Born in 1906, he was drafted into the Soviet Army and was wounded during World War II. In 1948 he requested permission to leave USSR for Israel, but was arrested as a Zionist, a traitor and an anti-Soviet activist. He was sentenced to 10 years hard labor, of which he served 7 years. After his release in 1955, and again in 1966, he applied to leave for Israel and was refused. After tremendous efforts he finally received permission and left for Israel in 1973.
