- December 19, 2025
- 11:39 pm
- Israel
David Horowitz is a name that represents an incredible journey from the small town of Drohobych on the territory of modern Ukraine to the leadership of the financial system of the state of Israel.
His life's journey, full of challenges and achievements, continues to inspire generations.
David Horowitz was born on February 15, 1899 in the city of Drohobych, which at that time was part of Austria-Hungary, and later became part of Western Ukraine.
The region, known for its ethnic and cultural diversity, played an important role in shaping the young Horowitz's worldview.
Drohobych of the late 19th and early 20th centuries was a city with an active Jewish community, which made up about 40% of the population. The Jews of Drohobych were engaged in trade, crafts and art; there were synagogues, schools and cultural centers in the city. It was here that David Horowitz absorbed a love for Jewish traditions and developed an interest in the ideas of Zionism.
Impact of the events of the First World War
David's childhood was spent in conditions of instability. The outbreak of World War I forced the Horowitz family to leave Drohobych and move to Vienna. This forced move became the first big test for young David, who early learned to be independent. In Vienna, he began working selling newspapers to help his family, which strengthened his character.
After the end of the war, the family returned to Lviv, where David continued his studies at the gymnasium. It was here that he began to actively participate in the Zionist movement, which was especially popular among the Jewish youth of Galicia.
“Hashomer ha-tzair”: the beginning of the path to Eretz Israel
Zionist ideas swept Eastern Galicia at the beginning of the 20th century, and David Horowitz became one of the leading representatives of the movement. In 1918, he and like-minded people founded the youth movement Hashomer Hatzair (Young Guardian). The first congress of the movement took place in Tarnov, and the second in Lvov, which indicates the important role of Galicia as a center of Jewish youth activity.
Young Zionists like David saw their mission as reviving Jewish life in Palestine. They sought to create a new society based on equality, work and national identity. In 1920, David Horowitz, along with a group of 131 participants, immigrated to Eretz Israel. These young people, leaving the comfortable conditions of city life in Galicia, became pioneers in the construction of the Jewish state.
Beitaniya Ilit: the beginning of the Zionist kibbutz movement
Beitaniya Illit, or Upper Beitaniya, was one of the first communes in Eretz Israel, created by members of the Hashomer Hatzair movement in 1920. This unique experiment was located on the mountain slopes near Lake Kinneret, where young Zionists from Galicia began to build their new future. The 131-member group, having left a comfortable life in Europe, chose hard work and spartan conditions to realize their dream of reviving Jewish society.
Upper Beytaniya (Beytaniya-Ilit) was a unique project in which most of the participants were indeed Jews from Ukrainian Galicia. These young idealists formed the core of the group that gathered to create the first kibbutz of the Hashomer Hatzair movement. All of them were activists inspired by Zionist ideals and came to Eretz Israel in 1920.
Who were the participants from Ukraine?
Among the leaders and participants who came from Galicia (the territory of modern Ukraine), the following names can be distinguished:
- Dov Opper from Zolochev – one of the prominent leaders of the group.
- Arie Alweil from Bibrka – an active organizer of the movement.
- Meir Wald from near Przemysl – a leader who inspired the participants.
- Benjamin Freivogel from Stanislaviv (now Ivano-Frankivsk) – one of the leading ideologists.
- Milek Goldstein from Podvolochisk, near Ternopil – an active participant in the commune.
- David Horowitz from Drohobych – future economist and president of the Bank of Israel, who in his youth was an important figure in the project.
- Aba Shneller from Turki, Lviv region – participant in the first “Galician landing”.
These people were driven by the idea of creating a New Man – a free Jew, capable of working on his historical land. Many of them left a significant mark on the history of Israel, becoming political, social and military leaders.
Ukrainian connection
Most of the kibbutz members come from small towns and villages in Galicia, such as Zolochev, Bibrka, Drohobych and Stanislavov. At the beginning of the twentieth century, these cities were centers of Jewish culture, where young people actively participated in the Zionist movement. It was Ukrainian Galicia that became the starting point for the formation of the first Zionist communes, which made this region key in the history of Zionism and the kibbutz movement.
Financial Architect of Israel
Despite having no formal education in economics, David Horowitz became a self-taught man whose knowledge and abilities shaped the future of Israel's financial system.
Key achievements:
- Management of the Economic Department of the Jewish Agency (1935): Horowitz played an important role in developing the Yishuv's economic policies.
- First Director General of the Ministry of Finance (1948): He led the process of building the financial infrastructure of the newly formed state.
- Creation of the Bank of Israel (1954): Horowitz became the first president of a state-owned bank, which he headed for 17 years.
Historical heritage
One of the most important works of David Horowitz was the book “In the Service of a Young State.” In it, he described his relationship with the British Mandate authorities and the challenges facing the Yishuv. This work remains an important source for the study of Israeli history.
The influence of Galicia on the worldview of David Horowitz
Galicia, with its unique mixture of cultures and ethnic diversity, shaped Horowitz's broad worldview. Here he acquired skills in interacting with various communities, which later helped him in building economic and political ties in Israel.
Galicia was also a region where the Jewish community actively developed, despite difficulties. David Horowitz imbibed the entrepreneurial spirit and desire for self-fulfillment that later helped him become an outstanding economist.
Connection with Ukraine: Galicia and the future of Israel
Drohobych and Lvov became for David Horowitz the launching pad for his life's journey. These cities, like the entire region of Galicia, occupied an important place in the history of the Jews of Eastern Europe. This is where many of the leaders of the Zionist movement came from, including David Horowitz, who became a key figure in the creation of Israel's financial system.
Horowitz's story is a striking example of how the Jewish community of Ukraine made significant contributions to the construction of the Jewish state. Within the category “Cycle Jews from Ukraine”website NAnews – Israel News continues to talk about outstanding personalities whose roots are connected with Ukraine.
You can read more in the section “Jews from Ukraine” on our website NAnews.
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