Natalio Berman
Chilean politician (1908–1957)
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Natalio Berman Berman (10 October 1908 – 13 April 1957) was a Chilean–Russian physician, surgeon, community leader, and communist politician.
- Nueva Acción Pública (1931–1933)
- Socialist Party (1933–1939)
- Socialist Workers' Party (1940–1944)
- Communist Party (1944–1957)
Natalio Berman | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Chamber of Deputies | |
| In office 15 May 1937 – 15 May 1949 | |
| Constituency | 17th Departamental Group |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 10 October 1908 |
| Died | 13 April 1957 (aged 48) |
| Party |
|
| Spouse | Luisa Kohen Raier |
| Alma mater | University of Chile |
| Occupation | Politician; Physician |
Born in Odesa to Isaías Berman and Clara Berman, he emigrated to Chile during childhood and later became a naturalised citizen.[1]
Early life and studies
During his family's voyage to the Americas in 1914, Berman and his parents were detained and confined in a German concentration camp. After arriving in Chile, he studied at the Liceo de Hombres de Valparaíso and later at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Chile, graduating as a surgeon in 1930 with the thesis Metrorraguas Extrauterina. He became a Chilean citizen in 1929.[1]
He practiced as a general physician, served ad honorem as assistant in Anatomy, and later taught the discipline at the university's School of Medicine (1930–1932). After relocating to Concepción, he taught at the Red Cross and at the local Liceo de Niñas.[1]
He left the Socialist Party with the Inconformistas faction led by César Godoy and helped found the Socialist Workers' Party (1940), winning re-election for the 1941–1945 term, where he sat on the Permanent Committee on Finance.[2]
In 1944 he joined the Communist Party and was again elected Deputy for the 1945–1949 term, this time serving on the Permanent Committee on Foreign Relations.[3]
He was an active member of the Chilean Medical Society, president of the Association of Young Israelites, participant in the Zionist Federation of Chile, and founder of the Public Israelite Polyclinic.[1]
Social work
Berman travelled extensively across the Americas in campaigns for the World Jewish Congress, representing Jewish communities from Chile, Bolivia and Brazil at the Congress held in Atlanta, United States.
He received the Order of the Commander of Ecuador, was decorated by the Chilean Red Cross with the Medalla del Terremoto, and was honorary director of all Jewish institutions in Chile. He was also named first benefactor by the firefighters of Concepción.[1]