Yitzhak Rager

Yitzhak Rager was born in 1932 in Cairo

Rager was born in Cairo in 1932, and his family returned to the Land of Israel a few months later. He grew up in Jerusalem and studied at the Tachkemoni elementary school. His father, David Rager, later served as the first city engineer of Beersheba.

In 1952 he completed teacher training at the David Yellin college. He then joined the IDF's Givati Brigade and later reached the rank of lieutenant colonel in the reserves.

After his discharge he worked in the media, as Kol Israel's correspondent in Europe and later as spokesman of the Broadcasting Authority. In 1968 he became editor of the newspaper HaYom. He then served in the Foreign Service in London and as a consul in New York, working for the emigration of Soviet Jews.

In 1979 he became world president of State of Israel Bonds. He was among the founders of the Negev Mall in Beersheba.

He was elected mayor of Beersheba for Likud in 1989 and was re-elected. In 1992 the city was designated a prime development area. After his death, a main road in Beersheba was named Yitzhak Rager Boulevard.