Prime Minister Ehud Barak, center, was interviewed by Conservative Synagogue Senior Rabbi Jeremy Wiedehorn, left and Temple Israel Senior Rabbi Michael S. Friedman, right.

A historic event in Westport’s Temple Israel took place on Monday with the visit of former Prime Minister Ehud Barak. Israel's tenth Prime Minister. Barak's career spanned decades in both politics and the IDF, the Israel Defense Force. He commanded units in battles in the Six-Day War in 1967 and the Yom Kippur War in 1973. He eventually became leader of Sayaret Metkal, an elite special forces unit which is roughly analogous to our Navy Seals or Army Rangers. He was involved in the commando raid of an airliner hijacked by Palestinian guerrillas at Lod International airport in 1972, freeing all the hostages. He rose from humble beginnings, being born at a Kibbutz founded by his father, an immigrant to Israel from Lithuania. Rising through the ranks he eventually came to lead Israeli military intelligence, then the Israeli military as IDF Chief of Staff. He retired from the military in 1995 as a Lt. General, the army's highest rank.

His exceptional intellect is more than apparent, holding degrees in physics, and mathematics from Hebrew University of Jerusalem and in economic engineering systems from Stanford. He is also a classically trained pianist but avoided the stage's grand piano at the event. Barak was instrumental in peace negotiations at Camp David in 2000 and had previously participated in talks resulting in an important peace accord with Jordan in 1994.

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Security for the night was vigorous, with the former Prime Minister's own security detail with their noticeable earpieces and microphones joined by multiple members of Westport PD and security staff from Temple Israel.

The event came to fruition about thanks to the generosity of TI members Justin & Ellen Mondshine, who have a longstanding relationship with PM Barak.The evening began with a reception attended by more than one hundred guests including our First Selectwoman Jen Tooker and Police Chief Foti Koskinas, who were delighted to meet, speak briefly with and be photographed with Ehud Barak. From there, the guests assembled in the Temple's sanctuary where a crowd estimated at about 400 were joined by another 375  viewers streaming the event online.

Barak spoke at length in in great detail, responding to questions from moderators and others submitted earlier by guests which were posed to the Prime Minister by Temple Israel Assistant Rabbi Zachery Plesent. Barak covered topics including Israeli issues, such as the Palestinian situation, prospects for peace and his support for a two-state solution. Beyond areas pertaining directly to Israel Barak discussed the war in Ukraine, Iran and the nuclear threat to Israel and the region and other matters of world affairs. He spoke of his trip  to North Vietnam and of his visit to the Hanoi Hilton where U.S. Senator John McCain was imprisoned and tortured and said that 30 years earlier he could hardly have imagined that one day he would board a United Arab Emirates airliner and fly from Hanoi to Abu Dabi and then on to Israel, a story he recounted with obvious amusement, drawing laughter from the audience. His knowledge of the issues and insight into world affairs of state kept the audience in rapt attention for his nearly one and one half hour discourse.

The night came to an end with everyone in the sanctuary singing Hatikvah a 19th century poem which is the National Anthem of the State of  Israel led by Julia Cadrain, Senior Cantor of Temple Israel and Cantor Louis Cattan, of the Conservative Synagogue.

Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com  Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery