Baruch Uziel

Baruch Uziel was born in 1901 in Thessaloniki

Baruch Uziel was born in Thessaloniki, the son of Moshe Uziel. As a child he studied at the community Talmud Torah. In Thessaloniki he belonged to the Maccabi movement and helped found a society that promoted Hebrew culture.

In 1914 he moved to the Land of Israel and studied at a teachers seminary. In 1917, during World War I, the Turks exiled him to Damascus. After his return he taught in Jerusalem, Rehovot and Petah Tikva.

He studied law in Jerusalem and began practicing as a lawyer in 1934. He helped bring Jewish port workers from Thessaloniki to the country and chaired the Institute for Research of Thessaloniki Jewry. He was among the founders of HaOved HaTzioni and served in the fourth Assembly of Representatives.

After the state was founded he was active in the Progressive Party, which later merged into the Liberal Party. He entered the Knesset in 1961 and was elected again on the Gahal list. He served until 1969 and sat on the Education and Culture Committee.

He wrote many articles for Hebrew and Ladino newspapers. His daughter was the poet Rachel Uziel Farhi. He died in 1977.