Ben-Zion Harel
Encyclopedia
Ben-Zion Harel was an Israel
i doctor and politician, who served as a member of the Knesset
for the General Zionists
between 1951 and 1959.
in the Russian Empire
(today in Latvia
), Harel was educated at a heder and high school, before moving to Switzerland
to attend university. He studied chemistry at the University of Zurich
, and medicine at the University of Bern, graduating as a doctor in 1916. During his time as a student he became involved in Zionist organisations.
In 1921 he made aliyah
to Palestine
, and from 1922 until 1934 worked as a doctor in kibbutz Ein Harod
. He established and served as director of the Jezreel Valley
central hospital, and was the head doctor at Kupat Holim in the north of the country. In 1935 he became chairman of the Land of Israel Physicians Association, and the following year helped establish Assuta hospital
in Tel Aviv
.
Between 1940 and 1941 he was placed in charge of Emergency Health Affairs by the Jewish National Council. Following independence in 1948, he served as director general of the Ministry of Health
until 1950, also helping to establish Elisha Hospital in Haifa
. In 1951
he was elected to the Knesset on the General Zionists list. He was re-elected in 1955
, but lost his seat in the 1959 elections
. He died in 1972 at the age of 80.
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
i doctor and politician, who served as a member of the Knesset
Knesset
The Knesset is the unicameral legislature of Israel, located in Givat Ram, Jerusalem.-Role in Israeli Government :The legislative branch of the Israeli government, the Knesset passes all laws, elects the President and Prime Minister , approves the cabinet, and supervises the work of the government...
for the General Zionists
General Zionists
The General Zionists were centrists within the Zionist movement and a political party in Israel. Their political arm is an ancestor of the modern-day Likud.-History:...
between 1951 and 1959.
Biography
Born in KuldīgaKuldiga
Kuldīga is a town in western Latvia. It is the center of Kuldīga municipality with a population of approximately 13,500.Kuldīga was first mentioned in 1242. It joined the Hanseatic League in 1368...
in the Russian Empire
Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...
(today in Latvia
Latvia
Latvia , officially the Republic of Latvia , is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by Estonia , to the south by Lithuania , to the east by the Russian Federation , to the southeast by Belarus and shares maritime borders to the west with Sweden...
), Harel was educated at a heder and high school, before moving to Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
to attend university. He studied chemistry at the University of Zurich
University of Zurich
The University of Zurich , located in the city of Zurich, is the largest university in Switzerland, with over 25,000 students. It was founded in 1833 from the existing colleges of theology, law, medicine and a new faculty of philosophy....
, and medicine at the University of Bern, graduating as a doctor in 1916. During his time as a student he became involved in Zionist organisations.
In 1921 he made aliyah
Aliyah
Aliyah is the immigration of Jews to the Land of Israel . It is a basic tenet of Zionist ideology. The opposite action, emigration from Israel, is referred to as yerida . The return to the Holy Land has been a Jewish aspiration since the Babylonian exile...
to Palestine
Palestine
Palestine is a conventional name, among others, used to describe the geographic region between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River, and various adjoining lands....
, and from 1922 until 1934 worked as a doctor in kibbutz Ein Harod
Ein Harod
Ein Harod was a kibbutz in Israel. It was located in northern Israel near Mount Gilboa. It is notable for being built near the battlefield of Ayn Jalut , a battle of huge macro-historical importance where the Mongols were defeated for the first time, in 1260.-History:The kibbutz was founded by...
. He established and served as director of the Jezreel Valley
Jezreel Valley
-Etymology:The Jezreel Valley takes its name from the ancient city of Jezreel which was located on a low hill overlooking the southern edge of the valley, though some scholars think that the name of the city originates from the name of the clan which founded it, and whose existence is mentioned in...
central hospital, and was the head doctor at Kupat Holim in the north of the country. In 1935 he became chairman of the Land of Israel Physicians Association, and the following year helped establish Assuta hospital
Assuta Medical Center
Assuta Medical Center is a private medical center in Israel that offers innovative surgeries and diagnostic procedures in all fields of medicine, including cardiology, oncology, gynecology and urology...
in Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv , officially Tel Aviv-Yafo , is the second most populous city in Israel, with a population of 404,400 on a land area of . The city is located on the Israeli Mediterranean coastline in west-central Israel. It is the largest and most populous city in the metropolitan area of Gush Dan, with...
.
Between 1940 and 1941 he was placed in charge of Emergency Health Affairs by the Jewish National Council. Following independence in 1948, he served as director general of the Ministry of Health
Health Minister of Israel
The Ministry of Health is a ministry in the Israeli government. The current Minister of Health is Binyamin Netanyahu of Likud.There is occasionally a Deputy Minister of Health...
until 1950, also helping to establish Elisha Hospital in Haifa
Haifa
Haifa is the largest city in northern Israel, and the third-largest city in the country, with a population of over 268,000. Another 300,000 people live in towns directly adjacent to the city including the cities of the Krayot, as well as, Tirat Carmel, Daliyat al-Karmel and Nesher...
. In 1951
Israeli legislative election, 1951
Elections for the second Knesset were held in Israel on 30 July 1951. Voter turnout was 75.1%.-Results:¹ Rostam Bastuni, Avraham Berman and Moshe Sneh left Mapam and set up the Left Faction. Bastuni later returned to Mapam whilst Berman and Sneh joined Maki. Hannah Lamdan and David Livschitz left...
he was elected to the Knesset on the General Zionists list. He was re-elected in 1955
Israeli legislative election, 1955
Elections for the third Knesset were held in Israel on 26 July 1955. Voter turnout was 82.8%.-Results:Mapai retained its plurality in the Knesset, although its share of the vote dropped by 5.1 and its share of seats dropped from 47 to 40...
, but lost his seat in the 1959 elections
Israeli legislative election, 1959
Elections for the fourth Knesset were held in Israel on 3 November 1959. Voter turnout was 81.5%.-Results:¹ The General Zionists and the Progressive Party merged to form the Liberal Party....
. He died in 1972 at the age of 80.