Tom Tugend, veteran of Israel’s 1948 War of Independence and The Jewish Chronicle’s long-time Hollywood correspondent, has died at age 97.
Tugend died at his home in Sherman Oaks, California, on Wednesday, his daughter Alina Tugend has confirmed.
Tugend was a prolific journalist of many decades who fought in three wars - two for the United States and one for Israel - before focusing on covering Jewish news, writing extensively for the JTA as well as the Jewish Chronicle, Jerusalem post and local Jewish community papers in Los Angeles.
He received a lifetime achievement award from American Jewish Press Association.
Born in 1925, Tugend was raised in an affluent Jewish family, before fleeing to the United States months before the outbreak of war in 1939.
He returned to Germany as an American soldier, and in 1948 would enlist in the newly created Israeli army fighting in the War of Independence.
When asked why he decided to return to combat, he said: “Since a Jewish state is established only every 2,000 years, I was afraid I might not be around the next time,”
Tom Tugend is survived by his wife of 66 years, Rachel, and their three daughters, eight grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
