Nahum Nir

Nahum Nir was born in 1884 in Warsaw

Nir was born Nahum Rafalkes in Warsaw, then part of the Russian Empire, in 1884. He studied natural sciences in Warsaw, Zurich and St Petersburg, and law in St Petersburg and Dorpat. He earned a doctorate in law in 1908.

As a student he joined the Zionist group Kadima and later Poale Zion, and he helped found World Poale Zion. He was a delegate to the Sixth and Seventh Zionist Congresses and was jailed for his political work. After the movement split, he led its left wing and served as secretary of the Left World Union of Poale Zion.

In 1925 he moved to Mandate Palestine and worked as a lawyer. He was a member of the Jewish National Council and of Moetzet HaAm, and he signed the Declaration of Independence in 1948.

He entered the First Knesset for Mapam in 1949 and later returned for Ahdut HaAvoda in 1955. He served as Deputy Speaker and chaired the Constitution, Law and Justice Committee. In 1959 he was elected Speaker against the Mapai candidate, the first Speaker not from the ruling party.

He lost his seat in the 1965 elections and died in 1968. He was married to Sabina and had 2 daughters. Streets in Bat Yam, Netanya and Petah Tikva bear his name.