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‘A private person’
An interview with Mrs. Prime Minister
by Trade B. Feldman
Special to The Southern Israelite
WASHINGTON —“I’m the
Greta Garbo type. - said Aliza
Begin with a shy smile. Then she
quickly added, lest anyone think
the gray-haired wife of the Israeli
Prime Minister compares her
looks or glamour to that of the
former Swedtsh-bom film great,
‘I'm a private person and like to
protect our personal lives. I try not
to let my husband’s official
position affect the life we lead or
the kind of people we are."
Despite the protests of the Prime
Minister’s security guards in Israel
the Begins are still available to
anybody who wants to shake
Menachem Be gin’s hand or
whisper advice into his ear. One
has merely to show up at the Begin
residence in Jerusalem. For years,
every Saturday afternoon the
Begins held open house for fnends.
supporters, colleagues and even
perfect strangers. Accession to the
position of Prime Minister has not
affected that weekly custom
Since they won't hire anyone to
work on the Sabbath—their own
hospitality includes serving
refreshments as well as exchanging
small talk with everyone who
crosses their threshold.
The hospitable Begins enjoyed
special hospitality from
Washington hosts Rosalynn and
Jimmy Carter during the Begins’
third visit here since he became
premier. The two couples shared
an intimate dinner in the White
House family dining room. It was
the first such private get-together
with any foreign head of state since
Carter became President After
dinner, while the President and
Prime Minister talked alone. Mrs
Carter showed Mrs. Begin the
residential quarters
“I was so glad to see the hand-
woven ’wall hanging’ in Amy’s
room.” Mrs. Begin told me in an
interview. “I brought it for Mrs.
Carter on our first visit here. It was
made by an Israeli craftsman and it
really looks beautiful in the White
House.”
Another item Mrs. Begin hopes
will adorn the Carter daughter's
wall ts a certificate testifying that a
grove in Amy Carter's name had
recently been planted by the
Begm’s granddaughter. Ayelet. in
a new Jewish National Fund
Children’s Forest in Israel.
Mrs. Begin was also pleased
•nth the participation by Mrs
Carter and daughter-in-law Caron
at a luncheon honoring the
Premier's wife at the Israeli
Embassy Surrounded by some 40
women—from official Washing
ton and national Jewish
organizations — Mrs. Carter
pronounced this moving toast:
"As we come together. I know
the thought uppermost in our
hearts and minds is the desire for
peace in the Middle East. Events of -
the last month have given us hope
and have caused us to believe that a
genuine durable and just peace
which guarantees thejiecunty of
Israel and her neighbors is almost
within our grasp We pray that the
meetings here will be another step
in the process toward peace so that
people can live in safety, security
and without fear”
Caron Carter was especially
interested in attending since she
and her husband. Chip, had
Trade 8. Fdteu (left) tafts with ABza Begs*, wife of tsraeh
Prise Minister Mesache* Begin, at Bint House
recently returned from an eight-
day visit to Israel under the
auspices of the Friendship Force
(an exchange program which
brought 425 Americans to tour
Israel and 425 Israelis to visit the
USA).
During our interview at Blair
House. I asked Mrs. Begin about
her interests and how she spends
her time in Israel Tm a
housewife, a mother and
grandmother of eight little ones.”
she answered. “That keeps me
busy. Keeping bouse in Israel is not
as simple as it is in some countries.
It requires more of a woman's
time. In Israel, people rise ear tier
They also return borne from work
at mid-day for a hot lunch, often
their main meal of the day.
“We women have our work, and
our husbands have theirs. I believe
that bringing up children and
taking care of the household is the
biggest job I can do ”
Mrs. Begin also said that once a
month she receives a group of
mothers who have more than seven
children each. "They tell me about
their special needs and I try to help
them.” she said. "Through them. I
learn what are the problems that
Israeli families face "
Aliza Begin. 56. is a strong and
dynamic personality who needs no
brass bands to make an impact.
She explains: “There is little
protocol in Israel compared to
other countries. We i-re not
formal. I have no chauffeur and I
take the bus where I need to go.
Also. I do not have security guards
with me when I go to the grocery,
to my fnends or for a walk.”
Married in Poland in 1939. the
Begins managed to reach what was
then Palestine in 1943 after
Menachem Begin had fought on
the side of the Polish Forces In
what was later to become Israel.
Aliza Begin changed her identity
five times in five years, much of it
spent underground in hiding from
the British as the wife of the
Commander of the Irgun. an
underground group that harrassed
the local British authorities until
they left in May 1948
Yet. Aliza Begin, who describes
herself as a “born optimist”, insists
that politics is "not my- tine. I don’t
make any statements for my
husband.” she said, adding that
"one politician in the family is
sufficient.”
When it comes to politics. Mrs.
Begin chooses to remain in the
background. She rarely gives
interviews either in Israel or out of
the country She fends off
questions which she doesn’t want
to answer with humor and by
responding with a question of her
own
Happy
Passover!
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When she docs speak, it is with a
sure voter and with genuine
animation She speaks fluent
English, but with a heavy accent
And take former Prune Minister
Go4da Meir. she is a chain-smoker
Daring her last visit to
Washington. Mrs. Begin toured
the new capital Children's
Museum, a ’hands-on’ (touch and
feel) museum which opened last
October
Mrs. Begin also had tea with the
newly-organized Congressional
Wives For Soviet Jewry Among
the group's immediate goals a to
act as ambassador for human
rights and advance the cause of
Soviet Jewry, particularly those
who seek to emigrate.
Describing ber own first-hand
experiences. Mrs Begin told the
women: ~I know what it's like to be
the wife of a political prisoner, so I
encourage you in your work.”
Another event honoring Mrs
Begin was a luncheon given in the
State Department by Mrs. Cyrus
Vance, wife of the Secretary of
State, Among the thirty-six
guests was Mrs. Cecil Roth, wife of
the late, famed historian-
archaeologist. who has known the
Begins for 20 years, " Aliza Begin s
a dedicated wife." she told me.
She won't let Menachem—who
has a heart condition —travel
alone; and a considerate of his
every need.
“For a woman married to a
long-time public figure, it is
remarkable that she has remained
such a private person. Yes...in that
sense, you can describe ber as the
Greta Garbo of Israel but she is
much more dynamic, hardly the
Nordic type."
How did the wife of one ot
Isracf s legendary U rider ground
leaders, who has escaped the
death camps of Hitler and the slave
labor camps of Soviet Rama.
impress the patnaaa Mrs Cyras
Vance’*
“I take Aliza Begin and I found
ber good company both here in
Israel.” Mrs Vance told me "She
is straightforward, candid, and a
good trooper She really cares for
her husband, and I think she does
him a world of good ”
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"the cookmg s forceful and wi
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S751
Passover
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P«|« JJ THF. SOUTHERN ISRAELITE April 21. I