Originally from Moscow, Joseph Sprinzak was one of the early leaders of the Zionist movement. After immigrating to Palestine during the second Aliyah, Sprinzak founded both Hapoel Hatzair, a Zionist socialist faction, and Histadrut, a key trade union. In 1948 Sprinzak was elected as first speaker of the Knesset, a position he held until his death in 1959.