Public lifeיואל מרשק

Joel Marshak

Joel Marshak is an Israeli social activist and former head of the Missions Division of the Kibbutz Movement.

born 1945Heading the Kibbutz Movement Missions DivisionThe campaign to free Gilad ShalitMoving Gush Katif greenhouses

Occupation: social activist

Joel Marshak was born in 1945 in Givat HaShlosha

Marshak was born in 1945 on Kibbutz Givat HaShlosha. His mother Rachel was an educator, and his father Benny was the education officer of the Palmach.

He served as a fighter and commander in the Armored Corps and later commanded Battalion 53 of Brigade 188. Back on the kibbutz he ran the orchards and later the cotton branch, studied social work at Ruppin College, and served two terms as kibbutz secretary. In 1987 he ran the Maavar Afek regional school at Kibbutz Einat.

From 1991 he coordinated youth movements, Nahal and young settlement in the United Kibbutz Movement, renewing several kibbutzim and initiating Eshbal. In 2000 he became head of the Kibbutz Movement's Missions Division and organized large volunteer operations, including moving greenhouses from Gush Katif during the 2005 disengagement.

He was a founder and leader of the campaign to free Gilad Shalit and in January 2011 met Hamas officials, including Ismail Haniyeh. He has been a Labor Party member since 1986, and since 2019 has worked to make the Cave of the Patriarchs accessible to all worshippers.

He is married to Hana Kruk. The couple has 4 daughters and an adopted son from Ethiopia.

Joel Marshak's life in 8 milestones

1945
Born on Kibbutz Givat HaShlosha.
1977
Took command of Battalion 53 of Brigade 188.
1988
Founded Koach Yoel, a group of 120 reserve officers.
1997
Eshbal, which he initiated, became a kibbutz.
2000
Became head of the Kibbutz Movement's Missions Division.
2005
Organized moving Gush Katif greenhouses with about 10,000 volunteers.
2007
Set up a center to absorb Darfur refugees in kibbutzim.
2011
Met Hamas leaders over the release of Gilad Shalit.

Joel Marshak served in Armored Corps

He served in the Armored Corps and commanded an armored infantry platoon at Latrun in the Six-Day War. In 1977 he took command of Battalion 53 of Brigade 188 for 2 years and led it in Operation Litani.

Armored Corps