Mordechay Naor

Mordechay Naor was born in 1934 in Tel Aviv

Mordechay Naor was born in Tel Aviv in 1934 to Meshulam Lerner and Tova Levinhertz. He grew up in Rehovot, apart from a few years when the family moved to Gan Yavne for work.

After school he joined the Nahal and was among the founders of Kibbutz Nahal Oz, where he lived from 1953 to 1956 and married his wife Leah. He left at the end of 1956 to work in journalism, writing for several papers including Davar. In 1961 he became editor of Bamahane Gadna and Bamahane Nahal.

He earned a bachelor's degree in political science and sociology in 1964 and a master's degree in political science in 1970. His doctorate at Tel Aviv University, on Pinhas Sapir, was approved in 1984.

Naor served as deputy commander of Galei Tzahal and became its commander in June 1974. He kept 24-hour broadcasting and started projects such as the Broadcast University. In June 1978 he became chief editor of the Defense Ministry publishing house.

He has written popular books on the history of the Land of Israel and biographies, and co-hosted the radio show Mehapsim et HaMatmon with Zeev Anner. From 1987 to 2003 he edited the journal Kesher. He lives in Herzliya with his wife, the poet Leah Naor.