Politicsיצחק טבנקין

Isaac Tabenkin

Yitzhak Tabenkin was a Zionist leader and Israeli politician, a co-founder of the kibbutz movement and of Kibbutz Ein Harod.

1887 to 1971Co-founding the kibbutz movementFounding Kibbutz Ein HarodLeading Ahdut HaAvodaThe Movement for Greater Israel

Born: 8 January 1887, Babruysk
Died: 6 June 1971, Ein Harod Meuhad
Occupation: politician, rancher
Party: United Workers Party, Labor Unity

Isaac Tabenkin was born in 1887 in Babruysk

Tabenkin was born in Babruysk, in the Russian Empire, to Moshe and Gitl Tabenkin. His mother was a cousin of the father of Berl Katznelson. He studied in a cheder and later gained a general education.

In Poland he helped found Poale Zion. After moving to the Land of Israel he worked as a farm laborer in Merhavia and Kfar Uria and then at the Kinneret farm. He joined the defense group HaShomer.

In 1921 he joined Gdud HaAvoda and helped found Ein Harod, which became the core of HaKibbutz HaMeuhad. He was among the founders of Ahdut HaAvoda and in 1930 a leader of Mapai. In 1944 he led Faction B out of Mapai and formed a new Ahdut HaAvoda.

He was a leader of Mapam from 1948 and served in the first and third Knesset. He left Mapam in 1954 over relations with the Soviet Union. After the Six-Day War he helped found the Movement for Greater Israel and opposed giving up captured territory.

He lived at Ein Harod until his death in 1971. The settlement Yitav and the Yad Tabenkin research institute are named after him.

Isaac Tabenkin's life in 8 milestones

1921
Joined Gdud HaAvoda and helped found Ein Harod.
1930
Helped establish Mapai and became one of its leaders.
1944
Led Faction B out of Mapai to form Ahdut HaAvoda.
1948
Took part in founding Mapam.
1949
Elected to the first Knesset.
1954
Left Mapam over relations with the Soviet Union.
1955
Elected to the third Knesset.
1971
Died at Ein Harod.

Isaac Tabenkin served in the military

Tabenkin was a member of HaShomer, a pre-state Jewish defense organization. He later initiated the arrangement that placed the Palmach in the kibbutzim after the British stopped funding it.