Yitzhak Ben-Zvi, 1884-1963

Before becoming Israel’s second and longest-serving president in 1952, Ukraine-born Ben-Zvi co-founded Yishuv self-defense groups Bar Giora and Hashomer. He became a Poalei Zion leader after immigrating to Palestine in 1907. He was prominent in the development of the Histadrut, attended Zionist Congresses, served as the Va’ad Leumi chairman and president, and signed the Declaration of Independence.

Photo: Fritz Cohen, Israeli Government Press Office