Rabbi Zerach Warhaftig, 1906-2002

Belarus-born Warhaftig persuaded Japanese diplomat Chiune Sugihara to issue 3,500 visas for Jews fleeing Lithuania at the start of World War II, then escaped to Canada via Japan. He reached the Land of Israel in 1947. He signed the Declaration of Independence and founded the National Religious Party. He was a Knesset member of the Knesset from 1949 to 1981 and served as minister of religious affairs.

Photo: Teddy Brauner, National Photo Collection of Israel