Collection of [25] Original Photographs from the Martyr David Raziel's Funeral in Jerusalem, with a Letter from ...

Collection of [25] Original Photographs from the Martyr David Raziel's Funeral in Jerusalem, with a Letter from Rabbi Aryeh Levin, a Relative, Jerusalem 1962

25 Photographs from David Raziel's funeral. Among those photographed – Rabbi Aryeh Levin, Rabbi Shlomo Goren, Menachem Begin and more. The photographs show the honor guard and rows of the leaders of the Irgun paying their final respects to their commander.

David Raziel (1910-1941) was the commander of the Irgun. In his youth, he studied at the Merkaz HaRav yeshivah, where his study partners were Rabbi Tzvi Yehudah HaKohen Kook and Rabbi Avraham Shapira, who eventually served as heads of the yeshivah. Raziel was one of the founders of the Irgun, after it was decided to break away from the Haganah. After he had met with Raziel, Jabotinsky noted that he had been waiting for a person like Raziel for 15 years and had decided to appoint him governor of Beitar in the Land of Israel. After the outbreak of World War II, the Irgun decided to join the British in their war against the Nazis (which was what led the Lech"i to part from it). Raziel was appointed by the British to head a small commando unit that was sent to Iraq, where he was killed during on attack on Fallujah.

Raziel was buried in Iraq by the British and many efforts were made to bring his body to Israel. Only in 1955 did the Iraqis agree to release his remains provided that he would be reburied in Cyprus and not in Israel. In 1961, Menachem Begin succeeded in convincing the new leader of Cyprus to release his remains and on the 28th of Adar, Raziel's funeral took place on Mount Herzl in Jerusalem with the attendance of thousands.

[25] photographs. 7x9 cm. Very fine condition.

In addition, a handwritten letter by Rabbi Aryeh Levin to David Raziel's family from the sixth of Nissan 1962 is included. In the letter, Rabbi Aryeh encourages the family to rejoice during the Passover festival and brings a widow named Rachel Leah as an example. This very widow's grandson, Shneur Zalman Cheshin, eventually became a judge in the Supreme Court. Rabbi Aryeh tells the Raziel family that the aforementioned widow always tried to happily celebrate Passover and he implores the Raziel family to emulate her. [1] paper leaf. 21x11 cm. Very fine condition. Fold marks.