Newly declassified documents have revealed that Reuben Efron, a Jewish immigrant from Lithuania and former US Army lieutenant colonel, was the Central Intelligence Agency official who monitored Lee Harvey Oswald's mail prior to the assassination of John F. Kennedy. Efron's identity, long speculated by conspiracy theorists, was confirmed in a recent release of government files, but his background as a spy and his deep interest in Jewish history and biblical espionage offer more insight into his personal life than into the enduring mysteries surrounding Kennedy's death.

Efron had a rich and varied career, serving as an interpreter during World War II, contributing to postwar negotiations, and later writing scholarly articles on military intelligence in the Bible while living between the United States and Israel. His essays drew parallels between ancient and modern espionage, reflecting both his professional expertise and his passion for Jewish history.

Despite his central role in monitoring Oswald, the newly uncovered details about Efron's life do little to resolve questions about the Kennedy assassination, but they highlight the complex and often hidden lives of those involved in Cold War intelligence. Efron is remembered as a diligent and modest figure who left a legacy in both government service and Jewish scholarship.