Gerson Bergher, one of Brazil’s most prominent Jewish activists, has died.
A former president of the Brazilian Zionist Organization, Bergher, who has served as a politician in Brazil for many years, died May 30 in Rio. He was 91.
Bergher reportedly began his political career based on advice from Israel’s first prime minister, David Ben-Gurion. First elected to the assembly of the Brazilian state of Rio in 1960, he had a longtime and openly pro-Jewish and pro-Israel political career as a member of both the Rio state Assembly and City Council. In the 1990s and 2000s he served as acting mayor.
“Bergher was the dean of politicians of the Jewish-Brazilian community and a loyal activist of the Zionist movement in Brazil,” said Osias Wurman, Israel honorary consul and former president of the Rio Jewish federation. — jta