Zevulon Hammer (1936-1998)

Zevulon Hammer was a politician and an educational figure, a member of the National Religious Party leadership and a Member of Knesset on its behalf from the Seventh through the Fourteenth Knesset. Hammer was born in Haifa and completed his studies in the "Yavne" religious high school. In 1945 he joined the "Bnei Akiva" youth movement, in which he later served as a member of the national council and administration and as chief coordinator of several branches. During his military service he served in the Nahal Brigade. Hammer was a graduate of Judaism and Bible studies in Bar Ilan University, a certified teacher and a graduate of the College for National Security. He was also given several honorary doctorates from universities in Israel and abroad. In 1961 he was elected to head the Students' Union of Bar Ilan University. He was a member of the presidium of the National Students’ Organization and was in charge on its behalf of the International Organization for Jewish Students. During the 1960's he was a leading member of the National Religious Party's future generation organization. Following the Six Day War, Hammer acted to turn the National Religious from a religious party to a national party concentrating on defense issues and on the borders of Eretz Yisrael. In 1974 he was supportive of the founding and actions of Gush Emunim. Hammer was first elected to the Seventh Knesset (1969). He was Deputy Minister of Education and Culture between January 1973 and January 1974. In 1975 – 1976 he was Minister of Welfare in Yitzhak Rabin’s government. He then contributed to the dissembling of the historical alliance between the Labor Party and the National Religious Party, together with his friend Dr. Yehuda Ben-Meir (later a leader of Meimad). In 1977 he was involved in electing Dr. Yosef Burg to replace party leader Dr. Yitzhak Raphael. Hammer served as Minister of Education and Culture during 1977 – 1984. In this post he enacted free education in high schools and pre-school kindergartens, and he worked to reinforce the status of teachers. He also enacted a Holocaust educational program to be taught in the 10th grade. He enhanced Judaic studies in secular schools and established a ministerial commission for scientific and technological studies. As Minister of Education, Hammer worked to reduce educational gaps between citizens of western origin and of Mizrahi origin, as well as between Jewish citizens and Arab and Druze citizens. During the years 1986 – 1990 Hammer officiated as Minister of Religious Affairs, and in 1990 – 1992 he resumed his post as Minister of Education and Culture. In 1992 the National Religious Party did not join Yitzhak Rabin's government. In 1986, Dr. Yosef Burg retired from the leadership of the National Religious Party and Hammer was elected as Secretary General of the party. Due to the party’s loss of mandates in the elections to the 11th Knesset (1984), Hammer acted to moderate its positions, claiming that pluralism and bridging between the religious and secular are greater than the disputes on the territory and settlement of Eretz Yisrael. The assassination in Yitzhak Rabin had brought Hammer to call for soul searching within the National Religious Movement. Under his leadership, the National Religious Party regained its pasts success and in the elections to the 14th Knesset (1996) it won 9 seats, after having 4-6 seats in the 10th to 13th Knesset elections. Hammer was once again appointed as Minister of Education and Culture from 1996. In 1997 he was also appointed as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Religious Affairs. He held these posts until his passing on January 20, 1998.