Born in 1934 in Stzahri, Georgia, he was an active Zionist from his youth. Arrested in 1949, he was charged with Zionist activity among Georgia’s Jews and sentenced to 5 years in prison . He was arrested further 3 times, in 1953, 1955, and 1971. He was released in 1972 and the same year managed to get to Israel with his family.
