History/Moshe Aumann (z''l)

MOSHE’S HISTORY

      From Holocaust  Survivor to Servant of Israel – Tribute to Moshe at His Passing 

   Minister (Diplomatic Corps) Moshe Aumann Retired, Ministry of Foreign Affairs,              State of Israel, Jerusalem, Israel

Moshe Aumann and Miriam Chanslor (later to become Shirah Miriam Aumann) were introduced by Dr. David Allen Lewis at the President’s Prayer Breakfast in Washington, DC, in 1989. At the time, Mimi was an Admissions Counselor/Recruiter for Evangel University in Springfield, MO, where Dr. Lewis’ ministry, Christians United for Israel, was headquartered. And the rest is history…

The following are mostly excerpts from an interview The Jerusalem Post did with Moshe in 2009: Moshe Aumann, brother of Prof. Yisrael (Johnny) Aumann, Nobel Prize winner in Economics, was born in Frankfurt, Germany, in 1926. An interesting aspect of Aumann's childhood was his nanny, a Christian nun. "She would tell us about life and answer our questions, but never spoke about religion. That was my first contact with the Christian world, and that probably planted the seed for much later in my life, when, as an Israeli diplomat, I was given the task of bringing Israel's message to the American Christian population."

Nazism was already making its presence felt when Aumann and his younger brother started school. They would encounter violent gangs of Hitler Youth on their way to school and found roundabout ways to avoid encountering them. They learned to stay away from parades because of the order to raise one's hand in a Nazi salute. "We felt the Nazi boot." In 1938 the family fled to the United States to escape the Nazis. "My father lost all his money from his textile business because he was forced to sell for next to nothing. What was most important was that our lives were saved." (The family escaped just two weeks prior to Kristallnacht, the night of the breaking of the glass when it would have been impossible to get out.)

Moshe grew up in Brooklyn after the family came through Ellis Island. “The events of 1948 with Israel's Declaration of Independence, and the war that followed, electrified me. It was Israel coming back to life and I wanted to be a part of it.” He graduated from City College of New York in 1950 with a degree in English, Journalism and Social Sciences, and decided to launch his career in a country where Shabbat would not pose a problem. The same year, at 24, Aumann made aliyah with a school buddy, sailing from New York on the S.S. Jerusalem. His brother followed him in 1956 - and his mother arrived a year later, after his father died. Aumann settled in Jerusalem. "My first job was a proofreader for The Jerusalem Post. After working a few weeks in that position, I was hired by Mrs. Polly Van Leer as assistant editor of Chronicles - News of the Past." After Mrs. Van Leer resigned, he was promoted to that position. When Aumann became editor, Chronicles changed its format from book form to that of a modern newspaper and was sold on newsstands. He related an anecdote about a group from the States who were on a tour when one of the ladies asked the tour guide to take them to the inauguration of the Temple. The guide had no idea what she was talking about. She explained that she had seen a headline in a newspaper about the Temple's inauguration at the hotel's newsstand. "Lady," the guide informed the disappointed visitor, "I'm afraid you are 3,000 years behind the times." (Chronicles was written like the Scriptures were happening in a current events style with a Classified section, etc. You could even find chariots for sale! It is now available in a 3-volume set and is to be found in libraries all across the world, and is available at Evangel University, signed by the editor.)

Shortly before the Sinai Campaign in October 1956, the Foreign Ministry put out a notice that it was looking for writers and editors as it needed to beef up its PR. Aumann applied for the job, was accepted and worked in that capacity until 1961, when he received a posting as Consul in New York. After a brief spell back in Jerusalem, he was transferred to the Embassy of Israel in Washington, DC, where he served as Consul-general for the Mid-Atlantic States. Due to his special interest in Jewish relations with churches, he became Minister-counselor for Relations with the Churches. His brief was to explain Israeli positions to the US Christian public, and since then he has taken a special interest in developments connected with that subject. On his return to Israel, he resumed his position as the Foreign Ministry's Chief writer and Editor in English and Assistant to the Minister until he retired from 40+ years of service to Israel, with the rank of Minister in the Diplomatic Corps. When he was called to speak to Christian audiences around the world, he would tell them, “I’m a Minister – but not a reverend!”

