Translated from original Hebrew version
Summary: Hilik Horovitz, March 2010
Zion Shitrug and Sergio Duyeb, March 2003
Organizational structure of the Survey Department/Survey of Israel (SOI) and a complete list of the names of the directors, heads of divisions, fields and sections and their deputies between 1948 and 2010.
Introduction
The beginning of this article is the work of Zion Shitrug, SOI director in 1993-1994 written with Sergio Duyeb, in March 2003. The information presented here is based on documents and annual work plans, interview summaries with department employees and retirees and on the journal published by the Survey Department between 1976 and 1988. These documents contain incomplete data and there are often discrepancies between facts stated in different interviews, usually regarding dates, resulting in possible inaccuracy.
The summary is organized in sections – each describing the period of a different director of the Survey Department/Section/SOI, at Shitrug and Duyeb's recommendation. Since the first two directors held the position for approximately 20 years each, each of their periods were divided into two sections (The first director, Joseph Elster's period is divided between the 1950s and the 1960s and the second director, Dr. Ron Adler's period, between the 1970s and 1980s) . Changes have been made over the years to the department's organizational structure as a result of organizational changes made to different government ministries and to the Survey Department, as well as changing needs, new technologies, the occasional need to define positions for department director promotions and the different ideas and approaches presented by different managers.
Joseph Elster was appointed Director General of the Survey Department in 1948, after the temporary director, Moshe Yohnovetski. He was appointed by Mordechai Bentov, Minister of Labor and Construction. They were both member of Mapam – the United Workers' party. Before Elster was selected, both Arenstein and Boris Goussinsky were candidates for the position. Goussinsky was the preferred candidate due to his senior position in the British Mandate's Survey Department (he was the most senior Jewish director employed in the Survey Department) and his international reputation as a scientist.
The Advanced School for Surveyors operated in Holon, between 1949-1974, under the authority of the Survey Department (the establishment was opened in 1949 as the School for Surveyors and in 1952 became the Advanced School for Surveyors). The two teachers who actually managed the school, Julian Familier and Moshe Ryng, as well as the school administrator, Alexander Levy, are noteworthy. Other employees at the Survey Department taught in the school as well.
The organizational structure of the Survey Department, Division Managers and their Deputies during the first half of Joseph Elster's period in office (in the 1950s)
Director General: Joseph Elster
Deputy (as officer of Maps and Photography Services and later as officer of the military mapping division): Lieutenant colonel Pinchas Yoely and later Lieutenant colonel Asher Solel.
Treasurer and Manpower Director: Yeshayahu Zilber and reporting to him, Manpower Manager: Carola Erlich (Zilber)
Planning (Deputy Director): Eliezer Sisa
Division Directors:
Photogrammetry: Moshe Erez ("Feneu"). Deputy: Benyamin Yaron and later Azriel Markuze.
Cartography: Marco Eini. Deputy: Shimon Ruso.
Calculations: Boris Goussinsky. Assistants: Dr. David Liebrecht and Miriam Rostovski
Sketching and Topography: M. Kaminsky. Deputy: Shlomo Polyakov
Land Regulation: Arenstein. Deputy: Yaakov Kagen
Field Survey: Emil Rosenstein (who later changed his name to Amiel Elami), followed by Natan Fotorian and again Amiel Elami (Rosenstein). Field Overseers (1958-1960): Zvi Padve and Zion Shitrug (appointed due to the large number of survey groups).
Plans Control, now called Survey Supervision: Amiel Rozenstein
followed by Natan Fotorian. Deputy: Miriam Borochov
Research: Dr. Strushinsky, followed by Ziskind Perlman. Deputy: Richard Pensky.
Printing: Uri Tzidon. Deputy: Baruch Oseri
Logistics: Tamari. Deputy: Refaeli
Districts:
Jerusalem: Zvi Shapira, followed by Adolf (Abraham) Bar. Deputy: Michael Elishkov (Elyashiv).
Tel Aviv and Central Israel: M. Reback
Haifa and North: Yehuda Goldstein. Deputy: Shimon Shimoni
Beersheva and South: Yos'ke Meshulam, opened the office in December 1952 and reported to the Tel Aviv office. Yisrael Segal took over in 1953 and was appointed director of a new district– the southern district.
