Yuri Shtern, of blessed memory, was a much respected and beloved Yisrael Beytenu Member of Knesset.  His life was tragically cut short at the height of his political career.  Yisrael Beytenu and all who knew him dearly miss Yuri.

The late MK Dr. Yuri Shtern passed away at the age of 57 on January 16, 2007, after a long and courageous battle with cancer. He was at the height of his political career, working tirelessly for the advancement of the Jewish people and the State of Israel.  Yuri was the founder of the Soviet Jewry Information Center and the Christian Allies Caucus in the Knesset. He was an idealist with a keen interest in literature and a brilliant parliamentarian who stood out as an exceptional figure on the local political scene.

Yuri Shtern was born in Russia in 1949 and immigrated to Israel in 1981. He worked in the government  Liaison Office, often traveling  to Jewish communities in Europe and the United States to mobilize public opinion. Among other activities, he served as the secretary of the town of Nokdim, Association of Chambers of Commerce opened the new Entrepreneurs’ Association and served as its Moscow representative.

Yuri Shtern was  elected to the 14th Knesset as a representative of “Yisrael B’Aliyah.”  In 1999, Shtern joined Avigdor Liberman’s new party, Yisrael Beytenu.  Shtern’s parliamentary activity emphasized the promotion and integration of new immigrants.  Much of his work was devoted to vulnerable populations, such as Holocaust survivors and single mothers.  MK Stern also served as head of the State Control Committee and served some time as deputy minister in the Prime Minister.