Since his retirement, he has written a book titled “Conflict and Connection: The Jewish-Christian-Israel Triangle” which focuses on changes taking place in the major Christian churches regarding their attitude toward Judaism. The book, published in 2003, was translated into German. "This edition was published just in time for me to give former president [Moshe] Katsav a copy to give to the pope, who is of German origin." (Conflict and Connection is now available as an ebook.)

Moshe Aumann lived a life of service to Israel and faithfulness to His creator and to his family and friends all over the world. He was well-loved, and deservedly so. It was a great privilege to have been his wife and helpmate in the work he was called to do – and he will always be missed in my life. Rest in peace, beloved Moshe…

Shirah Miriam “Mimi” Aumann - 14 May, 2017

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Gefen Publishing Author Description, https://www.gefenpublishing.com/authorcategory.asp?id=11

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Of Moshe Aumann’s years of active service in Israel’s Foreign Ministry, the last years were devoted largely to the intensive study and practice of Jewish-Christian and Israel-Christian relations. This includes a 3-year tour of duty at Israel’s Embassy in Washington as Consul General and Minister-Counselor for Relations with the Churches.   Aumann has continued to maintain close contact with Christian leaders and communities in Israel and abroad. He serves as Editor of Christians and Israel, a quarterly publication of the Association of Christians and Jews in Israel, and he is a sought-after speaker and lecturer for local institutions and visiting groups, as well as overseas.

A graduate of CCNY, with a Social Science degree in English and Journalism, Aumann came to Israel in 1950 and settled in Jerusalem. For five years he wrote and edited "Chronicles – News of the Past" – an authentic journalistic treatment of the Bible and post-biblical Jewish history. After one year as Managing Editor of the weekly "Here and Now," Aumann joined the Foreign Ministry, where his diplomatic career included three periods of service in the USA, and where, for eight years, he was the Ministry’s Chief Writer and Editor.

Publications include Land Ownership in Palestine, 1880-1948, Jerusalem, The Palestinian Labyrinth, Facts About Israel (1985 edition) and numerous articles, booklets and translations on a variety of subjects.

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MOSHE AUMANN: FROM FRANKFURT TO NEW YORK

"Israel's Declaration of Independence and the war that followed electrified me," Aumann says.​

By Joe Charlaff (Jerusalem Post) 19 March 2009

Moshe Aumann, brother of Robert John Aumann, Nobel Prize winner in Economics, was born in Frankfurt, Germany, in 1926. His mother was born in South Africa but grew up in London. "She met my father on one of her frequent visits to Frankfurt to visit a relative. Her maiden name was Landau, and at their wedding someone commented that she lost her 'Land' but gained a 'Mann.'" An interesting aspect of Aumann's childhood was his nanny, a Christian nun. "She would tell us about life and answer our questions, but never spoke about religion. That was my first contact with the Christian world, and that probably planted the seed for much later in my life, when, as an Israeli diplomat, I was given the task of bringing Israel's message to the American Christian population."

Nazism was already making its presence felt when Aumann and his younger brother started school. They would encounter violent gangs of Hitler Youth on their way to school and found roundabout ways to avoid encountering them. Attacks usually took place in relatively unpopulated streets. They learned to stay away from parades because of the order to raise one's hand in a Nazi salute. "We felt the Nazi boot." On the street corners where newspapers were sold, Der Stürmer, a viciously anti-Semitic newspaper, was on prominent display.

