Gideon Eckhaus

Gideon Eckhaus was born in Vienna in 1923. Following the “Anschluss” of Austria to the German Reich Gideon fled to Triest, where he embarked on the voyage to Palestine. His father’s business was “aryanized” and his father deported to Auschwitz, where he was murdered. His mother had already passed away prior to 1938. Gideon played an active role in building the State of Israel and was a member of the Jewish Settlement Police and the Jewish paramilitary organization Haganah. He later served in the military and worked for the Israeli social security services. Since retiring he has held the position of Chairperson of the Central Committee of Jews from Austria in Israel and of the Association of Pensioners from Austria in Israel.