The organizational structure of the Survey Department, Department Managers and their Deputies during the second half of Joseph Elster's period in office (in the 1960s)
Director General: Joseph Elster
Deputy (as officer of the military mapping division): Lieutenant colonel Asher Solel.
Deputy of Survey and Cadastre: Dr Ron Adler (from 1968/1969. Before that served as Chief Cadastre Engineer responsible for sketches and topography, plans control (known today as Survey Supervision) ) and cadastre.
Treasurer: Yeshayahu Zilber
Manpower Director: Herschel Alon
Planning (and Deputy Director): Eliezer Sisa followed by Zion Shitrug
Division Directors:
Photogrammetry: Moshe Erez ("Feneu"). Deputy: Azriel Markuze.
Head of the Photogrammetry Department: Azriel Markuze from 1964.
The division became a department containing the Deciphering Division directed by Mussa Saban and the Analog Division directed by Nati Kartara
Cartography: Marco Eini until 1964, and then Prof. Naftali Kadmon (part time). Senior Assistant (and substitute in his absence): Menachem Eini
Calculations: Boris Goussinsky until his retirement in 1963, then Uri Shoshani. Deputy: Yerachmiel Deutscher
Topography: Kaminsky, then Ron Adler and then Eli Peled. Deputy: Puliakov followed by Rudi Goldberg, who transferred to the Tel Aviv region during this period.
Land Regulation: Yaakov Kagen
Field Survey: Amiel Elami. In 1960, Yos'ke Meshulam was appointed Field Overseer. His position ended in August 1963 when the division became a department and three sub-divisions were established:
Settlement: Zvi Padve
Engineering Mapping: Yos'ke Meshulam
Establishment: Yisrael Brik
Head of Borders: Felix Mizrahi (appointed in 1964)
Plans Control, now called Survey Supervision: Natan Fotorian, followed by Adolf (Avraham) Bar in the early 1960s. Deputy: Sason Ben-Haim.
Research: Ziskind Perlman. Deputy: Richard Pensky.
Printing: Baruch Oseri. Deputy: Gaol Machlis
Logistics: Refaeli. Deputy: Canterovich
Districts:
Jerusalem: Adolf (Avraham) Bar, then Bezalel Eliav. Deputy: Yehuda Aricha
Tel Aviv and Central Israel: Reback followed by Rudi Goldberg
Haifa and North: Yehuda Goldstein until 1965, replaced by Shimon Shimoni until 1967 and then Avraham Avivi.
Beersheva and South: Yisrael Segal
Special Staff Officers for the Civil Administration, since 1967:
Gaza Special Staff Officer: Felix Mizrahi
West Bank Special Staff Officer: Felix Mizrahi
The organizational structure of the Survey Department, Department Managers and their Deputies during the first half of Dr. Ron Adler's period in office (in the 1970s)
In 1974, the Cartography and Reproduction Divisions were merged into the Cartographic Reproduction Department.
In 1977, as part of the government ministries' reorganization, the Survey Department became the Survey Section:
The Labor and Welfare Ministry was established that same year by merging the Ministry of Labor with the Welfare Office. Because of the merger, the Survey Department was transferred from the Ministry of Labor to the Ministry of Construction and Housing, it became a section instead of a department and all of the divisions became departments.
Director General: Dr. Ron Adler
Deputies: Asher Solel – in charge of land regulation
Moshe Erez – photogrammetry
Uri Shoshani – Geodesy (field and calculations) and plans control
Treasurer: Yeshayahu Zilber
Manpower Director: Moshe Carmi
Planning: Zion Shitrug
Division Directors
Photogrammetry: Azriel Markuze. Deputy: Zev Livni (early 1970s)
Field Survey: Amiel Elami, followed by Yos'ke Meshulam. The Field Division had three subordinating sub-divisions:
Settlement: Zvi Padve followed by Felix Mizrahi
Engineering Mapping: Yos'ke Meshulam, followed by Shimon Nestur (in 1972)
Establishment: Yisrael Brik, followed by Gershon Steinberg
Head of Borders: Felix Mizrahi (appointed in 1964)
Calculations: Yerachmiel Deutscher. Deputy: Lily Fish
Plans Control, now called Survey Supervision: Yisrael Brik. Deputy: Sason Ben-Haim.
