Yosef Sprinzak, 1885-1959

Originally from Moscow, Sprinzak was the first speaker of the Knesset, a position he held until his death. He was interim president after Chaim Weizmann died. After immigrating to Palestine during the Second Aliyah, Sprinzak co-founded Hapoel Hatzair, a socialist party that was one of the components of Mapai, and the Histadrut, which he served as general secretary at the state’s founding.

Photo: Central Zionist Archives