Yosef „Tommy” Lapid, former president of the Israel Chess Federation passed away on June 1st in Tel Aviv.

Born in a Hungarian Jewish family in Novisad (Yugoslavia), he and his mother survived deportation and emigrated to Israel in 1948.

In the new home country, he studied at the Tel Aviv University and soon became a popular columnist and TV host, winning also the most prestigous journalist award in Israel.

Under his chairmanship, the Israeli chess teams participated in several Olympiads and other international competitions with many successes.

In 1999, he became member of the Knesset (Israeli Parliament) and in 2003 he was appointed as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Justice. In his last years, he served as chairman of the Yad Vasem institution. His son, Yair, recited Kaddish at his funeral yesterday.