Topography: Haim Markovich. Deputy: Avraham Bouiko
Land Regulation: Yaakov Kagen (until 1976), followed by Sason Ben-Haim for a short period of time. Deputy: Asher Haik who replaced Ben-Haim as director in 1977.
Cartography: Naftali Kadmon (part time) until 1974. Senior Assistant: Menachem Eini
Administrative Assistant: Shimon Ruso
Reproduction: Uri Tzidon (until 1974)
Cartographic Reproduction (Cartography combined with Reproduction), since 1974:
Baruch Oseri (subordinates: Lithography, directed by Gaol Machlish; Cartography, Directed by Naftali Kadmon and his substitute Menachem Eini; Photography and Chemography directed by Henry Elyakim and then Sergio Duyeb; Printing, directed by David Mulkandov)
Baruch Osri was followed by Henry Elyakim in 1977 as director of Cartographic Reproduction.
Research: Ziskind Perlman. Deputy: Richard Pensky.
Roads: Chemlenik
Logistics: Refaeli. Deputy: Eliyahu Kantorovich
Districts:
Jerusalem: Bezalel Eliav. Deputy: Yehuda Aricha
Tel Aviv and Central Israel: Yosef Shatner. Deputy: Shmuel Levine
Haifa and North: Avraham Avivi (replaced by Yisrael Yizraeli in the middle of the period).
Beersheva and South: Yisrael Segal
Special Staff Officers for the Civil Administration:
Gaza Special Staff Officer (in the South Sinai region as well, from 1974): Felix Mizrahi, followed by Amnon Lipshitz
West Bank Special Staff Officer: Felix Mizrahi (until1975), then Reuven Salman. Deputy: Yitzhak Rothberg.
The organizational structure of the Survey Department, Department Managers and their Deputies during the second half of Dr. Ron Adler's period in office (in the 1980s)
In 1988, the Survey Section became the Israel Mapping Center (Survey of Israel): Geodesy and Geographical Information. The departments became sections over the years and later were converted to fields.
Director General: Dr. Ron Adler
Deputy: Asher Solel (until 1984), followed by Zion Shitrug who was appointed to Deputy Director General and Acting Deputy General
Treasurer: Yeshayahu Zilber (until 1984), followed by Sarah Sharon and then Aviva Lipshen
Manpower Director: Zev Coller
Planning: Zion Shitrug until 1984, followed by Yitzhak Cazum, then Zvi Rahamim.
Division/Field Directors
Photogrammetry: Azriel Markuze (until 1981), Then Yehoshua Greenfeld as Acting Director until 1983, along with assistants Mussa Saban, Joshua Luchs and Nati Kartara, each experts in their fields. In 1983 Greenfeld was appointed Chief Photogrammetry Engineer and became Division Director. In 1984, Henry Elyakim directed the photogrammetry division for a short time, followed by Moshe (Mussa) Saban (until his retirement in 1990). Joseph Forrai replaced Saban and was appointed Chief Photogrammetry Engineer.
Cartographic Reproduction: Henry Elyakim, followed by Sergio Duryeb in 1985 (subordinates: Lithography, directed by Gaol Machlis; Cartography, Directed by Naftali Kadmon and his substitute Menachem Eini; Photography and Chemography directed by Shmuel Reuveni; Printing, directed by David Mulkandov)
Field Survey: Yos'ke Meshulam(until his retirement in 1992, responsible for three subordinating sub-departments:
Establishment: Gershon Steinberg (until 1988), then Leon Cohen
Engineering Mapping: Shimon Nestur
Cadastre: Felix Mizrahi
Calculations: Lily Fish, followed by Giora Golod who was also responsible for ADP (Automatic Data Processing) which began as part of the calculations department. Golod's deputy at ADP: Michael Arieli and later Benny Weiss.
GIS (Geographic Information Systems): This field was introduced in 1988 as part of calculations and ADP, directed by Giora Golod.
Chief Cadastre (since 1988): Gershon Steinberg, responsible for Survey Supervision, Land Regulation and Topography
Survey Supervision: Yisrael Brik, was appointed Chief Cadastre Engineer in 1983 and continued to direct the Survey Supervision department until he retired in 1987.
