David Raziel: The Irgun Commander Who Shaped Jewish Resistance in the Shadow of Empire

David Raziel’s life reads like a chapter from an epic — a young scholar-warrior who emerged from the yeshiva world to become one of the most influential leaders of the Jewish underground. Born in Minsk in 1910 and raised in Jerusalem, Raziel grew up in a city divided by tension, foreign rule, and rising hostility. Yet he was shaped not by anger, but by a profound sense of responsibility — the belief that Jews must defend themselves with dignity and discipline.

As a brilliant student in the Etz Chaim Yeshiva and later at Hebrew University, Raziel combined intellectual rigor with a deep moral seriousness. But the violence of the 1920s and 1930s forced a new reality on the Jewish community. Pogroms, riots, and British policies left Jews vulnerable. Raziel concluded that the old world of exile — where Jews hoped for mercy — must end. A new model of Jewish strength was needed.

He joined the Irgun (Etzel) in its earliest years and quickly rose through the ranks, becoming its commander in 1938. Under his leadership, the Irgun developed a more organized, strategic, and disciplined operational structure. Raziel believed Jewish defense must be proactive, not reactive. His actions were driven not by vengeance, but by the conviction that Jewish life must never again be defenseless.

Raziel’s tenure came at a turbulent time. The Arab Revolt, British crackdowns, and internal disagreements within the yishuv created immense pressure. Yet he maintained a steady hand, seeking both moral clarity and tactical effectiveness. His ability to articulate the ideological foundations of resistance — national dignity, strategic necessity, and the right of Jewish self-defense — made him a powerful symbol of the movement.

During World War II, Raziel made a choice that revealed the complexity of his character. Despite deep resentment toward British rule, he agreed to assist the British war effort against Nazi Germany, understanding that the survival of European Jewry was at stake. In 1941, he joined a British mission in Iraq aimed at disrupting pro-Nazi forces in the region. It was there, during a German air attack near the city of Fallujah, that Raziel was killed at just 31 years old.

His death sent shockwaves through the Irgun. Raziel had been more than a commander — he was a moral compass, a visionary, and a bridge between the underground’s ideological roots and its operational future. Menachem Begin, who later led the Irgun and became Prime Minister of Israel, often spoke of Raziel with deep reverence.

Raziel left behind writings that revealed a thoughtful, introspective leader motivated not by glory but by duty. His legacy lives in Israel’s culture of self-defense, in the spirit of Jewish resilience, and in the belief that courage must be guided by purpose.

David Raziel remains one of the defining heroes of the underground — a leader who understood that the path to national revival required not only bravery in battle, but clarity of vision and steadfast devotion to his people.