Pinhas Rutenberg, 1879-1942

Rutenberg was born in Russia and devoted himself to the Russian revolutions of the early 20th century. After realizing that antisemitism remained potent in European politics, he immigrated to Palestine. During the British Mandate, he founded the Palestine Electric Corp., erected oil and hydroelectric power plants, and built out the electric grid across the Land of Israel.

Photo: Matson Photograph Collection, U.S. Library of Congress