Shazar

Shazar typically refers to Zalman Shazar, an Israeli politician, journalist, and writer who served as the third President of Israel from 1963 to 1973. Born in 1889 in Mir, in the Russian Empire (today in Belarus), he immigrated to the region that would become Palestine in the early 20th century and built a career in journalism and literature. He became involved in Zionist public service, holding leadership roles in Zionist organizations and other public institutions.

Shazar entered public life in the early years of the Israeli state, and in 1963 he was elected president. The presidency in Israel is a largely ceremonial office, and Shazar’s tenure emphasized education, culture, and national identity. He presided over a range of state functions and hosted visiting leaders during a period of rapid change, including the Six-Day War in 1967.

He left the presidency in 1973 and died in Jerusalem in 1974. His legacy is associated with promoting Hebrew culture, education, and the civic role of the presidency in Israeli life. The surname Shazar is closely linked with his name in Israeli public memory, and his term is often noted for its cultural and symbolic emphasis within the broader framework of Israeli governance, where executive power remained with the prime minister and the Knesset.