Emil Grunzweig
Encyclopedia
Emil Grunzweig (December 1, 1947, in Cluj
, Romania
- February 10, 1983 in Jerusalem) was an Israel
i teacher and peace
activist affiliated with the Peace Now movement. He became an icon of the Israeli left after he was killed by a grenade thrown at a peace rally in Jerusalem in 1983.
in Transylvania
, Romania. His mother, Olga, was a survivor of the Nazi extermination camp Auschwitz.
The family moved to France
and Brazil
before immigrating to Israel. Grunzweig's father, Samuel, died in France in 1963. In Israel, Olga and her two sons, Emil and Eliezer, settled in Haifa
, where Emil attended the Reali High School. After graduation, he joined a Nahal
unit based on Kibbutz
Revivim
in the Negev
. As a paratrooper
in the IDF
, he fought in the Six-Day War
. He served as a reserve officer in the War of Attrition
, the Yom Kippur War
, and the Lebanon War
in 1982.
After his discharge from the army, he settled at Revivim
, where he worked in the orchards. He studied mathematics
and philosophy
at Hebrew University. He taught math and coordinated social activities at Maaleh haBesor high school at Magen
. He was involved in many educational projects including role-playing game
s with the students on issues such as the Israeli-Arab conflict, labor relations, and the relationship between religious cults and the state.
He moved to Jerusalem to complete his Master's degree
in the history, philosophy, and sociology of science, and worked in education projects at the Van Leer Jerusalem Institute
. In this capacity, he organized joint Jewish-Arab summer camps to promote understanding between Jewish and Arab youth.
Grunzweig was killed when Yona Avrushmi lobbed a grenade
into a crowd of demonstrators.
Avrushmi was convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison, later commuted to 27 years. In 2005, Avrushmi was denied early release. Avrushmi was paroled and released from Rimonim prison on January 26, 2011.
Cluj-Napoca
Cluj-Napoca , commonly known as Cluj, is the fourth most populous city in Romania and the seat of Cluj County in the northwestern part of the country. Geographically, it is roughly equidistant from Bucharest , Budapest and Belgrade...
, Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
- February 10, 1983 in Jerusalem) was an Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
i teacher and peace
Peace
Peace is a state of harmony characterized by the lack of violent conflict. Commonly understood as the absence of hostility, peace also suggests the existence of healthy or newly healed interpersonal or international relationships, prosperity in matters of social or economic welfare, the...
activist affiliated with the Peace Now movement. He became an icon of the Israeli left after he was killed by a grenade thrown at a peace rally in Jerusalem in 1983.
Biography
Emil Grunzweig was born in ClujCluj-Napoca
Cluj-Napoca , commonly known as Cluj, is the fourth most populous city in Romania and the seat of Cluj County in the northwestern part of the country. Geographically, it is roughly equidistant from Bucharest , Budapest and Belgrade...
in Transylvania
Transylvania
Transylvania is a historical region in the central part of Romania. Bounded on the east and south by the Carpathian mountain range, historical Transylvania extended in the west to the Apuseni Mountains; however, the term sometimes encompasses not only Transylvania proper, but also the historical...
, Romania. His mother, Olga, was a survivor of the Nazi extermination camp Auschwitz.
The family moved to France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
before immigrating to Israel. Grunzweig's father, Samuel, died in France in 1963. In Israel, Olga and her two sons, Emil and Eliezer, settled in Haifa
Haifa
Haifa is the largest city in northern Israel, and the third-largest city in the country, with a population of over 268,000. Another 300,000 people live in towns directly adjacent to the city including the cities of the Krayot, as well as, Tirat Carmel, Daliyat al-Karmel and Nesher...
, where Emil attended the Reali High School. After graduation, he joined a Nahal
Nahal
Nahal is an Israel Defense Forces infantry brigade. Historically, it refers to a program that combines military service and establishment of new agricultural settlements, often in outlying areas...
unit based on Kibbutz
Kibbutz
A kibbutz is a collective community in Israel that was traditionally based on agriculture. Today, farming has been partly supplanted by other economic branches, including industrial plants and high-tech enterprises. Kibbutzim began as utopian communities, a combination of socialism and Zionism...
