Yehoshua Rabinovitz


Yehoshua Rabinovitz was an Israeli politician who served as a government minister and mayor of Tel Aviv.

Life and career

Born in Vishneva in the Russian Empire, Rabinovitz attended high school in Vilnius, and went on to train as a teacher in the same city. He worked as a teacher and headmaster, and was a member of the HeHalutz movement. He made aliyah to the Mandate Palestine in 1934 and studied in the economics and law school of Tel Aviv University. Prior to independence, he worked for Hamashbir Lazarchan, and was involved in the Haganah.
In 1955 he was elected onto Tel Aviv city council, serving until 1959. That year he became Deputy Mayor in charge of Finances, a position he held until becoming mayor in 1969. He served as mayor until 1974.
Although not a member of the Knesset, he was appointed Minister of Housing in March 1974 by Golda Meir. After Meir resigned, he became Minister of Finance in Yitzhak Rabin's government, serving until 1977. In the 1977 elections he was voted into the Knesset on the Alignment's list, but lost his cabinet post as Likud formed a right-wing government. His seat was taken by Esther Herlitz.
While attending funeral of David Horowitz, Rabinovitz suffered a heart attack and died from it soon after.
in Trumpeldor cemetery

Commemoration

in Tel Aviv, officially named "Ganei Yehoshua," is named for him.