Esteemed Israeli Journalist Menashe Raz Dies at 80

Menashe Raz, a prominent Israeli journalist, director, and radio and television personality, has passed away at the age of 80. Raz left a significant mark on Israeli news and documentary filmmaking over decades of work.

He began his media career as a military correspondent for Galei Tzahal (Army Radio). He later became a central figure in Kol Yisrael (Israel Radio) and Israeli Television. Raz served as a correspondent and editor for "Mabat LaChadashot" (News Overview) and hosted the program "Meseat Itonaim" (Press Conference).

As a documentary filmmaker, Raz gained recognition. In 1979, he received the "Kinor David" (Harp of David) award for a documentary series about Israeli prisons. During his reserve duty in the Air Force, he closely documented the covert operations to bring Ethiopian Jews to Israel via Sudan.

Beyond his journalistic work, Raz was also an educator, teaching film and communication students at Tel Aviv University and other academic institutions. Kan News, where he was associated, mourned his passing, remembering him as a veteran journalist, director, and presenter in public broadcasting. They noted his joining Israeli Television in the early 1970s as a news correspondent and documentary filmmaker, and his subsequent roles in television and radio. At Kol Yisrael, he presented news broadcasts, music programs, and was the first host of "Shirim VeSha'arim" (Songs and Goals).