Yaakov (Yankele) Horn took his place. Deputy: Efraim Lipshen
Topography: Haim Markovich. Deputy: Meir Solomon
Land Regulation: Sayed (Asher) Haik.
Department of Technical Services (including archives): reporting to the cadastre, directed by Marco Pinchas.
Research: Richard Pensky, followed by Joseph Forrai in 1986.
Logistics: Eliyahu Kantorovich
Regions:
Jerusalem: Andrei Feldmen. Deputy: Yehuda Aricha (for part of the period, Acting Deputy – Felix Mizrahi)
Tel Aviv and Central Israel: Yosef Shetner until he retired in 1988, replaced by Avraham Bouiko for approximately a year and a half, followed by Shimon Nestur, in addition to his field work. Deputy: Shmuel Levine, until he retired in 1985.
Haifa: Avraham Avivi
Beersheva and South: Ermond Ezoth (part of the period – replaced by Felix Mizrahi)
Nazareth (North): Moshe Kaplan
Special Staff Officers for the Civil Administration:
Gaza: Amnon Lipshitz
West Bank: Reuven Salman
SOI (Survey of Israel) Organizational Structure; Field Directors and Managers while Zion Shitrug was Director General of SOI (1993-1994)
ADP (Automatic Data Processing) and GIS (Geographic Information Systems), two fields added to promote technological advancement in SOI, became independent organizations. They were part of the calculations department until 1993. Many of the topography employees, whose previous positions were no longer relevant, transferred to GIS, including department manager, Haim Markovich who became director of GIS.
Joseph Forrai and Giora Golod were appointed deputy directors – Forrai became Deputy of Geodesy and Cadastre and Golod – Information and Mapping.
Director General: Zion Shitrug
Deputy Director of Human Resources: Zev Coller
Accountant: Aviva Lipshen
Deputy Director of Geodesy and Cadastre: Joseph Forrai (starting 1993),
Subordinates:
Research: Yossi Melzer
Field Survey: Felix Mizrahi, served for a year, followed by Moshe Kaplan.
Cadastre and Calculations: Gershon Steinberg,
Subordinates:
Land Regulation: Asher Haik
Survey Supervision: Yaakov Horn
Calculations: Simha Doron. Deputy: Doris Shaharabani (in 1993, the Calculations Department became a subordinate of the Cadastre-Calulations Field)
Information and Mapping: Giora Golod (starting 1993)
Cartographic Reproduction: Sergio Deyub,
Subordinates:
Carto-Photography-Chemography: Shmuel Reuveni
Printing: Ilan Livni
Photogrammetry: Joseph Forrai (until 1993), followed by Joshua Luchs.
Topography: Haim Markovich (the department was closed in 1993 and most of its employees transferred to GIS, under the authority of the VP of Information and Mapping)
GIS: Giora Golod (until 1993, subordinate of the Calculations Department), followed Haim Markovich.
ADP(Automatic Data Processing): Benny Weiss
Regions:
Jerusalem: Andrei Feldman
Tel Aviv and Central Israel: Martin Zvilling
Haifa: Avraham Avivi
Beersheva and South: Amram Lida
Nazareth (Galilee and North): Natur Tahar
Special Staff Officers for the Civil Administration:
Gaza: Amnon Lipshitz
West Bank: Reuven Salman, followed by Felix Mizrahi. Deputy: Yitzhak Rotenberg
Planning: Zvi Rahamim
Logistics: Moshe Allouche
SOI (Survey of Israel) Organizational Structure; Field Directors and Managers while Aviel Ron was Director General of SOI (1994-2002)
Aviel Ron was the first Director General to be appointed CEO. Under his management, legal advisor and chief scientist positions were added to the SOI. The position of Gaza Special Staff Officer was canceled in 2000.
Director General: Aviel Ron
Administrative Assistant: Sari Grossman, followed by Rachel Saranga
Accountant: Aviva Lipshen
Legal Advisor: Gili Kirschner, Adv.
