Israeli cabinet member and public official. Born in Poland, he came to Palestine in 1929 and early became active in the labor movement there. In February 1948, he was put in charge of the quartermaster general’s branch of Haganah. Between 1948 and 1968, he served variously as Director General of the Ministry of Defense, Director General of the Ministry of Finance, Minister of Commerce and Industry, and Minister of Finance. In 1968, he became secretary general of the Mapai party while serving in the Cabinet as Minister without Portfolio. In 1974, he became chairman of the Executive of the Jewish Agency.