Dov Hoz (1894-1940) was a leader of the Israeli labor movement, founder of the Hagana organization and a pioneer of Israeli aviation.
Born in Russia in 1894, immigrated to Israel along with his family in 1906.
Beginning in 1909, he was part of the group that organized guarding activity of the city of Tel-Aviv. The group included Shaul Avigor, Eliyahu Golomb and Moshe Sharett.
During World War I, Hoz volunteered for service in the "autumn army" and was sentenced to death for continuing activities to secure the Jewish settlement of Palestine. He escaped death by fleeing to the south of Palestine which has just been conquered by the British.
Some highlights of his career:
- He was one of the organizers of the Hebrew legion.
- 1920-1930: Member of the central Hagana committee
- 1931-1940: Member of the national Hagana command center.
- One of the heads of the labor movement and part of the group tha start the "ahdut avoda" party.
- 1935: Appointed vice-mayor of Tel-Aviv.
- Later, head of the state department of the Histadrut (Labor Federation).
- Founder and CEO of "Aviron", a company which pioneered aviation in Israel, mostly for security purposes, by training pilots, establishing flight lines in Israel and outside. This company served as cover for "Sherut Avir" of the Hagana.
Hoz died in a car accident in December 1940 on his way to an Aviron board meeting. In his car were his wife Rivka, daughter Tirza, sister in law Tzvia Sharet and business partner Yitzhak Ben Yaacov.
Kibbutz "Dorot" in the Negev is named after the Hoz family members to denote "Dov, Rivka, Tirza".
Sde Dov Airport in North Tel-Aviv is also named after Dov Hoz.
Last updated: 10-20-2005 22:20:22