Aharon Barak, Influential Former Supreme Court President, Turns 90

Aharon Barak, former President of the Supreme Court of Israel, is celebrating his 90th birthday on Rosh Hashanah. Barak, a Holocaust survivor, became one of the most influential figures in Israeli law. He began his career in academia, returning to it after his retirement from the bench.

Barak's legal career included a stint as a young professor at the Hebrew University, where he received the Israel Prize. He later served as the government's legal advisor, navigating the complexities of Israeli politics. Despite ideological differences, Prime Minister Menachem Begin appointed Barak to key roles, including in the negotiations leading to the Camp David Accords and the subsequent peace treaty with Egypt.

From 1978 to 2006, Barak served as a Supreme Court Justice for 28 years, including 11 years as its president. Known for his theoretical approach to law, he was a prolific writer and a proponent of innovative, often liberal, judicial rulings. A significant contribution was his role in recognizing the constitutional revolution brought about by the 1992 Basic Laws on Human Dignity and Freedom, enabling judicial review of legislation.

Barak's judicial philosophy was shaped by his Holocaust experience, leading him to emphasize the necessity of a Jewish state and the paramount importance of human rights. Despite facing criticism and public demonstrations years after his retirement, particularly concerning the "judicial revolution," his contributions to Israeli law and the country's international standing are widely acknowledged. He also served as an ad hoc judge for Israel at the International Court of Justice in The Hague.

Described as a man of pleasant demeanor, Barak, along with his late wife Justice Elisheva Barak, raised a distinguished family. His admirers wish him health and long life.