The witness • Israel's fifth president, Yitzhak Navon died

Today (Saturday), the fifth President of the State of Israel, Yitzhak Navon z"l, died at the age of 94. He was the secretary of David Ben-Gurion and witnessed the historic meeting with the leader of haredi Judaism, Hagaon Rabbi Avraham Yeshayahu Karelitz, the Chazon Ish zt"l.

Navon was born in Jerusalem on April 9, 1921 to a prominent Sephardic family. His mother was a descendant from the Ohr Hachayim.

He learned in the Hebrew University and at the age of only 25 he headed the Arabic Department of the Haganah in Jerusalem. Between 1949-1951, he served as a diplomat in Uruguay and Argentina at the end of his mission, he was appointed Secretary of State of the Foreign Minister Moshe Sharett. As of 1952 he began to serve as director of prime minister Moshe Sharett and David Ben-Gurion, a position he held until 1963.

On October 20, 1952, a famous meeting was held between prime minister David Ben-Gurion and the Chazon Ish, when the one who organized it and was witness to it was Navon.

According to his report, Ben-Gurion said: "I came to talk to you about one topic, how will religious Jews and non-religious live together in this country, without us getting blown up from the inside? The Chazon Ish replied with a parable "if two camels meet on the way down the lane, and one camel is loaded, and other does not carry freight, the one that isn't loaded must clear the way for the loaded camel. We the religious Jews are like a camel loaded with freight - we have a great deal of burden of commandments. You need to clear the way for us."

After the union of Mapai and Rafi with Ahdut Haavoda Poalei Tzion in 1968 to the Labor Party, Navon was elected to the Knesset.

Navon held a number of political positions and served as an MK until he was elected as fifth president of Israel on April 19 1978, and held the post for five years.

After the expiration of the term of office he returned to political life, entered the Knesset and served a number of roles.

His family said: "With bowed head and with deep sorrow we notify you that on the death of my dear husband, our father, father in law and grandfather, the fifth president of Israel, Yitzhak Navon. A man of action and spirit, a novelist and playwright, educator and peace loving statesman, a lover of all mankind, he died yesterday at his home in Jerusalem. "

The ninth president Shimon Peres eulogized him: "We separate today from one of the most wonderful of our people. He bore the wisdom of the ages in his heart and sang the wonderful singing of the city of Jerusalem. He was the fifth president of Israel. Yitzhak Navon was not only an extremely loved president who could inspire love for the people and the people loved him back, but also a poet who told us the treasures of our people throughout the Diaspora as a Spanish Orchard. For me, Yitzchak was a friend at heart for over fifty years. I saw him serving as one who instilled the Hebrew language, a beloved President who was also able to hold his own, as an author and one who can join those who are far, deep in thoughts and always makes sure to uplift the people of Israel."

"We both served many years under Ben-Gurion. We had the merit of a significant period of working together under the greatest Jewish leaders in our generation. The contribution of Yitzhak Navon is rare and generous and will not be forgotten. Your friendship will accompany me and your friends all the way there we go."

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu expressed his deep sorrow at the passing of the fifth President Yitzhak Navon and said, "I always impressed by the depth of his education, his openness to people and his deep love for the people of Israel and its heritage."

"Navon, as secretary of David Ben-Gurion, as education minister and as president, was a full partner in the shaping of Israel as a free country, Jewish and democratic state," Netanyahu said.

The Prime Minister eulogized Navon saying: "As president, author and playwright Navon worked to bring close the different sectors of Israel, to commemorate the Sephardic Judaism and for the knowledge of the history of Jerusalem where he was born and lived all his life. Navon will be remembered as one of the aristocrats of the nation and one of the favorite sons. May his memory be blessed."

'בחדרי' גם ברשתות החברתיות - הצטרפו!