Born in Poltava, in Ukraine, Barou joined Poale Zion in his youth, this being a banned movement at the time.
[2] Barou joined the Fabian Society, serving on its executive in the 1940s, and writing books on co-operative banking and insurance.
He was also a Zionist activist, becoming a founder of the World Jewish Congress in 1936, and chairing its European executive from 1948.
He also served on the Board of Deputies, founding with Maurice Orbach its Trades Advisory Council, and was a leading figure in negotiating West Germany's restitution payments to Israel.
[1][3] Barou died in 1955, and the World Jewish Congress' British section instituted an annual lecture in his memory.