LIFE BEFORE ISRAEL:

In 1938 the family fled to the United States to escape the Nazis. "My father lost all his money from his textile business because he was forced to sell for next to nothing. What was most important was that our lives were saved." They lived in New York. Moshe and Robert first went to public school and then to Yeshiva High School. About his choice of career, Aumann said, "I always wanted to be a journalist - but I also wanted to come to Israel. The events of 1948 with Israel's Declaration of Independence, and the war that followed, electrified me. It was Israel coming back to life and I wanted to be a part of it, but I decided to get started in journalism first, and then go to Israel."

He became discouraged after writing to several prominent journalists in New York about his prospects of breaking into journalism. He was told it would be impossible because of his Shabbat observance. He tried to study business administration but gave up after a year. "I decided to go back to my first love, journalism, and graduated from City College of New York in 1950 with a degree in English, journalism and social sciences, and decided to launch my career in a country where Shabbat would not pose a problem."

ALIYAH:

The same year, at 24, Aumann made aliya with a school buddy, sailing from New York on the s.s. Jerusalem. His brother followed him in 1956 and his mother arrived a year later, after his father died. Aumann settled in Jerusalem. He lived in a boarding house on Rehov Ibn Ezra, run by a Mrs. Goldstein. The conditions were very primitive. Mrs. Goldstein kept her food cold with huge ice blocks bought from a vendor on a horse-drawn cart. "My first job was a proofreader for The Jerusalem Post. After working a few weeks in that position, I was hired by Mrs. Polly Van Leer as assistant editor of Chronicles - News of the Past." After the editor resigned, he was promoted to that position. When Aumann became editor, Chronicles changed its format from book form to that of a modern newspaper and was sold on newsstands. He related an anecdote about a group from the States who were on a tour when one of the ladies asked the tour guide to take them to the inauguration of the Temple. The guide had no idea what she was talking about. She explained that she had seen a headline in a newspaper about the Temple's inauguration at the hotel's newsstand. "Lady," the guide informed the disappointed visitor, "I'm afraid you are 3,000 years behind the times."

Four years later he left Chronicles to become managing editor of Here and Now, an English weekly published by the Mapai party. During this time, The Jerusalem Post offered him a job as night editor working four nights a week, but after sitting in on a session with the night editor, he decided that the pressure was too great so he stayed with Here and Now.

Shortly before the Sinai Campaign in October 1956, the Foreign Ministry put out a notice that it was looking for writers and editors as it needed to beef up its PR. Aumann applied for the job, was accepted and worked in that capacity until 1961, when he received a posting as consul in New York. After a brief spell back in Jerusalem, he was transferred to the embassy in Washington where he served as consul-general for the Mid-Atlantic states. Due to his special interest in Jewish relations with churches, he became minister-counselor for relations with the churches. His brief was to explain Israeli positions to the US Christian public, and since then he has taken a special interest in developments connected with that subject. On his return to Israel, he resumed his position as the Foreign Ministry's Chief Writer and Editor in English. 

DAILY LIFE:

As an 82-year-old retiree, Aumann leads a very active life, giving lectures and writing articles and book reviews. He still works occasionally for the Foreign Ministry doing editing and proofreading on their yearbook. Since his retirement, he has written a book titled "Conflict and Connection: The Jewish-Christian-Israel Triangle," which focuses on changes taking place in the major Christian churches regarding their attitude toward Judaism. The book, published in 2003, was translated into German. "This edition was published just in time for me to give former president [Moshe] Katsav a copy to give to the pope, who is of German origin."  English is his mother tongue, and he also speaks Hebrew, German and Yiddish. Aumann loves classical music and horseback riding. He played the violin in the high-school orchestra, and still likes to play occasionally.

BEST THINGS ABOUT ISRAEL:

"You come to a country where Shabbat is not a problem, and where all the Jewish festivals and special days are part and parcel of the social and cultural life of the nation. It's your own country. It's a Jewish country, in the full sense of the word." 

      "Don't burn your bridges. Come on a pilot trip. See what you want to do and what the prospects are of finding something in your field, and have the confidence that when you do come you are treading on firm ground."   -  Moshe Aumann

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