From a "Kiruv" website
The trailblazing journalist was a proud Jew who embodied the trait of chutzpah.
Barbara Walters was one of the most influential women in media history. While the world mourns the passing of this trailblazing media icon, here are five Jewish moments of her amazing life.
1. Her link with Judaism
Barbara Walters was born in Boston in 1929 into a family that never lost its Jewish identity. His ancestors were originally from Lodz, Poland, and his original surname was Varemvasser, but his grandparents changed it to Warmwater when they emigrated to London, and it later mutated into Walters. Although they did not practice religious life at home, Barbara wrote in her memoirs that her mother lit Shabbat candles every Friday. Barbara also decided never to air on Yom Kippur out of respect to her religion.
Barbara Walters was born in Boston in 1929 into a family that never lost its Jewish identity. His ancestors were originally from Lodz, Poland, and his original surname was Varemvasser, but his grandparents changed it to Warmwater when they emigrated to London, and it later mutated into Walters. Although they did not practice religious life at home, Barbara wrote in her memoirs that her mother lit Shabbat candles every Friday. Barbara also decided never to air on Yom Kippur out of respect to her religion.
2. Exclusive spectator in the peace treaty between Israel and Egypt
Barbara interviewed countless presidents, including figures such as Fidel Castro and Richard Nixon. However, she said that one of the most unforgettable moments in her career was the first joint interview ever given by Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin after signing the peace treaty in 1977.
After that interview she said that she was finally considered by her peers "a serious journalist."
Barbara interviewed countless presidents, including figures such as Fidel Castro and Richard Nixon. However, she said that one of the most unforgettable moments in her career was the first joint interview ever given by Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin after signing the peace treaty in 1977.
After that interview she said that she was finally considered by her peers "a serious journalist."
3. Her fight against antisemitism
Walters always identified herself as proud Jew, but she went a step further in a landmark 1976 interview with former Vice President Spiro Agnew, who in 1973 had resigned from office after being charged with criminal conspiracy, bribery, extortion and tax fraud. Away from politics, Agnew had written a novel with clear antisemitic overtones and Walters cornered him: "You have characters in the book talking repeatedly about the Jewish cabal, the Jewish Zionist lobby having too much influence in Congress. Is this how you see it?"
Beyond the occasional response, Barbara showed that she was not willing to pass up the opportunity to defend her values.
Walters always identified herself as proud Jew, but she went a step further in a landmark 1976 interview with former Vice President Spiro Agnew, who in 1973 had resigned from office after being charged with criminal conspiracy, bribery, extortion and tax fraud. Away from politics, Agnew had written a novel with clear antisemitic overtones and Walters cornered him: "You have characters in the book talking repeatedly about the Jewish cabal, the Jewish Zionist lobby having too much influence in Congress. Is this how you see it?"
Beyond the occasional response, Barbara showed that she was not willing to pass up the opportunity to defend her values.
4. Connection with Israel
The first time Barbara Walters visited the land of Israel was in 1973, at the age of 43. She did so with the professional excuse of interviewing Prime Minister Golda Meir for the 25th anniversary of the State of Israel. The visit impacted her forever. She said, "To my great surprise, Israel overwhelmed me and aroused feelings I never knew I had. I couldn't get over the beauty of the land itself, at once rocky and arid, yet lush where the Israelis had ingeniously brought water to the desert. I felt a starting and quite strong connection."
In addition, Walters established a friendship relationship with Israeli politicians such as Yitzchak Rabin and one of special closeness with the Minister of Defense Moshe Dayan.
The first time Barbara Walters visited the land of Israel was in 1973, at the age of 43. She did so with the professional excuse of interviewing Prime Minister Golda Meir for the 25th anniversary of the State of Israel. The visit impacted her forever. She said, "To my great surprise, Israel overwhelmed me and aroused feelings I never knew I had. I couldn't get over the beauty of the land itself, at once rocky and arid, yet lush where the Israelis had ingeniously brought water to the desert. I felt a starting and quite strong connection."
In addition, Walters established a friendship relationship with Israeli politicians such as Yitzchak Rabin and one of special closeness with the Minister of Defense Moshe Dayan.
5. Chutzpah
Barbara Walters was a fearless, dedicated and passionate journalist who was determined to break down barriers in a male-dominated world of journalism. A pioneer in journalism, she embodied the Jewish trait of chutzpah, driven to accomplish the unthinkable, while remaining a proud member of the Jewish people.
May her soul rest in peace.
Barbara Walters was a fearless, dedicated and passionate journalist who was determined to break down barriers in a male-dominated world of journalism. A pioneer in journalism, she embodied the Jewish trait of chutzpah, driven to accomplish the unthinkable, while remaining a proud member of the Jewish people.
May her soul rest in peace.
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WOOOOOOOOOWWWWW!!! Proud of Barbara Walters!!!!!!!! One of the millions of completely, totally assimilated Jews who lived a life devoid of ANYTHING Jewish. The best the article could come up with was that her mother lit Shabbos candles and that while she herself ate, drank and treated Yom Kippur like any other day - she didn't air a show. A person with Jewish feeling should want to tear Kriyah [a tautology if I ever heard one] reading about her life. No Shabbos, no Yom Tov, married four times [besides the affair she said she had with a married politician] and going to mikva no times, completely divorced from anything Jewish or even [it would seem] spiritual. Rumor has it that she even ate Kitniyos [and Chodosh bread] on Pesach.
"May her soul rest in peace". How is her soul going to rest in peace after such a life??? Do we believe that her soul will have peace?? Don't we believe in שכר ועונש?? Is it OK to keep zero b/c at the end of the day she had the Jewish trait of Chutzpah??? Ahh - and she was taken with the beauty of Israel and felt connected. And was friendly with some Israeli politicians [who shouldn't be having women friends but to keep things clean we will NOT get into the history of Moshe Dayan and Yitzchak Rabin]. I mean - this is the saddest most tragic, Jewish story imaginable. Yair Lapid is a more committed Jew than she was. When a person is killed b/c he or she is Jewish it is sad but at least the person lived and died for an ideal. For Barbara the ideal was to be a television star.
A person reads the article and gets the sense that one doesn't have to keep Mitzvos b/c look at Barb - a hero, despite her complete non-observance. Please see here for more.
All I can say is that I hope that Hashem has mercy on her soul because she received no Jewish education and thus didn't know any better. May she get her tikkun and then bask in the Light of the Shechina.
