Asher Zelig Baharav, Israel Hayom's founding publisher, passed away at 69 on Rosh Hashanah, his family announced Tuesday. He leaves behind a wife and three children.
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Baharav, who was born in Tel Aviv and studied at the Netiv Meir religious Zionist yeshiva, joined the IDF Intelligence Directorate upon graduation and served in the IDF's academic reserve program. After completing a Bachelor's Degree in computer science and economics from Tel Aviv University, he began his service at Unit 8200, which is tasked with a variety of signal intelligence collection efforts.
Having completed his military service as a major, he went on to become a leading Israeli entrepreneur. In 1982 he founded the software company MTI and later Teldor, a leading computer systems company that eventually merged with 12 other firms and became the third-largest in the local IT sector, providing integration services in the communications industry. In 2006 he sold his stake in the company and began a high-tech consulting business. He was also one of the main actors behind the creation of Israel's national information security agency which ultimately became the Israel National Cyber Directorate. He headed a nonprofit that helped with the integration into society of people who suffer from mental disabilities, running hostels and assisted living facilities.
In 2007, the leading businessman and philanthropist Sheldon Adelson and his wife Dr. Miriam Adelson tapped Baharav to help them set up a new daily – Israel Hayom. He agreed, serving as the first publisher for 11 years from its early stages until its ultimate dominance in the market. He also took part in the effort to buy a printing house for the paper.
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