Revivim
Revivim
Revivim showers) is a kibbutz in the Negev desert in southern Israel. Located around half an hour south of Beersheba, it falls under the jurisdiction of Ramat HaNegev Regional Council...
in the Negev
Negev
The Negev is a desert and semidesert region of southern Israel. The Arabs, including the native Bedouin population of the region, refer to the desert as al-Naqab. The origin of the word Neghebh is from the Hebrew root denoting 'dry'...
. As a paratrooper
Paratrooper
Paratroopers are soldiers trained in parachuting and generally operate as part of an airborne force.Paratroopers are used for tactical advantage as they can be inserted into the battlefield from the air, thereby allowing them to be positioned in areas not accessible by land...
in the IDF
Israel Defense Forces
The Israel Defense Forces , commonly known in Israel by the Hebrew acronym Tzahal , are the military forces of the State of Israel. They consist of the ground forces, air force and navy. It is the sole military wing of the Israeli security forces, and has no civilian jurisdiction within Israel...
, he fought in the Six-Day War
Six-Day War
The Six-Day War , also known as the June War, 1967 Arab-Israeli War, or Third Arab-Israeli War, was fought between June 5 and 10, 1967, by Israel and the neighboring states of Egypt , Jordan, and Syria...
. He served as a reserve officer in the War of Attrition
War of Attrition
The international community and both countries attempted to find a diplomatic solution to the conflict. The Jarring Mission of the United Nations was supposed to ensure that the terms of UN Security Council Resolution 242 would be observed, but by late 1970 it was clear that this mission had been...
, the Yom Kippur War
Yom Kippur War
The Yom Kippur War, Ramadan War or October War , also known as the 1973 Arab-Israeli War and the Fourth Arab-Israeli War, was fought from October 6 to 25, 1973, between Israel and a coalition of Arab states led by Egypt and Syria...
, and the Lebanon War
Lebanon War
The term Lebanon War can refer to any of the following wars, fought in Lebanon:*Lebanese Civil War *Hundred Days' War 1978 *1982 Lebanon War...
in 1982.
After his discharge from the army, he settled at Revivim
Revivim
Revivim showers) is a kibbutz in the Negev desert in southern Israel. Located around half an hour south of Beersheba, it falls under the jurisdiction of Ramat HaNegev Regional Council...
, where he worked in the orchards. He studied mathematics
Mathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
and philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
at Hebrew University. He taught math and coordinated social activities at Maaleh haBesor high school at Magen
Magen, Israel
Magen is a kibbutz in southern Israel. Located in the north-western Negev desert and covering 8,500 dunams, it falls under the jurisdiction of Eshkol Regional Council. In 2006 it had a population of 480....
. He was involved in many educational projects including role-playing game
Role-playing game
A role-playing game is a game in which players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within a narrative, either through literal acting, or through a process of structured decision-making or character development...
s with the students on issues such as the Israeli-Arab conflict, labor relations, and the relationship between religious cults and the state.
He moved to Jerusalem to complete his Master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
in the history, philosophy, and sociology of science, and worked in education projects at the Van Leer Jerusalem Institute
Van Leer Jerusalem Institute
The Van Leer Jerusalem Institute is an academic institute in Jerusalem established in 1959 by the Van Leer family of the Netherlands.The Van Leer Institute is a center for the interdisciplinary study and discussion of issues related to philosophy, society, culture and education...
. In this capacity, he organized joint Jewish-Arab summer camps to promote understanding between Jewish and Arab youth.
Grunzweig was killed when Yona Avrushmi lobbed a grenade
Grenade
A grenade is a small explosive device that is projected a safe distance away by its user. Soldiers called grenadiers specialize in the use of grenades. The term hand grenade refers any grenade designed to be hand thrown. Grenade Launchers are firearms designed to fire explosive projectile grenades...
into a crowd of demonstrators.
Avrushmi was convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison, later commuted to 27 years. In 2005, Avrushmi was denied early release. Avrushmi was paroled and released from Rimonim prison on January 26, 2011.