Tommy Lapid Israeli journalist, TV presenter, politician and statesman, member of the Knesset Date of Birth: 27.12.1931 Country: Israel

1. Early Life and Holocaust Survival
2. Immigration to Israel and Early Career
3. Political Career
4. Later Years
5. Legacy

Early Life and Holocaust Survival

Tommy Lapid was born in Novi Sad, Yugoslavia, in 1931. During World War II, his family was deported to the Budapest ghetto by the occupying Hungarian forces. His father perished in a concentration camp, but Tommy and his mother managed to survive the ordeal.

Immigration to Israel and Early Career

In 1948, Lapid immigrated to Israel and fought in the War of Independence. He became a journalist, working as an editor for an Israeli newspaper and a correspondent for the daily Haaretz. Lapid later became the executive director and general manager of the Israeli Broadcasting Authority.

Political Career

In the 1990s, Lapid joined the Shinui party, which advocated for secularism and separation of religion from state. He became the party's leader and entered the Knesset in 1999. In 2003, Shinui became the third-largest party in the Knesset, and Lapid became Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Justice. However, conflicts within the government led to Shinui's exit from the coalition in 2004.

Later Years

After leaving Shinui, Lapid was appointed chairman of Yad Vashem, a Holocaust memorial center. In 2006, both Shinui and the party he symbolically joined failed to win any seats in the Knesset elections. Lapid passed away in 2008 due to cancer.

Legacy

Tommy Lapid was a prominent Israeli journalist, politician, and advocate for secularism. His efforts to separate religion and state continue to influence Israeli politics today.