Deputy Director and Human Resources: Yaakov Trupochenik
Human Resources: Rachel Pisam
Planning: Haim Bar-Dov
Finance and Marketing: Avi Ayet
Construction, Property, Logistics and Economy: Moshe Allouche
Chief Scientist: Dr. Joseph Forrai
Research: Yossi Melzer
Calculations: Simha Doron (until his retirement in 1996), followed by Gregory Shifrin. Deputy: Doris Shaharabani (until her retirement in 1997), followed by Hannah Landman.
Mapping and Information: Giora Golod
Photogrammetry: Yehoshua Luchs (until 1999), followed by Dr. Yuri Riesman.
Cartographic Reproduction: Shmuel Reuveni, followed by Baruch Pretzman
Printing: Ilan Livni
ADP: Alex Koren
GIS: Haim Markovich, followed by Yohanan Gavish
Archives and Information: Carmela Szancer
GIS completion: Jacob Bar-Lavi
Deputy of Geodesy and Cadastre: Dr. Gershon Steinberg
Land Regulation: Yitzchak Fabrikant
Survey Supervision: Vera Lavan
Field Survey: Moshe Rozenbloom
Regions:
Jerusalem: Yehoshua Carmeli
Tel Aviv and Central Israel: Martin Zvilling
Haifa: Yoel Schwartz
Beersheva and South: Amram Lida
Nazareth (Galilee and North): Natur Tahar
Special Staff Officers:
Gaza: Amnon Lipshitz (until 2000)
West Bank: Felix Mizrahi followed by Tirza Vardi
SOI (Survey of Israel) Organizational Structure; Field Directors and Managers under Haim Srebro's Management (Beginning April 2003)
The Planning section was established. The Technology section is in progress of establishment. Field Managers of Cartographic Reproduction, Geodesy, Cadastre and Projects were promoted to Section Managers. Head of Human Resources was promoted to Field Manager. Two new fields were introduced:
Three-dimensional cadastre and Reproduction and quality control.
CEO: Haim Srebro
Administrative Assistant: Rachel Saranga, Sari Grossman (part time)
Accountant: Dalia Margalit, followed by Chaya Shoshany.
Legal Advisor: Gili Kirschner, Adv.
Security and Special Roles: Yossi Sherman
Deputy Director and Human Resources: Yaakov Trupochenik
Human Resources: Rachel Pisam
Finance, Marketing and Pricing: Avi Ayet
Control and Supervision: Rosi Shaked
Construction, Property, Logistics and Economy: Moshe Allouche
Acting Chief Scientist, Geodesy and Surveyor Registration: Dr. Gershon Steinberg - until 2009, (appointed Deputy Cadastre).
Geodesy and Enforcement Section (previously Field Survey): Moshe Rozenbloom
Geodesy Field (previously Calculations): Marina Kozakov
Research: Yossi Melzer
Mapping and Information: Giora Golod, until his retirement in 2007, followed by Yohanan Gavish in April 2008.
ADP: Alex Koren
GIS (Geographic Information Systems): Yohanan Gavish until April 2008, followed by Yoav Tal.
Archives and Information: Carmela Szancer
Internet and GIS Projects: Jacob Bar-Lavi (GIS completion until 2008)
Photogrammetry and Distance Sensing: Dr Yuri Riesman until March 2008, followed by Moshe Benhamu.
Cartographic Reproduction: Shmuel Bloch
Cartography: Baruch Pretzman
Mapping, Reproduction and Quality Control: Yoav Tal (until April 2008)
Printing: Dov Mendelovich
Deputy Cadastre: Joseph Forrai (began as Chief Scientist)
Cadastre: Yitzchak Fabrikant
Survey Supervision: Vera Lavan
Coordinate and Advanced Application Based Cadestre: Michael Klebanov (beginning October 2008), was Three Dimensional Cadastre directed by Moshe Benhamu until it was converted in March 2008.
Regions:
Jerusalem: Yehoshua Carmeli
Tel Aviv and Central Israel: Martin Zvilling (until his passing in January 2007), followed by Larisa Voznesensky
Haifa and North: Yoel Schwartz
Beersheva and South: Amram Lida
Galilee (Nazareth Office): Natur Tahar
Special Staff Officers:
West Bank: Gadi Segal
Planning: Yossi Raz
Mapping Technology: Dr. Yaron Felus
