Join us for a special update to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Yom Kippur War with one of Israel's greatest heroes and decorated soldiers
Featuring Brigadier General (Res.) Avigdor Kahalani
Brigadier General (Res.) Avigdor Kahalani is the Former Homeland Security Minister. When the Yom Kippur War broke out in 1973, he was a 29-year-old Lieutenant Colonel and Battalion Commander. He served as Commander of Armored Battalion in the Valley of Tears on the Golan Heights on Israel’s Northern Border.
The battle proved to be one of the turning points of the war. After the war, the valley where it took place was littered with hundreds of destroyed and abandoned Syrian tanks and was renamed "Emek Ha-Bacha" ("Valley of Tears").
For his actions, Kahalani was awarded the highest Israeli military decoration, the Medal of Valor.
After leaving the IDF, Kahalani made his way into politics. He served as Deputy Mayor of Tel Aviv, and was elected to the Knesset as a member of the Labor Party in the 1992 election. He served on the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense and the Education and Culture Committees.
He also served as the Minister of Internal Security.
In 2023 he was chosen to light a torch at the beacon lighting ceremony on Mount Herzl on the occasion of the 75th year of the State of Israel.
Kahalani studied Mechanics at the ORT School in Jaffa. He gained a B.A. in History from Tel Aviv University and an M.A. in Political Science from Haifa University.
Avigdor has published six books and 15 songs so far.
