Yosef Aluf Avidar (7 May 1906 – 13 September 1995) was an Israeli statesman, Haganah commander, author and ambassador to Argentina and the Soviet Union.[1]
Early life
Avidar was born on 7 May 1906 as Yosef Rochel[2] in Kremenets in the Russian Empire and in what is now modern-day Ukraine. His father was Joshua Rochel; his mother, Shprinza.[3] Avidar was a peddler during his time in Ukraine.[4]
Avidar became a senior commander in a Jewish paramilitary organization called the Haganah.[5] Placed in control of the supply programs,[4] he was responsible for the idea and of constructing an underground ammunition factory called the Ayalon Institute, which was a major supplier of arms to the Haganah.[2][6]
Avidar died on 13 September 1995 at the age of 89 from a lung infection.[4]
Personal life
Avidar lost his right hand when he was learning how to use grenades, and was given the nickname "the amputee".[2] He was sent to Vienna for treatment, where he met the future Israeli children's book author and later wife Yemima Avidar-Tchernovitz,[2] who at the time was studying at the University of Vienna.[7]