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Aharon BarakChief Justice of the Supreme Court of Israel
Date of Birth: 16.09.1936
Country:  Lithuania |
Content:
Biography of Aharon Barak
Aharon Barak, born Arik Brick, was born in Kaunas in 1936. His father, Girsh Brick, was a lawyer, and his mother, Liba (Lea) Brick, was a teacher. Barak spent his childhood in the Kaunas Ghetto, and in 1947, his family moved to Palestine.
Education and Early Career
Barak began his education at the prestigious school "Near the University" and later pursued a degree in law at the Hebrew University. In 1958, he earned his first academic degree in law and also studied economics and international relations. He served in the Israeli Defense Army from 1958 to 1960 as part of the bureau of the chief commander's economic advisor.
After completing his military service, Barak returned to the university and obtained his doctorate in 1963. During this time, he also interned with the government's legal advisor, Gideon Hausner, although he chose to end the internship after Hausner's involvement in the Eichmann trial due to personal interest as a Holocaust survivor.
Academic Career and Judicial Role
In 1966-1967, Barak continued his internship at Harvard University, and in 1968, he was appointed as a professor at the Hebrew University. In 1974, he became the dean of the university's law faculty and established the university's periodic publication, "Mishpatim."
Barak was awarded the State of Israel Prize in 1975, making him one of the youngest laureates. That same year, he was elected as a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
From 1975 to 1978, Barak served as the Legal Advisor to the Prime Minister, appointed at the initiative of Minister of Justice Chaim Cohn. During this role, he made several notable decisions.
In 1978, Prime Minister Menachem Begin invited Barak to participate in the Israeli-Egyptian peace negotiations as the legal advisor to the Israeli delegation at the Camp David Conference.
On September 22, 1978, Aharon Barak was appointed as a judge in the Supreme Court of Israel, making him the youngest judge in the court's history. Given his rapid career progression, he drew significant press attention and was often referred to as the "wunderkind of Israeli justice."
In 1982-1983, Barak served as a member of the "Kahan Commission," a state investigation commission created to investigate the massacre in the Sabra and Shatila refugee camps in Beirut. The commission, led by Supreme Court President Itzhak Kahan, included Barak and Major General Yona Efrat. The commission criticized the actions of Prime Minister Begin and recommended the removal of Ariel Sharon from his position as the Minister of Defense. The commission's recommendations had a revolutionary impact on Israeli justice.
Throughout his career, Aharon Barak has had a significant impact on Israeli law as the Chairman of the Supreme Court, legal advisor to the Prime Minister, dean of the law faculty, and as a respected professor and scholar.
