State Medal - Zalman Shazar

Shneur Zalman (Rubasov) Shazar was born in the Belorussian town of Minsk in 1889. His parents, followers of the Chabad Hassidic Movement, gave him a traditional and Zionistic education. When he was young, he was a member of the "Po'alei Zion" Movement and together with Ber Borochov, edited the Movement's publications, until they were arrested for such activities. IN 1912, Shazar began studying history and philosophy in Germany, where he supported himself by editing and writing articles for the Yiddish Press in Russia and the United States. He was one of the founders of the Labor Zionist and "Hehalutz" Movement. In 1920, Shazar married Rachel Katznelson. He participated in the 12th Zionist Congress and was elected to the Po'alei Zion Board. Zalman Shazar made Aliya in 1924 and became a member of the secretariat of the Histadrut and of the editorial staff of its paper, Davar. Due to his rhetorical skills, he successfully carried out a number of missions abroad. In 1947, he was appointed to the delegation of the United Nations, when it recognized the founding of the State of Israel. At the same time, he built a relationship with the Lubavitcher Rabbi Scheerson and helped in the establishment of Kfar Chabad. In 1949, Shazar was elected to the first Knesset and in 1951, he was appointed as Minister of Education and Culture. In this capacity, he was responsible for the Compulsory Education Law. In the following years, he fulfilled a number of executive positions in the Jewish Agency. Zalman Shazar was elected as third President of Israel in 1963 and served for 10 years in this office. During his term, he turned the President's Residence into an intellectual center of the Jewish World. Zalman Shazar was known for his literary talents; he wrote and translated poetry, prose and articles in a wide number of subjects. His writing style displayed the combination of lyricism with Biblical influence, integrated with practical and contemporary issues. He was well known in the areas of Jewish historiography, philology and Biblical criticism. Shazar's wide scope of literary and cultural pursuits added much depth to his missions and role as President. Zalman Shazar passed away in 1974.