INSS pays its respects to the passing of Dr. Yehuda Ben Meir

March 16, 2025

The Institute for National Security Studies pays its respects following the passing of senior Institute researcher and former MK Dr. Yehuda Ben Meir.

Ben Meir was a psychologist and lawyer who served as a senior lecturer and head of the Department of Psychology at Bar Ilan University. He was a MK from 1971 to 1984 and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs in the Begin and Shamir governments. He joined the Yaffe Center, later the Institute for National Security Studies, in 1984. Dr. Ben Meir’s research interests were broad and included, among other things, military-civilian relations and public opinion in Israel.

The Institute’s Director, Maj. Gen. (Res.) Tamir Hayman, paid tribute to Ben Meir:

Yehuda Ben Meir, Dr., Rabbi and great man, has passed away. The passing of Yehuda Ben Meir is deeply regrettable—this is a sad day on a holiday that should be happy.

Yehuda was a huge man; so wise; a man who garnered respect in his representation of the values of Religious Zionism as they were configured by the giants that established them. A man of reason, thought, respect, love of humanity. A man of a different kind of politics - not naively innocent but upright and honest.

On this day I miss the giants of past generations even more.

Yehuda is gone, and the Institute bows its head in pain.

You were our rabbi and we will so miss your words of wisdom.

May your memory be blessed.