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Emil GrunzweigHe was an Israeli school teacher and anti-war activist.
Date of Birth: 01.12.1947
Country:  Israel |
Content:
- Emil Greenzweig: A Life Dedicated to Peace and Education
- Teaching Career and Activism
- The Sabra and Shatila Massacre and Aftermath
- Tragedy and Legacy
Emil Greenzweig: A Life Dedicated to Peace and Education
Early Life and Military ServiceEmil Greenzweig was born in Cluj-Napoca, Romania, in 1944. His mother, Olga, survived the Auschwitz death camp, and the family immigrated to Israel in 1959. Emil served in the Israeli Army's Nahal Brigade in the kibbutz of Revivim in the Negev. He participated in the Six-Day War as a paratrooper and subsequently served in the reserves during the War of Attrition, Yom Kippur War, and First Lebanon War.
Teaching Career and Activism
After completing his military service, Greenzweig settled in Kibbutz Revivim, where he worked in agriculture. He studied mathematics and philosophy at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and taught at the Maale Beesor High School in Kibbutz Magen. Greenzweig was actively involved in peace and coexistence initiatives, organizing role-playing games for students to explore the Arab-Israeli conflict, labor relations, and the relationship between religion and state.
The Sabra and Shatila Massacre and Aftermath
In September 1982, in the wake of the Sabra and Shatila massacre, Greenzweig joined the "Peace Now" movement to demand accountability for the atrocities. The movement organized a demonstration outside Prime Minister Menachem Begin's residence on February 10, 1983.
Tragedy and Legacy
During the demonstration, a right-wing extremist named Yona Avrushmi threw a grenade into the crowd of protesters. Greenzweig was killed instantly, along with nine others, and dozens more were injured. Avrushmi was convicted of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment. Greenzweig's funeral was attended by thousands of mourners.
In Greenzweig's memory, the Israeli Association for Human Rights created the Emil Greenzweig Prize for outstanding contributions to human rights activism. This annual award honours his unwavering commitment to peace, social justice, and coexistence.
