Leah Porat, a former senior official of the Education Ministry who exerted a strong influence on cultural life in Israel, died here at the age of 58 after a long illness. Burial services, held today at the Savion Cemetery, were attended by prominent figures in the theatrical arts, literature, music and broadcasting and by the Minister of Education and Culture.
Born in Czernowitz, Russia, Ms, Porat came to Palestine as a child. She began her career as an announcer on the British-controlled Voice of Jerusalem Radio, the Hebrew section of the Palestine Broadcasting Service in the Mandate period, Later she was a producer and director of various programs, mainly children’s hours and programs of poetry and literary readings. In 1961 she was appointed director of programs of the Israel Broadcasting Service.
From 1968 to 1970 she served as Consul for Cultural Affairs at the Israel Consulate in Boston. After returning to Israel she joined the Education Ministry and was placed in charge of its cultural activities. In that capacity, Ms. Porat headed a public committee on art and culture which decided such matters as grants and allocations to various institutions of art and culture. She retired last year after completing 10 years in that post.
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