Joseph Shapira

Joseph Shapira was born in 1926 in Jerusalem

Joseph Shapira was born in Jerusalem in 1926. His father, Rabbi Yeshayahu Shapira, was one of the founders of Hapoel Hamizrachi and was known as the pioneer rebbe. From his youth he was active in the Bnei Akiva youth movement.

He was a member of Kibbutz Ein Tzurim and later settled in Bnei Brak. In 1954 he helped found the world secretariat of Bnei Akiva and chaired it from 1955 to 1977. From 1978 to 1983 he headed the Jewish Agency's department of immigration and youth.

In 1980 he was among the founders of the Eitanim circle in the National Religious Party. In 1983 the group left the party and formed Matzad, which ran within the Morasha list. He served as Minister without Portfolio for Matzad in the national unity government from 1984 to 1988.

He founded several funds and associations for youth, immigration and development towns, including the Yeladim fund in 1987, Ayarat Li in 1989 and the Na'ale program in 1992. From 1989 to 1993 he was the first chairman of the Gross fund for discharged soldiers. He died in 2013 and was buried in Segula Cemetery in Petah Tikva.