Mordechai Zaken

Mordechai Zaken, also known as Moti Zaken, was a renowned Israeli scholar, linguist, and author who made significant contributions to the field of history. Born in 1958, he dedicated his career to studying the history of Jewish and Middle Eastern communities, with a particular focus on the Kurds and other minority groups in the region. His expertise in this area was recognized through various academic and professional pursuits.

Zaken's distinguished career included serving as an advisor to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on issues related to Israeli Arabs and minorities from 1997 to 1999, and later to the Ministry of Public Security from 2001. His research on the Jews of the Orient earned him the prestigious Prime Minister Prize in 2019. Through his work, Zaken demonstrated a deep understanding of the complex histories and cultures of the Middle East, leaving a lasting legacy in the field of historical research until his passing in 2021.