Biography
Ben-Artzi was born Samuel Han on December 31, 1914, in Biłgoraj, Russian EmpireRussian Empire
The Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...
(nowadays located in Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
). Growing up Ben-Artzi learned in a cheder
Cheder
A Cheder is a traditional elementary school teaching the basics of Judaism and the Hebrew language.-History:...
and in a branch of the Novardok yeshiva
Novardok yeshiva
The Novardok yeshiva in Navahrudak, then the Russian Empire, was one of the biggest and most important yeshivas in pre-World War II Europe, and a powerful force within the Mussar movement. The yeshiva was established in 1896, together with a Kollel for married men, under the direction of Rabbi...
in Mezhirichi
Mezhirichi
Mezhirichi is a village in the Korets Raion of the Rivne Oblast, Ukraine. It is located in western Ukraine, 13 miles W of Korets, 27 miles E of Rivne.- Names :Mezhirichi is also known as , , .- Jewish life in Mezhirichi :...
. Later on in his life Ben-Artzi immortalized the world of the Novardok yeshiva in three of his books.
He made aliyah
Aliyah
Aliyah is the immigration of Jews to the Land of Israel . It is a basic tenet of Zionist ideology. The opposite action, emigration from Israel, is referred to as yerida . The return to the Holy Land has been a Jewish aspiration since the Babylonian exile...
to Mandate Palestine in 1933 and began studying at the Beit Yosef yeshiva in Bnei Brak which was headed by Rabbi Yaakov Yisrael Kanievsky
Yaakov Yisrael Kanievsky
Yaakov Yisrael Kanievsky, known as The Steipler or The Steipler Gaon , was a rabbi, Talmudic scholar, and posek .-Biography:...
. After about a year he left the yeshiva and went to work as a farmer in groves of Bnei Brak and as an agricultural administrator in Netanya. In 1945 he served in the Irgun
Irgun
The Irgun , or Irgun Zevai Leumi to give it its full title , was a Zionist paramilitary group that operated in Mandate Palestine between 1931 and 1948. It was an offshoot of the earlier and larger Jewish paramilitary organization haHaganah...
underground military group, and afterwards, from 1946 until 1948 in he served in the Jewish paramilitary organization Haganah
Haganah
Haganah was a Jewish paramilitary organization in what was then the British Mandate of Palestine from 1920 to 1948, which later became the core of the Israel Defense Forces.- Origins :...
, which soon afterwards became the core of the Israel Defense Forces
Israel Defense Forces
The Israel Defense Forces , commonly known in Israel by the Hebrew acronym Tzahal , are the military forces of the State of Israel. They consist of the ground forces, air force and navy. It is the sole military wing of the Israeli security forces, and has no civilian jurisdiction within Israel...
.
During the next several decades Ben-Artzi worked as a teacher, raised a family and earning a bachelor's and a master's degree in Bible
Bible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
, literature
Literature
Literature is the art of written works, and is not bound to published sources...
and Hebrew language
Hebrew language
Hebrew is a Semitic language of the Afroasiatic language family. Culturally, is it considered by Jews and other religious groups as the language of the Jewish people, though other Jewish languages had originated among diaspora Jews, and the Hebrew language is also used by non-Jewish groups, such...
from the University of Haifa
University of Haifa
The University of Haifa is a university in Haifa, Israel.The University of Haifa was founded in 1963 by Haifa mayor Abba Hushi, to operate under the academic auspices of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem....
. In addition, through the years Ben-Artzi also published several books, including poetry books, children's books and a novel.
Ben-Artzi began his career in teaching at 1946 in the school in Tiberias. In 1950 he began teaching at Kibbutz Mahanayim
Mahanayim
Mahanayim is a kibbutz in northern Israel. Located around three kilometres north-east of Rosh Pina, it falls under the jurisdiction of Upper Galilee Regional Council. In 2006 it had a population of 346....
. After two years the family moved to Kfar Hittim
Kfar Hittim
Kfar Hittim was the first moshav shitufi and the first Tower and stockade settlement in Israel. The moshav, a small farming community of 75 families, is under the jurisdiction of the Lower Galilee Regional Council in northern Israel....
. Afterwards the family moved to Kiryat Tiv'on. From 1967 Ben-Artzi began teaching in a seminar for teachers at Nahalal
Nahalal
-External links:** UNESCO* Jewish Agency for Israel*, "Jews made a garden" - aerial photo of Nahalal , and a girl from Girls' Agricultural Training Farm , at Google Books....
, and afterwards he also worked as the school principal of this seminar for a decade.
After many years in which he lived a secular lifestyle, during his last years Ben-Artzi returned to maintain a religious lifestyle.
During 2010 Ben-Artzi helped his 15-year-old grandson Avner Netanyahu, prepare for the International Bible Contest, which Avner won.
During the last months of his life, after his health deteriorated, Ben-Artzi was cared for by Sara Netanyahu at the prime minister's residence in Jerusalem.
Ben-Artzi died at the Hadassah Ein Kerem Medical Center in Jerusalem on November 9, 2011 at the age of 96.
Personal life
Ben-Artzi married Chava (née Paritzky). The couple had four children, including the professor of mathematicsMathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
Matanya Ben-Artzi, the professor of Talmud
Talmud
The Talmud is a central text of mainstream Judaism. It takes the form of a record of rabbinic discussions pertaining to Jewish law, ethics, philosophy, customs and history....
and Jewish Thought
Jewish thought
Jewish Thought is a field of Jewish Studies that deals with the products of Jewish thought and culture throughout the ages, and their historical development...
Hagai Ben-Artzi, and the psychologist Sarah Netanyahu, whom is also the wife of the Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu.
External links
- Shmuel Ben Artzi, father of Sara Netanyahu, dies - published on jta.org on November 9, 2011
- Netanyahu's father-in-law dies at 97 - published on YnetYnetYnet is the most popular Israeli news and general content website. It is owned by the same conglomerate that operates Yediot Ahronot, the country's secondleading daily newspaper...
on November 9, 2011 - Netanyahus Father-in-Law Publishes Second Book About His Yeshiva Years - published on YoutubeYouTubeYouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....