Hebrew biography launched
The event attended by nearly 100 people, took place in the Naomi and Isi Leibler Exhibition Hall at the Wurzweiler Central Library at Bar-Ilan University.
The late Isi Leibler and his contributions to Israel and the Jewish people were warmly remembered by MK Yuli Edelstein, family and friends at a special ceremony earlier this month in Israel marking the publication of the Hebrew version of the book Lone Voice: The Wars of Isi Leibler.
The event attended by nearly 100 people, took place in the Naomi and Isi Leibler Exhibition Hall at the Wurzweiler Central Library at Bar-Ilan University.
Originally written in English by renowned Australian historian Prof Suzanne Rutland and published in 2021, the Hebrew version was translated by Israeli journalist Avirama Golan and published by Bar-Ilan University Press.
A giant of Australian Jewry, Leibler was a major player on the world Jewish stage for over six decades. He was a key figure in placing the issue of Soviet Union Jewry on the world agenda and in establishing diplomatic ties between the State of Israel and China and India.
He “was a man of vision whose love of Jewishness and the land of Israel were first and foremost”, recalled Rutland.
His books, including Soviet Jewry and Human Rights: The Case for Israel, and his involvement in endeavours against antisemitism and BDS, often predicted the future long in advance. He advocated for rescinding the UN resolution equating Zionism with racism.
Recalling Leibler’s long-time, unceasing activism on behalf of Soviet Jewry, Vera Muravitz, former chairman of the International Friends of Bar-Ilan University, said, “It took a leader from Down Under to draw attention to the plight of our brothers and sisters in the Soviet Union.” She introduced two friends and refuseniks in the audience whose freedom was secured by Leibler – Ari Volvovski and Ephraim Kholmianski, in addition to former prisoner of Zion Edelstein.
“He lived by example and one of his most important ideals was ensuring the continuity of the Jewish people,” said Muravitz.
Speaking on behalf of the family, Isi’s son Jonathan Leibler said that despite Isi’s commitment to so many endeavours and all his achievements, his family was his first priority and they never felt his absence. He said Isi hoped his grandchildren would work similarly to defend their people, and the family consistently works to perpetuate the values that the beloved patriarch instilled in them.
In 2016, Bar-Ilan University awarded Leibler an honorary doctorate for his tireless activism on behalf of the Jewish people. The extensive Leibler Reference Collection of 40,000 volumes will one day be housed at Bar-Ilan’s Wurzweiler Central Library Building.
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