David Tuviyahu

David Tuviyahu was born in 1898 in Zhovkva

Tuviyahu was born in 1898 in Zhovkva, in eastern Galicia, then part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. His father was Yosef Taube. In 1917 he began studying law and political science at the University of Lemberg.

He immigrated to the Land of Israel in 1920, during the Third Aliyah. He worked in construction and road building in the north, and was a member of Kibbutz Geva for 7 years. He worked as a foreman and manager for Solel Boneh, and was active in Mapai and the Histadrut.

At the request of David Ben-Gurion, he came to Beersheba at the end of 1948 and headed its appointed council. In 1950 he was appointed mayor, and he oversaw the building of water and power systems, housing for new immigrants, roads and schools. The Central Hospital of the Negev opened in 1959, during his tenure.

In 1961 the city council replaced him with Ze'ev Zrizi. He then helped found the Institute of Higher Education in the Negev, which became Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. From 1964 he headed the Tel Aviv district of the Israel Land Administration.

He married Leah Rotbart, and they had 2 children, Rina and Dan. He died in Beersheba in 1975 and was buried in Moshav Yarkona. A high school and a main street in Beersheba bear his name.