Militaryאפרים בן ארצי

Ephraim Ben-Artzi

Ephraim Ben-Artzi was an Israeli general who headed the IDF Quartermasters Directorate from 1950 to 1952 and later served as executive director of El Al.

1910 to 2001Heading the IDF Quartermasters DirectorateExecutive director of El AlDesigning the IDF medals committee

Born: 19 July 1910, Slonim
Died: 6 February 2001, Israel
Occupation: military officer, engineer
Education: Grenoble Alpes University
Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
Wars: World War II, 1948 Palestine war

Ephraim Ben-Artzi was born in 1910 in Slonim

Ephraim Kobrinsky, later Ben-Artzi, was born in Slonim in 1910, one of four children of Shamai and Rachel Kobrinsky. His father supplied clothing to the Russian army. The family moved to Białystok in 1922 and immigrated to Mandatory Palestine in 1924.

He studied at the Herzliya Hebrew Gymnasium. After high school he went abroad to study hydraulic engineering.

He joined the Haganah in 1935 and served in the British Army during World War II, where he became a lieutenant colonel in 1946. In the War of Independence he helped found the IDF Quartermasters Directorate and served as its deputy head. After a posting as military attaché in the United States and Canada, he became an Aluf and headed the directorate until 1952.

He was executive director of Mekorot from 1952 to 1955 and of El Al from 1956 to 1967. He then managed the Arad industrial complex and later headed Amidar from 1975 to 1977. He was among the founders of Yad Levi Eshkol and in 1973 led a committee that recommended designs for IDF medals.

In 1959 he married the designer Dora Gad, and the couple had no children. He died in Caesarea in 2001.

Milestones in Ephraim Ben-Artzi's life

1924
Immigrated with his family to Mandatory Palestine.
1935
Joined the Haganah.
1946
Promoted to lieutenant colonel in the British Army.
1950
Promoted to Aluf and appointed head of the Quartermasters Directorate.
1952
Became executive director of Mekorot.
1956
Became executive director of El Al.
1959
Married the designer Dora Gad.
1973
Headed a committee on the design of IDF medals.
1975
Became managing director of Amidar.
2001
Died in Caesarea.

Ephraim Ben-Artzi served in the military

He joined the Haganah in 1935 and served in the British Army in World War II, commanding the 3rd battalion of the Jewish Brigade and reaching lieutenant colonel in 1946. In the IDF he was deputy head of the Quartermasters Directorate in 1948 and, as an Aluf, its head from 1950 to 1952.