Politicsראובן ארזי

Reuven Arazi

Reuven Arazi was an Israeli politician and lawyer who served as a member of the Knesset for Mapam and the Alignment from 1965 to 1974.

1907 to 1983Mapam member of the KnessetDeputy Speaker of the KnessetRebuilding Hashomer Hatzair in postwar Poland

Born: 11 May 1907, Mezhirichi
Died: 19 May 1983, Israel
Occupation: politician, lawyer
Party: United Workers Party
Education: Faculty of Law and Administration, University of Warsaw

Reuven Arazi was born in 1907 in Mezhirichi

Reuven Arazi was born on 11 May 1907 in Mezhirichi. His original surname was Cederbaum.

He attended a gymnasium and then studied law in Warsaw, where he qualified as a lawyer. He also completed studies at the Judaic Studies Institute in Warsaw. As a student he was a leader of the Socialist Zionist student movement and joined Hashomer Hatzair.

From 1933 to 1939 he worked in the Tarbut school system. In 1940 the Soviet authorities exiled him to the Urals, and he stayed there until 1946. After returning to Poland he helped re-establish Hashomer Hatzair, became its secretary general and worked with the Jewish National Fund.

He moved to Israel in 1949 and joined Mapam. He served as the party's political secretary until 1965, when he was elected to the Knesset. He was re-elected in 1969 and became Deputy Speaker of the Knesset, but lost his seat in the 1973 elections.

In his later years he served as an arbitrator in the public service. He died on 19 May 1983, during a doctors' strike.