Savidor, Menachem

(1918-88)

   Born in Russia. After moving with his family to Poland in 1923, he became active in the local Be-tar youth movement. After high school, he completed studies in philology in Vilna. In 1941, he immigrated (see ALIYA) to Palestine and joined the British army, serving in the Jewish Brigade. He later served in the Israel Defense Forces, where he rose to the rank of lieutenant colonel. He served as director general of the Transport Ministry and director general of Israel Railways. After running unsuccessfully for mayor of Tel Aviv in 1973, he was elected in 1977 to the Knesset, and in 1981, he became speaker. He left politics in 1984.