Michael Kohn-Eber was my father’s uncle. Born in 1885 in Galicia to Hanna Eber and Don Kohn, he was raised in Vienna in the home of Reuben Asher Braudes—Hanna’s second husband and a prominent Hebrew writer. Growing up in a household deeply engaged in the early Zionist movement, Michael was profoundly influenced by Braudes’ close ties with Theodor Herzl and other pioneering Zionist figures.

Michael became a leading figure in the Poale Zion Left, a Jewish socialist movement that fused Marxist principles with Zionist ideals. In Austria, he led the faction that opposed rejoining the World Zionist Organization, viewing it as too bourgeois. Under his leadership, Poale Zion Left became a force in Vienna’s labor movement, organizing strikes and engaging in significant political activism.

I learned a lot about Michael’s political work from my father, Dan Carmel, who often spoke of his uncle’s influence. Yet, for years, I found no trace of Michael’s legacy online and began to wonder if my father had perhaps overstated his importance. That changed when I discovered a scholarly study by Mario Kessler from Australia, which extensively studied the activities of Poale Zion Left in Austria—including Michael’s role.

To honor Michael and restore his place in history, I created a Wikipedia page based on my father’s memories and Kessler’s research. I also owe an apology to my late father for doubting his stories. He was an amateur historian with a deep commitment to truth, and I should have trusted his memory.

And Michael — your story is now preserved. You may rest in peace.