Murray Greenfield
Encyclopedia
Murray S. Greenfield is an American-born Israeli writer and publisher.
In 2010 he published his best known book, which he spent more than a decade researching, The Jews' Secret Fleet, about the participation of North American sailors in Aliyah Bet. He was himself just such a volunteer participant. The so called illegal vessels brought over 50% of the Holocaust survivors from the displaced persons camp
to Palestine. The British gave up the British Mandate of Palestine and the United Nations
voted for a Jewish State.
In Israel, Greenfield began working in Haifa
, seeking foreign investors to place capital in the Palestinian Economic Corporation. In the early days of Israel’s existence, most philanthropists’ only thought of donating charity to poverty-stricken immigrants.
Greenfield later settled in Tel Aviv
with his newfound bride Hana Lustig. He was one of the founding members of the Association of Americans and Canadians in Israel
(AACI), where he later became executive director. Under his directorship, the AACI flourished; Greenfield pioneered and established loan funds, a mortgage company and a variety of housing projects in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and Kibbutzim.
He was always involved in public service, but the cause that he dedicated the most time to was rescuing Ethiopian Jewry; he was the volunteer director for seven years of the American Association for Ethiopian Jewry [AAEJ].
In the midst of his endeavors, in 19873, Greenfield published a book with his wife titled, How to be an Oleh or Things the Jewish Agency Never Told You. He founded and contributed editorially to the first ever English language magazine titled FrontPage, and later a monthly magazine titled Rossvet, for Russian immigrants. Hana, a Holocaust survivor, has written the book Fragments of Memory, which is published in six languages. Together they founded the Czech Torah Network.
In 1981, Greenfield established Gefen Publishing House, later taken over by his two sons Dror and Ilan. After Dror’s passing in 2003, Ilan continued to run the company. Today, Gefen publishes up to 35 titles a year and is the English language publisher in Israel.
In 2008 a new documentary film directed by Alan Rosenthal was released entitled “Waves of Freedom”, which features Murray Greenfield. Alan Rosenthal was inspired to creating the documentary after reading the book by Murray Greenfield called “The Jews’ Secret Fleet”. The book has an introduction by Sir Martin Gilbert. The book has achieved great success and in 2010 a new edition was published.
Hana and Murray Greenfield have three children, Meira, Dror and Ilan and ten grandchildren, all of whom reside in Israel.
In 2010 he published his best known book, which he spent more than a decade researching, The Jews' Secret Fleet, about the participation of North American sailors in Aliyah Bet. He was himself just such a volunteer participant. The so called illegal vessels brought over 50% of the Holocaust survivors from the displaced persons camp
Displaced persons camp
A displaced persons camp or DP camp is a temporary facility for displaced persons coerced into forced migration. The term is mainly used for camps established after World War II in West Germany and in Austria, as well as in the United Kingdom, primarily for refugees from Eastern Europe and for the...
to Palestine. The British gave up the British Mandate of Palestine and the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
voted for a Jewish State.
In Israel, Greenfield began working in Haifa
Haifa
Haifa is the largest city in northern Israel, and the third-largest city in the country, with a population of over 268,000. Another 300,000 people live in towns directly adjacent to the city including the cities of the Krayot, as well as, Tirat Carmel, Daliyat al-Karmel and Nesher...
, seeking foreign investors to place capital in the Palestinian Economic Corporation. In the early days of Israel’s existence, most philanthropists’ only thought of donating charity to poverty-stricken immigrants.
Greenfield later settled in Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv , officially Tel Aviv-Yafo , is the second most populous city in Israel, with a population of 404,400 on a land area of . The city is located on the Israeli Mediterranean coastline in west-central Israel. It is the largest and most populous city in the metropolitan area of Gush Dan, with...
with his newfound bride Hana Lustig. He was one of the founding members of the Association of Americans and Canadians in Israel
Association of Americans and Canadians in Israel
Association of Americans and Canadians in Israel is an non-profit organization of American and Canadian Jews who have made aliyah to Israel.-History:...
(AACI), where he later became executive director. Under his directorship, the AACI flourished; Greenfield pioneered and established loan funds, a mortgage company and a variety of housing projects in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and Kibbutzim.
He was always involved in public service, but the cause that he dedicated the most time to was rescuing Ethiopian Jewry; he was the volunteer director for seven years of the American Association for Ethiopian Jewry [AAEJ].
In the midst of his endeavors, in 19873, Greenfield published a book with his wife titled, How to be an Oleh or Things the Jewish Agency Never Told You. He founded and contributed editorially to the first ever English language magazine titled FrontPage, and later a monthly magazine titled Rossvet, for Russian immigrants. Hana, a Holocaust survivor, has written the book Fragments of Memory, which is published in six languages. Together they founded the Czech Torah Network.
In 1981, Greenfield established Gefen Publishing House, later taken over by his two sons Dror and Ilan. After Dror’s passing in 2003, Ilan continued to run the company. Today, Gefen publishes up to 35 titles a year and is the English language publisher in Israel.
In 2008 a new documentary film directed by Alan Rosenthal was released entitled “Waves of Freedom”, which features Murray Greenfield. Alan Rosenthal was inspired to creating the documentary after reading the book by Murray Greenfield called “The Jews’ Secret Fleet”. The book has an introduction by Sir Martin Gilbert. The book has achieved great success and in 2010 a new edition was published.
Hana and Murray Greenfield have three children, Meira, Dror and Ilan and ten grandchildren, all of whom reside in Israel.
Books
- Joseph M. Hochstein and Murray S. Greenfield, The Jews' Secret Fleet. Introduction by Martin Gilbert. Gefen Publishing House, Jerusalem, 2010. ISBN 978-965-229-517-0