Menachem Ben-Sasson

Menachem Ben-Sasson
File:IMG 4730 Ben sasson menahem.JPG
Date of birth	(1951-07-07) 7 July 1951
Place of birth	Jerusalem, Israel
Knessets	17
Faction represented in Knesset
2006–2009	Kadima

Menahem Ben-Sasson (Hebrew: מנחם בן-ששון‎, born 7 July 1951) is an Israeli politician and a former member of the Knesset for Kadima. He is the president of Hebrew University of Jerusalem, succeeding Menachem Magidor.

Biography

Born in Jerusalem, Ben-Sasson served in a Nahal unit in Ein Tzurim and in the artillery section during his national service in the IDF. He went on to study at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, where he gained a BA in History and philosophy and a PhD in the History of the Jewish People in the Islamic Lands.

Ben-Sasson lives in Jerusalem, and is married with three children. In addition to Hebrew, he speaks Arabic, English, French and German.

Academic career

After doing a post-doctorate at the University of Cambridge, he became a professor of the History of the Jewish Nation. Between 1997 and 2001 he served as rector of the Hebrew University, and represented the Association of University Heads at Knesset committees. He has also served on the board of directors at Yad Vashem, as president of the World Union of Jewish Studies, and is as vice-president of the Memorial Foundation for Jewish Culture.

Political career

Prior to the 2006 elections, Ben-Sasson was placed 20th on Kadima's list. With the party winning 29 seats, he entered the Knesset, and was appointed chairman of the Constitution, Law and Justice Committee. He also served as chairman of the Parliamentary Inquiry Committee on Wiretapping, and chairs the Lobby for Higher Education.

He lost his seat in the 2009 elections.

External links

• Menachem Ben-Sasson on the Knesset website