Author
Tidhar, David ben Moshe Bezalel
Publication Date
1920
Subject
History
Type
Document
Language
ara,eng,heb
Digital
No
Manuscript
No
Library
University of Minnesota Libraries
Record ID
cdi_globaltitleindex_catalog_144211687
Library Location
Request
Date
1920
Notes
David Tadhar (1897-1970) was born in Jaffa and received a traditional education in Talmud Torah "Shaari Torah" and Tachhmuni and Ezra schools. Already in his youth he was active in various institutions in Jaffa and Tel Aviv and founded the "Young Maccabi". Enlisted in the "Hebrew Battalion" at the end of the First World War, took an active part in the events of May 1921 in the defense of the Neve Shalom and Jaffa border. In the years 1921-1926 he was a police officer and police chief in Jerusalem. After that he opened an office for private investigations in Tel Aviv. As a result of his public criticism against the heads of the British police, he was forced to leave the country and lived in Egypt with his family between 1927-1931. In 1940, he was one of the founders of the "Jabotinsky Institute", and acquired a lot of material to gather information about Jabotinsky's history, in honor of his 60th anniversary. He founded "Sefrit Rashonim" which published 16 booklets about the personalities of the old settlement edited by Yaakov Hurgin. In 1944 he initiated and organized the "New Aharon Aharonson" on the 25th anniversary of his death. During World War II, he was appointed a researcher on behalf of the army, and over time became a liaison between the Haganah and the Lahi and Etzel organizations. He was an active member of the "Habonim Haschachim" and "Bnei Brit" chambers. His best-known work is the "Encyclopedia for the pioneers of the settlement and its builders", of which 19 volumes were published. The archive includes extensive correspondence and questionnaires sent to him by the pioneers and their families for the preparation of the encyclopedia, many drafts of Tadhar's literary work, photographs and personal certificates. The archive was purchased from the heirs of David Tidhar - his widow Mrs. Rebecca Tidhar, his daughter Esther Rachel Weitz and his son Bezalel Tidhar, in November 1974. David Tidhar (1897-1970) was born in Jaffa, the son of Moshe Bezalel Todrasovitch and Esther Rachel, daughter of Aharon Nirenberg. Tidhar received a traditional education at the Shaarei Torah Talmud Torah and at the Tachkemoni and Ezra schools. In his youth he was active in various institutions in Jaffa and Tel Aviv and founded the 'Young Maccabi'. At the end of the First World War he joined the Jewish Legion and he was involved in the riots in May 1921, when he defended the border between Neve Shalom and Jaffa. From 1921-1926 he served as a police officer and commander of the Jerusalem police. After this he opened a private detective agency in Tel Aviv. As a result of his public criticism of the heads of the British police force, Tidhar was forced to leave Eretz Israel and between 1927-1931 he and his family lived in Egypt. In 1940 he was one of the founders of the Jabotinsky Institute and acquired a lot of material with the aim of bringing together information about the history of Jabotinsky, in honor of his 60th birthday. He founded the committee for Talmud Torah Shaarei Torah in Neve Shalom, as well as the publishing house 'Sifriyat Rishonim' which published 16 booklets on personalities from the Old Yishuv under the editorship of Yaakov Horgin. In 1944 Tidhar initiated and organized "Aharon Aaronson month" to mark the 25th anniversary of his death. During the Second World War he served as an army investigator and he became the liaison between the Hagana and the Lehi and Etzel. He was an active member of the Freemasons and of Bnai Brith. From 1950 Tidhar worked as a publisher. He researched the history of the Yishuv and wrote many books on the subject. His most famous project was the Encyclopedia of the Founders and Builders of Israel, which was published in 19 volumes. The archive includes widespread correspondence and questionnaires that he sent to pioneers and their families in preparation for the Encyclopedia, many drafts of Tidhar's literary works, photographs and personal documents. The archive includes extensive correspondence and questionnaires, sent to him by various personalities and their families, for the preparation of the "Encyclopedia for the pioneers of the settlement and its builders", which David Tadhar wrote and edited, and hundreds of envelopes with newspaper clippings and photographs of personalities, arranged in alphabetical order, in preparation for this encyclopedia. The archive also includes many manuscripts and drafts of Tadhar's other literary work (the Hebrew Detective series, his memoirs as a police officer and more). Also photographs and personal certificates, some of which were arranged in albums by Tadhar.
