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Dov Shilansky Obituary
Shilansky died at Ichilov Hospital in Tel Aviv, parliament spokesman Giora Pordes told The Associated Press.
The diminutive politician with an unruly thatch of white hair was known for his hard-line political views alongside an easygoing manner and ready smile.
From 1988 to 1992, Shilansky served as speaker of the parliament. In 1993, he was the Likud candidate for the ceremonial post of president, losing an election in the parliament to Ezer Weizman, a popular ex-air force commander.
Possibly his longest-lasting legacy is a ceremony that has become part of Israel's observance of an annual memorial day for the 6 million Jewish victims of the Nazi Holocaust. Concerned that the huge number was incomprehensible, in 1989 he got fellow lawmakers to stand at a podium in the parliament building and read names of victims.
The custom, known as "Every Person Has a Name," quickly spread to public squares all over Israel. After retiring from politics, Shilansky served on the board of Yad Vashem, Israel's Holocaust memorial authority.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a political ally, said that with Shilansky's passing, Israel lost one of its most dedicated and exemplary leaders.
"The story of his life is the story of our people," he said Thursday.
Born in Lithuania, Shilansky immigrated to Israel in 1948 after years of activism in a hard-line Jewish movement. He was a lawyer by training and was first elected to parliament for the hawkish Likud Party in 1977. Later he was appointed a deputy minister in Prime Minister Menachem Begin's government.
Before arriving in Israel, he was a commander in the Jewish underground movement Etzel in Germany and Italy. He arrived in Israel aboard the Altalena, a ship carrying tons of arms illegally to the Etzel militia. Etzel, also known as Irgun, was headed by Begin in Israel. It was disbanded when the state of Israel was set up.
Shilansky fought in the war that followed Israel's creation in 1948-49. In 1952, Shilansky was arrested for carrying explosives into the Foreign Ministry building in Tel Aviv to try to disrupt Israeli-German negotiations for a reparations agreement after the Holocaust. That reflected extreme displeasure of his and Begin's Herut party, an outgrowth of Etzel, to any dealings with Germany.
Shilansky was sentenced to two years in prison.
Shilansky is survived by two children, according to Pordes. Another son died in 1974 while serving in the Israeli army.
His funeral is scheduled for Friday in Tel Aviv.
Copyright © 2010 The Associated Press
Memories and Condolences
for Dov Shilansky
14 Entries
Yitzak and Aviya Greenberg
December 14, 2010
zichrono livracha
Tami Bramblett
December 14, 2010
My condolences to his family and friends. Thank you , Sir, for making sure the lost were no longer "lost"...personally I would like to see a traveling memorial in the same vein in the United States. No generation should EVER be allowed to forget or lose perspective. RIP to a good man.
Denisha
December 13, 2010
My deepest condolences to you all for your precious loss. When tragedy happens the pain, the grief, and the feelings of helplessness can be unbearable. But, it's times like this we need to go to God's Word for Comfort, Hope & Strength. Isaiah 41:13
Tom Smith
December 13, 2010
May the God of all comfort, comfort the family and friends of Dov Shilansky. Psalm 34:18 assures us that the God of all comfort is near those broken at heart and crushed in spirit he saves.
December 13, 2010
You represented life's and freedom's commitment to a people who continue to struggel to survive in a world who hates them, Sir. To your family, i send my deepest and heartfelt condolences. Your name is remembered with respect, admiration and much love. I stand with your people. Donna Bergeron
December 12, 2010
May your name Dov Shilansky be remembered for the world to know what the people of Israel suffered and continues to suffer. Why? Because you are Gods chosen to light the world to truth. God bless and keep you ,his family, in His love and care. I never knew you until today . But I want to thank you for my childrens childrens sake.Warner Robins, GA
Dov visting my father, his first cousin, Barney Mark for hos 90th Birthday
Roslyn Diamond
December 11, 2010
Altho he was older than i.. my cousin Dov always made time for me.. He called me his little Dove" He however shared the same goals.. of making peace;; but not at the price of the destruction of the Jewish people. He personally experienced every trauma that Jews have had to endure. One of the real heroes of our generation. A hero willing to sacrifice his life,his liberty. his comfort. but never his belief in the right to a safe homeland for the Jewish people.
Dolon Peete
December 11, 2010
May the love of friends and family carry you through your grief.
December 11, 2010
We are the grateful recipients of all that Dov Shilansky did for the Jewish people and the State of Israel, and we can especially appreciate all he has done as we are also descended from Lithuanian Jews who suffered but miraculously survived the Holocaust to go on to serve in the Bricha and to build the State of Israel.
An American Jewish Family in CT
CARL RIZZO
December 11, 2010
I WOULD DESCRIBE DOV SHILANSKY WITH THE
TEN MOST IMPORTANT WORDS IN THE ENGLISH
DICTIONARY IN THIS ORDER : FAITH,HOPE,
LOVE,CONSCIOUS,REMORSE,EMPATHY,HONOR,
DUTY,GRIEF,AND CHARITY.
December 10, 2010
TO THE SHILANSKY FAMILY,I EXPRESS MY DEEPEST SYMPATHY AT THIS VERY DIFFICULT AND PAINFUL TIME,PLEASE FIND COMFORT IN READING DANIEL 12;2.A,WINCHER.HOUSTON,TX.
R Golay
December 10, 2010
To the the family of Dov Shilansky - May God give you peace and comfort through his word and the Lord Jesus Christ during this time of sorrow, I know that Dov will be missed by many.
Beryl Shilansky Cheerin
December 10, 2010
Dov was my Fathers nephew and although we have lived on other sides of the world we have tried to keep contact with our family in Israel. He was a truly great man who fought for his country and the Jews in general. He will always be remembered by all who knew him and had come into contact with him. May his dear soul rest in peace. I only wish that my children had had the opportunity to know you.
CD
December 10, 2010
My thoughts and prayers are with you in your time of grief. May your memories bring you comfort.
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