Former MK Mordechai Virshubski dies at 82

Mordechai Virshubski, who was a member of Knesset from 1977-1992, died on Tuesday at the age of 82.

Virshubski was one of the founders of the left-wing Shinui party in 1974, which eventually merged with the Mapam and Ratz parties to form Meretz.

In 1976, Virshubski was also among the founders of the short-lived Dash party (an acronym for Democratic Movement for Change).

From 1988 until his retirement from political life in 1992, Virshubski served as deputy Knesset Speaker.

Virshubski was born in Leipzig, Germany, on May 10, 1930 and moved to pre-state Israel in 1939. He attended the Herzliya Hebrew High School in Tel Aviv and studied law at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed his sorrow over Virshubski’s death, saying that “Mordechai was a great fighter for civil rights and a beacon of wisdom and integrity. We will warmly remember his welcome activity on behalf of the handicapped, society and the environment.”