Reuven Yaron

Reuven Yaron (, born Ruben Mihael Freiberger; 19321956) was an Israeli soldier, composer and son of Miroslav Šalom Freiberger, the chief rabbi of Zagreb and Croatia.

Early life Yaron was born in Zagreb and was the only child of Rabbi Miroslav Šalom and Irena (née Steiner) Freiberger. During World War II, at the end of 1942, Yaron's father had escorted the last group of rescued Jews from Zagreb to Budapest and Istanbul, from where they were transferred to Mandatory Palestine. Among the ten underage girls and boys was Yaron. The group had received travel documents only after Archbishop of Zagreb Aloysius Stepinac and Vatican officials had intervened with the Independent State of Croatia authorities.

Life in Israel In 1943, following 16 days of travel, Yaron arrived in Palestine. Upon his arrival, he Hebraized his name and surname. His father, mother, grandfather Antun, grandmother Anka and aunt Ljubica would all be killed in the Holocaust.

In 1956, he was killed while fighting as a soldier in the Suez War. He was buried in the cemetery on Sha'ar HaAmakim.