Politicsיצחק קנב

Isaac Kanev

Isaac Kanev was an Israeli economist, Histadrut leader and Mapai politician who headed Kupat Holim for many years and won the Israel Prize in 1962.

1896 to 1980Heading Kupat HolimPlanning Israel's national insuranceFounding the Institute for Social Research

Born: 22 April 1896, Melitopol
Died: 8 May 1980, Israel
Occupation: politician, trade unionist
Party: Mapai
Education: University of London, University of Vienna

Isaac Kanev was born in 1896 in Melitopol

Kanev was born Isaac Kanievsky in Melitopol in the Russian Empire, the youngest of 5 sons. He studied natural sciences and economics at university in Simferopol, Crimea. In 1917 he took part in the defense of his town and helped found the HeHalutz movement in Russia.

He moved to the Land of Israel in 1919. In 1920 he fought at Tel Hai and was wounded, and later helped found Gdud HaAvoda. He also studied social sciences in Vienna, London and Tel Aviv and earned a master's degree.

Kanev attended the founding convention of the Histadrut in 1920. From 1923 to 1961 he was among the heads of Kupat Holim, and in 1947 he founded the Histadrut's Institute for Social Research. He led committees that planned a national insurance system, and their reports helped lay the basis for the National Insurance Institute.

He entered the first Knesset for Mapai on 20 April 1950, replacing Avraham Taviv, and lost his seat in 1951. He received the Israel Prize in social sciences in 1962 and died on 8 May 1980.