Paul Shulman
Encyclopedia
Paul Nahman Shulman also known by his Hebrew name, Shaul Ben-Tzvi, was the second commander of the Israeli Navy.
and raised in New York
, Shulman graduated from the United States Naval Academy
at Annapolis. During World War II
he fought in the Pacific front during and was discharged from the US Navy in 1945 after the surrender of Japan. Shulman was very affected by the Holocaust
, and decided to help smuggle Jews from post-Holocaust Europe into Mandate Palestine. In 1948 Shulman emigrated
to Israel.
In November that year he was asked by Prime Minister
David Ben-Gurion
to help establish an Israeli Navy. During the 1948 Arab-Israeli War
he commanded a blockade of the Gaza Strip
and the capture of Ein Gedi
on the Dead Sea
. In 1949 he became its second Commander, after Gershon Zak
decided to return to a career in education. However, he retired from the Navy in 1949, becoming an advisor to Ben-Gurion on Naval issues.
In 1994 he died in his home in Haifa
at the age of 72.
Biography
Born in 1922 in ConnecticutConnecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
and raised in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, Shulman graduated from the United States Naval Academy
United States Naval Academy
The United States Naval Academy is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located in Annapolis, Maryland, United States...
at Annapolis. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
he fought in the Pacific front during and was discharged from the US Navy in 1945 after the surrender of Japan. Shulman was very affected by the Holocaust
The Holocaust
The Holocaust , also known as the Shoah , was the genocide of approximately six million European Jews and millions of others during World War II, a programme of systematic state-sponsored murder by Nazi...
, and decided to help smuggle Jews from post-Holocaust Europe into Mandate Palestine. In 1948 Shulman emigrated
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 Israel.
In November that year he was asked by Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Israel
The Prime Minister of Israel is the head of the Israeli government and the most powerful political figure in Israel . The prime minister is the country's chief executive. The official residence of the prime minister, Beit Rosh Hamemshala is in Jerusalem...
David Ben-Gurion
David Ben-Gurion
' was the first Prime Minister of Israel.Ben-Gurion's passion for Zionism, which began early in life, led him to become a major Zionist leader and Executive Head of the World Zionist Organization in 1946...
to help establish an Israeli Navy. During the 1948 Arab-Israeli War
1948 Arab-Israeli War
The 1948 Arab–Israeli War, known to Israelis as the War of Independence or War of Liberation The war commenced after the termination of the British Mandate for Palestine and the creation of an independent Israel at midnight on 14 May 1948 when, following a period of civil war, Arab armies invaded...
he commanded a blockade of the Gaza Strip
Gaza Strip
thumb|Gaza city skylineThe Gaza Strip lies on the Eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea. The Strip borders Egypt on the southwest and Israel on the south, east and north. It is about long, and between 6 and 12 kilometres wide, with a total area of...
and the capture of Ein Gedi
Ein Gedi
Ein Gedi is an oasis in Israel, located west of the Dead Sea, near Masada and the caves of Qumran.-Etymology:The name En-gedi is composed of two Hebrew words: ein means spring and gdi means goat-kid. En Gedi thus means "Kid spring."...
on the Dead Sea
Dead Sea
The Dead Sea , also called the Salt Sea, is a salt lake bordering Jordan to the east and Israel and the West Bank to the west. Its surface and shores are below sea level, the lowest elevation on the Earth's surface. The Dead Sea is deep, the deepest hypersaline lake in the world...
. In 1949 he became its second Commander, after Gershon Zak
Gershon Zak
Gershon Zak was the head of the Sea service which became the Israeli Navy, at that time there was no commander till Paul Shulman came and both Paul Shulman and Zak were in charge, Shulman as commander and Zak as Administrative from MOD.-Biography:...
decided to return to a career in education. However, he retired from the Navy in 1949, becoming an advisor to Ben-Gurion on Naval issues.
In 1994 he died in his home 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...
at the age of 72.