Pinchas Rutenberg (1879 - 1942)

Engineer and founder of the Palestine Electric Corporation (later the Israel Electric Corporation)

Pinchas Rutenberg was born on February 5, 1879 in Romni, Russia. He died on January 3, 1942 in Jerusalem.

Rutenberg studied engineering and subsequently joined the Socialist Revolutionary Movement, where he wasted no time in becoming a leading member in its activities. In 1905, the Revolution was suppressed and Rutenberg left Russia, seeking refuge in Italy where he worked as an engineer.

In The First World War, Pinchas Rutenberg went to the USA, where he became interested in Zionism and contributed actively to the establishment of the Jewish Legion. After the fall of the Czarist regime in Russia in early 1917, he returned to Russia, where he was appointed head of the administration in Northern Russia. However, he was arrested after the Bolshevik Revolution as a resolute opponent to Communism; he was liberated by German troops advancing on Petrograd (St. Petersburg) later that year. He moved to Moscow and later to Odessa, finally emigrating to Mandate Palestine in 1919.

During the 1920 Arab riots, Rutenberg joined with Jabotinsky in creating an ad hoc defence force for Jerusalem. In Tel Aviv, Rutenberg served as head of the Haganah's office and participated in the demarcation of Palestine's northern border, defining British and French areas of interest.

Rutenberg's main dream was the possibility of exploiting the waters of the Jordan river to produce electricity and thus help build a modern, industrialised country, while ensuring rural development. In 1921 he received the first concession from Great Britain to found an Electric Company, winning a court case at the Hague against a Greek competitor, who won the Jerusalem concession. Rutenberg thus founded The Palestine Electric Corporation, in 1923, launching what became the most important economic enterprise of the Yishuv. The Corporation consisted initially of a small diesel plant in Tel Aviv, which was soon expanded to serve the needs of neighboring Jaffa; two years later, two additional plants were established in Haifa and Tiberias.

He went to England with his detailed plan to seek a concession and the financial support necessary for the construction of a hydroelectric power station. In 1926, he received this concession. In 1927, negotiations with Emir Abdallah of Transjordan resulted in an agreement allowing the Palestine Electric Corporation to use 6,000 dunams of land under Transjordanian control for a hydroelectric project, successfully carrying out his vision. The completion of the Rutenberg plant at Naharayim was delayed in 1932, after it was heavily damaged by winter rains, and it went online in summer 1933. It utilized the flow of waters from the Jordan and Yarmuk rivers and provided power for the major part of Mandate Palestine. In 1948, however, it was destroyed by the Arab Legion.

Rutenberg devoted the rest of his life the Palestine Electric Corporation. In 1935 and 1938 two thermal power stations were built in Haifa and Tel Aviv, which served as the main suppliers of electricity for both Jews and Arabs until 1948.

In 1929 Rutenberg also entered public life in the Yishuv: following the Arab riots he was appointed President of the Vaad Leumi (National Council), but stepped down after a short time. He withdrew from public life, until the Second World War, when he was nominated again president of the National Council. His second term of service was short; Rutenberg fell ill and died in the age of 63.

Although Rutenberg devoted most of his life economic, rather than political affairs, he is nevertheless considered a Zionist leader for his vision and capacity to lay foundations for the future, and because he was able to unite important economic forces, in order to implement these major projects.

The Pinchas Rutenberg Institute for Youth Education was founded in Haifa, fulfilling one of his last requests to use his home and his money for youth programs.

Source: Les Constructeurs de la Patrie, published by the former Youth and Hechalutz Dept., WZO (JAFI). (C)

Links:
Palestine Electric Corporation, Ltd.
http://www.wzo.org.il/home/dev/electric.htm
Naharayim - detailed article with internal photographs http://www.mfa.gov.il/mfa/go.asp?MFAH0nee0
Rutenberg, the film
http://www.filmfund.org.il/e_searchr.asp?id=10
Colour photographs
http://photoalbum.datafox.org/gallery/naharayyim?&page=2 http://photoalbum.datafox.org/gallery/naharayyim?&page=3

Impressions from Naharayim

Open flood-gate to the R. Jordan	Towards the river	The River Jordan

Jordan River stronghold	On the bridge	Promenade at Naharayim

A last glance	!Caution: landmines!	Under the bridge	Snapshots

Thanks to Rachel Smith for the photographs

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