The Man Behind the Leader: The Biography of Yechiel Kadishai, Chief of Staff and Confidant of Menachem Begin

Yechiel Kadishai was a close confidant of Menachem Begin, the sixth Prime Minister of Israel, and played a key role in shaping Israeli policy during the tumultuous years of the 1970s and 1980s. Kadishai was born in Poland in 1923 and immigrated to Israel in 1948. He joined the Irgun, a Jewish paramilitary organization, and fought in the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. After the war, Kadishai became a member of the Knesset, the Israeli parliament, and served in various ministerial positions. In 1977, he was appointed Chief of Staff to Begin, a position he held until 1983.

As Chief of Staff, Kadishai was responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of the Prime Minister's Office and for advising Begin on a wide range of policy issues. He was a key player in the negotiations that led to the Camp David Accords, the peace treaty between Israel and Egypt, and he also played a role in the development of Israel's nuclear weapons program. Kadishai was a controversial figure, and his tenure as Chief of Staff was marked by both successes and failures. He was accused of being too close to Begin and of wielding too much power. However, there is no doubt that he was a brilliant and influential figure who played a major role in Israeli history.

Right Hand Man: The Biography of Yechiel Kadishai Chief-of-Staff and Confidant of Menachem Begin

4.5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	6721 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	338 pages
Lending	:	Enabled

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Early Life and Education

Yechiel Kadishai was born in Warsaw, Poland, on August 23, 1923. His parents, Shmuel and Miriam Kadishai, were both Zionists, and they instilled in him a love of Israel from a young age. Kadishai attended Hebrew school and was active in the Zionist youth movement. In 1939, when he was 16 years old, Kadishai immigrated to Israel with his family. He settled in Tel Aviv, where he attended the Herzliya Hebrew Gymnasium.

After graduating from high school, Kadishai joined the Irgun, a Jewish paramilitary organization. He fought in the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, and was wounded in action. After the war, Kadishai studied law at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. He graduated in 1951 and began practicing law in Tel Aviv.

Political Career

Kadishai entered politics in 1955, when he was elected to the Knesset on the Herut party list. Herut was a right-wing party led by Menachem Begin. Kadishai served in the Knesset for 10 years, during which time he held several ministerial positions. In 1967, he was appointed Minister of Housing and Construction. In 1970, he was appointed Minister of Finance. In 1973, he was appointed Minister of Defense.

In 1977, Begin became Prime Minister of Israel. Kadishai was appointed Chief of Staff to Begin, a position he held until 1983. As Chief of Staff, Kadishai was responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of the Prime Minister's Office and for advising Begin on a wide range of policy issues. He was a key player in the negotiations that led to the Camp David Accords, the peace treaty between Israel and Egypt. He also played a role in the development of Israel's nuclear weapons program.

Kadishai was a controversial figure, and his tenure as Chief of Staff was marked by both successes and failures. He was accused of being too close to Begin and of wielding too much power. However, there is no doubt that he was a brilliant and influential figure who played a major role in Israeli history.

Later Life and Legacy

After leaving the Prime Minister's Office in 1983, Kadishai retired from politics. He returned to practicing law and became a partner in a law firm in Tel Aviv. He also wrote several books, including his memoirs, "My Life with Begin".

Kadishai died in Tel Aviv on January 20, 1996. He was 72 years old. He is survived by his wife, Shulamit, and his three children.

Kadishai was a complex and fascinating figure. He was a brilliant and influential politician, but he was also a controversial and polarizing figure. He was a close confidant of Menachem Begin, and he played a key role in shaping Israeli policy during the tumultuous years of the 1970s and 1980s. He was a brilliant and influential figure who played a major role in Israeli history.

Right Hand Man: The Biography of Yechiel Kadishai Chief-of-Staff and Confidant of Menachem Begin

4.5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	6721 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	338 pages
Lending	:	Enabled

FREE