Zvi Sliternik
Encyclopedia
Zvi Sliternik was an Israeli entomologist
.
region of Austria-Hungary
(now known as Khmelnytskyi, in Ukraine
). He began studying medicine in Russia, but did not complete his studies before emigrating in 1919 to Mandate Palestine. There he met Shoshanah Lissauer, a Jewish tourist volunteer from Berlin
, Germany
, whom he married in 1929.
He returned to his studies, studying biology at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem
. In 1946, he received a doctorate.
Sliternik began his entomology work in 1921, as a member of a small unit headed by Dr. Israel Kligler, to develop inexpensive and efficient methods of fighting malaria
, which ultimately resulted in the total eradication of malaria in 1962.
He was appointed regional supervisor for the elimination of malaria in the Jezreel Valley
and supervised the draining of the marshes in the vicinity of Hadera
, as well as additional areas throughout the country. Sliternik served as director of entomological service in the IDF
in 1948 and was subsequently director of the entomological department in the Israel Ministry of Health from 1949 to 1962.
Entomology
Entomology is the scientific study of insects, a branch of arthropodology...
.
Biography
Sliternik was born in 1897 in Ploskirów, in the PodoliaPodolia
The region of Podolia is an historical region in the west-central and south-west portions of present-day Ukraine, corresponding to Khmelnytskyi Oblast and Vinnytsia Oblast. Northern Transnistria, in Moldova, is also a part of Podolia...
region of Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary , more formally known as the Kingdoms and Lands Represented in the Imperial Council and the Lands of the Holy Hungarian Crown of Saint Stephen, was a constitutional monarchic union between the crowns of the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Hungary in...
(now known as Khmelnytskyi, in Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
). He began studying medicine in Russia, but did not complete his studies before emigrating in 1919 to Mandate Palestine. There he met Shoshanah Lissauer, a Jewish tourist volunteer from Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, whom he married in 1929.
He returned to his studies, studying biology at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Hebrew University of Jerusalem
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem ; ; abbreviated HUJI) is Israel's second-oldest university, after the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology. The Hebrew University has three campuses in Jerusalem and one in Rehovot. The world's largest Jewish studies library is located on its Edmond J...
. In 1946, he received a doctorate.
Sliternik began his entomology work in 1921, as a member of a small unit headed by Dr. Israel Kligler, to develop inexpensive and efficient methods of fighting malaria
Malaria
Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease of humans and other animals caused by eukaryotic protists of the genus Plasmodium. The disease results from the multiplication of Plasmodium parasites within red blood cells, causing symptoms that typically include fever and headache, in severe cases...
, which ultimately resulted in the total eradication of malaria in 1962.
He was appointed regional supervisor for the elimination of malaria in 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...
and supervised the draining of the marshes in the vicinity of Hadera
Hadera
Hadera is a city located in the Haifa District of Israel approximately from the major cities of Tel Aviv and Haifa. The city is located along of the Israeli Mediterranean Coastal Plain...
, as well as additional areas throughout the country. Sliternik served as director of entomological service in the IDF
Israel Defense Forces
The Israel Defense Forces , commonly known in Israel by the Hebrew acronym Tzahal , are the military forces of the State of Israel. They consist of the ground forces, air force and navy. It is the sole military wing of the Israeli security forces, and has no civilian jurisdiction within Israel...
in 1948 and was subsequently director of the entomological department in the Israel Ministry of Health from 1949 to 1962.
Awards
- In 1962, Sliternik was awarded the Israel PrizeIsrael PrizeThe Israel Prize is an award handed out by the State of Israel and is largely regarded as the state's highest honor. It is presented annually, on Israeli Independence Day, in a state ceremony in Jerusalem, in the presence of the President, the Prime Minister, the Knesset chairperson, and the...
, in medicine, for his work on the eradication of malaria in Israel.