Gershon Zak
Gershon Zak | |
|---|---|
| Allegiance |  Israel Defence Forces |
| Years of service | 1931–1949 |
| Rank | Aluf |
| Commands held | first Commander of the Israeli Navy |
| Battles/wars | World War II Israeli War of Independence |
| Other work | Establishment of HaKfar HaYarok, receiving Israel Prize |
Gershon Zak (Hebrew: גרשון זק, 1913–1989) was the first commander of the Israeli Navy.[1]
Biography
Born in Ukraine in the Russian Empire in 1913, Zak made aliyah to Mandate Palestine, where he joined the Haganah. On 17 March 1948 future Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion (and at the time the leader of the Haganah) gave the order to create a Jewish naval service. He remained as commander of the Israeli Navy until April 1949 when he resigned in order to pursue a career in teaching. The following year he established the HaKfar HaYarok youth village.
Awards and honours
In 1986, Zak, together with HaKfar HaYarok, won the Israel Prize for lifetime achievement to education.[2]
See also
References
- ^ History Israel Defense Forces: Navy
- ^ "Israel Prize Official Site - Recipients in 1986 (in Hebrew)". Retrieved 2009-07-07.
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