Baruch Korff
Encyclopedia
Baruch Korff was a longtime Jewish community activist. He was politically close to Richard Nixon
, and was known as "Nixon's rabbi
."
and emigrated to the United States
in 1926. He was active in the anti-Nazi movement prior to and during World War II
, and was an active supporter of the development of a Jewish state in Palestine
.
In 1947 in the aftermath of the Exodus (ship)
incident, he led a Stern Gang plot to pamphlet-bomb London in protest http://www.tbrnews.org/Archives/a1973.htmhttp://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,911439-1,00.htmlhttp://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article1134564.ecehttp://www.iht.com/articles/1997/09/09/edold.t_20.php. He was arrested by the French, but released after a 17-day hunger strike.
He worked for many years as a rabbi in Taunton, Massachusetts
.
Korff met with Nixon on May 13, 1974, after which he wrote the book The Personal Nixon: Staying on the Summit.
Richard Nixon
Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
, and was known as "Nixon's rabbi
Rabbi
In Judaism, a rabbi is a teacher of Torah. This title derives from the Hebrew word רבי , meaning "My Master" , which is the way a student would address a master of Torah...
."
Early years
Korff was born in UkraineUkraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
and emigrated to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1926. He was active in the anti-Nazi movement prior to and during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, and was an active supporter of the development of a Jewish state in Palestine
Palestine
Palestine is a conventional name, among others, used to describe the geographic region between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River, and various adjoining lands....
.
In 1947 in the aftermath of the Exodus (ship)
Exodus (ship)
Exodus 1947 was a ship that carried Jewish emigrants, that left France on July 11, 1947, with the intent of taking its passengers to the British mandate for Palestine. Most of the emigrants were Holocaust survivor refugees, who had no legal immigration certificates to Palestine...
incident, he led a Stern Gang plot to pamphlet-bomb London in protest http://www.tbrnews.org/Archives/a1973.htmhttp://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,911439-1,00.htmlhttp://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article1134564.ecehttp://www.iht.com/articles/1997/09/09/edold.t_20.php. He was arrested by the French, but released after a 17-day hunger strike.
He worked for many years as a rabbi in Taunton, Massachusetts
Taunton, Massachusetts
Taunton is a city in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States. It is the seat of Bristol County and the hub of the Greater Taunton Area. The city is located south of Boston, east of Providence, north of Fall River and west of Plymouth. The City of Taunton is situated on the Taunton River...
.
Relationship with Nixon
After his retirement, Korff became an active supporter of Richard Nixon. He defended Nixon during Nixon's growing unpopularity over Watergate.Korff met with Nixon on May 13, 1974, after which he wrote the book The Personal Nixon: Staying on the Summit.