Menachem Begin’s Life before He Became Prime Minister of Israel

Menachem Wolfovitch Begin served as Israel’s first non-socialist prime minister from 1977 to 1983. He helped Israel reach a peace treaty with Egypt, earning him a Nobel Peace Prize in 1978.

Menachem Begin was born on August 16, 1913, in Brest-Litovsk, Poland. His father’s name was Zeev-Dov, and his mother was Hassia Begin. When Menachem was old enough, they sent him to Mizrachi Hebrew School, and he went on to attend the Polish Gymnasium (the equivalent of high school). Afterward he enrolled at Warsaw University, graduating with a law degree in 1935.

Before he turned 13, Menachem Begin served as a member of the Hashomer Hatzair scout organization. After observing several incidents of anti-Semitism throughout Europe, he decided to join a faction affiliated with the Revisionist Zionist Movement (Betar), becoming a steadfast follower of its founder, Vladimir Ze’ev Jabotinsky. The movement was devoted to establishing a Jewish state in Palestine.

Begin rose through the ranks and became the head of Betar’s Organization Department in Poland by 1932. He traveled around Poland on behalf of Betar, and wrote articles for the revisionist press. Later, he was sent to Czechoslovakia to lead the movement there.

From 1936 to 1938 (the time of the Palestine riots), he led rallies protesting British policies in Palestine. Begin protested in Warsaw near the British Embassy, where the Polish police arrested him, holding him briefly. Begin also defied British policies by helping people migrate to Palestine illegally. The British government had imposed restrictions on Jewish immigration to Palestine.

By 1939, Begin had married Aliza Arnold, and they had three children (Benjamin, Chasia, and Leah). Begin became the leader of Betar in Poland in 1939. Not long after, the Germans conquered Warsaw at the outbreak of World War II. Begin fled to Vilna but was captured by Soviet authorities (the NKVD) in 1940. They sentenced him to eight years in Siberian labor camps. However, he was released in 1941 because of his Polish citizenship and the Stalin-Sikorski agreement, which granted amnesty to Polish citizens.

Begin joined the Free Polish Army in exile shortly after his release and traveled to the Middle East in 1943. He revitalized the Irgun Zvai Leumi, a defunct military organization, and assumed command. Also known by its Hebrew name, Etzel, the organization directed its activities against the British control of Palestine with the goal of establishing a Jewish state. Begin was such a thorn in the side of the Palestinian government that it issued a $13,000 reward for information that would lead to his capture. Begin eluded detection, living in disguise in Tel Aviv.

When the State of Israel was established in 1948, the Irgun Zvai Leumi was dissolved, and the Herut (Freedom) party was formed. Begin and his allies produced candidates for the Knesset (parliament), and he remained a member of the Knesset. He led the Herut party for over 30 years.

Begin also was known for his passionate right-wing and patriotic ideals. He was especially adamant about Israel’s right to retain the Gaza Strip and West Bank. A skilled writer, orator, and politician, Menachem Begin is a key figure in Israel’s brief history.

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Improve Your Reaction Time on Tennis

Good reflexes are essential for tennis players. You'll be considerably closer to your opponent, and because the ball will be coming at you at a very fast pace, you must learn to react quickly. Another instance on the court in which rapid responses are essential is when your opponent shoots a drop shot. Essentially, if your response time is slow, you will not reach the ball.

Quick reflexes training should be included in your tennis training regimen at least once a week since it will help you become faster while reacting to your opponent's actions. The first drill requires setting up an agility ladder (flat on the floor) and running through it with high knees, pushing your knees closer to your chest.

Exaggerated actions, such as high knees, help your practice technique, so you're ready for the real circumstance when it arrives. The ladder teaches you to be light on your toes while traveling quickly, which improves speed. This is an excellent practice for increasing endurance and strengthening your hip flexors. It also expands your glutes, allowing you to take longer steps.

For the second, place two cones roughly eight feet apart in front of you. Run through them, bending low enough to tap the tops of the cones as you go. Running erect and then leaning down is a typical error as it is a waste of time and energy. This exercise, like the previous, will help strengthen your quadriceps and glutes, allowing you to pack more force into your squats.

The third drill requires you to dash as fast as you can over hurdles you have set up--a few feet apart across the court. The hurdles test how quickly you can lift your feet off the ground. This practice will help you reach maximum speed over a short distance. Avoid tripping over the obstacles. This will teach you to run faster while maintaining control and forcing you to utilize your arms for extra propulsion.

The fourth drill will have you run two circuits around two cones set four feet apart before continuing to run the length of the court. Lean forward and maintain your center of gravity low so you can spin sharply without falling. The further forward you lean, the more momentum you'll have to drive you ahead.

You can also set up an agility ladder and alternate between putting tennis balls inside and outside each step. Run through the ladder planting both feet in each box, then out, scooping up the balls as you go. This practice will help your heels recuperate. Because your strides are shorter here, you'll need to engage your core to go pick up the balls.

A reaction ball is something you can buy and practice with. It has an unusual form and provides you with an uneven bounce every time you bounce the ball. Toss the ball up against the wall and try to catch it. Each time it bounces back, you'll have to respond quickly and pay close attention to capture it. To make this even more difficult, throw the ball quickly and change how close you stand to the wall.