My Family

My grandfather, Netanel Shaked, my father's father, immigrated to Israel from Poland at ten years old and orphaned. His older brother had brought the entire family, a widowed mother and nine brothers, to the land of Israel, British Mandatory Palestine, as it was called then. They where part from a large wave of immigration from Poland and Germany known as "The Forth Aliya".  My grandfather's brother housed them in Netanya and cared for all their needs. His name was Moshe Shaked, miner of the first well in Netanya and in years to follow mayor on behalf of the Progressive-Civilian party. In his trail, the whole family engaged in entrepreneurship and construction. Along the years second and third generations have joined the business. Most of the companies that have been founded are still active and initiative in the Israeli economy.

My mother's family, the Cohen family, came to Netanya from Kfar Tavor. My great-great grandfather, Zalman Cohen, was a ranger of the Baron de Rothschild's lands in the Hauran (today's Syria). The region was yet part of the  Othman Turkish declining empire. He was of the founders of Kfar Tavor, in 1902. His son, Hanina Cohen, was of the founders of Netanya in 1928. Both my grandfathers, on my father's side and on my mother's side, knew each other as children in Netanya. At the break of the war for independence they  were young people, soon to establish their families.

In the photo: graet-great father Cohem, early 20^th century.

My parents grew up in the fifties and sixties. They met in the Tzofim (scouts) movement and were doing their regular military service during the Yom Kippur War. During my mother's youth my grandfather, Leumi Cohen, was an emissary (shaliach) in South American countries on behalf of various Zionist organizations. Today my parents reside in Herzelia, near Tel Aviv. My father deals in real estate. My mother is a personal coach.

In the photo: Shaked grandparents, 1948.

Below: My parents, Baruch and Ye'ela, 2000.