According to Wikipedia, Shimon Peres was born on Aug. 2, 1923. But try telling that to him.
[[READMORE]]
Peres had an eventful year leading up to his 89th birthday. In 2012, the president of Israel starred in YouTube viral video effort as part of a social media campaign to promote his Facebook page. He was also awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by U.S. President Barack Obama.
Greer Fay Cashman has written for the Jerusalem Post that Peres typically celebrates his birthday on August 16. In 1988, for example, Peres celebrated his 65th birthday with Jerusalem mayor Teddy Kollek on that date. But according to Cashman, the August 2 date was actually retrofitted to the Hebrew date the 20 of Av.
Prior to his assumption of the presidency, biographical data gave August 16 as his date of birth. The change occurred after he decided that from a personal standpoint, he would celebrate his birthday according to the Hebrew calendar date of Av 20, which in 1923, the year of his birth, coincided with August 2.
The switch has resulted in multiple birthday celebrations, like in 2008, when the leaders of Ukraine and Belarus sent birthday wishes on August 2 while Peres celebrated in Dimona two weeks later.
Add that to the list of things you didn’t know about Shimon Peres.
(Bonus: The above photo of Peres is a screenshot from the film "Gateway to Freedom" shot in 1946. Courtesy of the Spielberg Film Archive. H/t to Israelity for the great find.)
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
