Zerach Warhaftig

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Rabbi Dr. Zerach Warhaftig (Hebrew: זרח ורהפטיג, Yiddish: זרח ווארהאפטיק, also known as Zorach Warhaftig, Zā´rach Varhatfig or Zérach Varhaftig) (2 February 1906 - 26 September 2002) was an Israeli lawyer and politician and a signator of Israel's Declaration of Independence.

1 Background
2 Literary works
3 See also
4 External links

[edit] Background

Warhaftig was born in Vaŭkavysk, Belarus in 1906. He immigrated to Israel in 1947 and immediately got involved in politics. Initially he joined the Mizrakhi Workers party, a religious-zionist party, and was elected to the first Knesset as part of the United Religious Front, an alliance between Mizrakhi , Mizrakhi Workers, Agudat Israel and Agudat Israel Workers. In 1948 he had also started lecturing in Jewish Law at the Hebrew University, a role he maintained until 1963.

The party fought the 1951 elections alone. Although it only won two seats, it was included in David Ben Gurion's coalition, and Warhaftig was appointed Deputy Minister of Religions in the fourth government. In 1956 Mizrakhi Workers and Mizrakhi merged to form the National Religious Party. Warhaftig led the party and retained his ministerial role until the end of the third Knesset.

After the 1961 elections (the fifth Knesset) he was appointed Minister of Religions, a role he held until 1974. In 1981 he left the Knesset.

Warhaftig also helped found Bar Ilan University.

[edit] Literary works

“A Constitution for Israel” an article in Yavne Compilation: Political Problems in Israel pgs 17-21, (Hebrew, April 1949)
“On Rabbinical Judgments in Israel” (collected speeches) (Hebrew, 1956)
“Legal Issues in the Talmud” (from lectures) (Hebrew, 1957)
Editor with Shlomo Zeven: “Remembrance: a Torah Collection in Memory of Rabbi Yizhak HaLevi Herzog” (Hebrew, 1962)
“Chattel in Jewish Law” (Hebrew, 1964)
“Problems of State and Religion” (articles and speeches) (Hebrew, 1973)
Edited: “Religion and State in Legislation: A Collection of Laws and Rulings” (Hebrew, 1973)
“The Declaration of Independence and Orders for the Order of Government and the Judiciary (1948 and Problems of Religion and State” in The Book of Shragai (Hebrew, 1982)
“Refugee and Remnant during the Holocaust” (Hebrew, 1984)
“Researches in Jewish Law” (Hebrew, 1985)
“A Constitution for Israel – Religion and State” (Hebrew, 1988)
"ヒトラーの魔手を逃れて: 日本に来たユダヤ難民 - 約束の地への長いたび", 原書房 (Japanese translation)