About

Peretz (Fritz) Naphtali was a Jewish economist, journalist, and public figure born in Germany in 1888. He played a prominent role in both the Zionist movement in Germany and the economic and political life of pre-state and early statehood Israel.

In Germany, Naphtali published extensively on economic issues prior to World War I, headed the Economic Research Institute of the trade unions from 1926, and was active in the Zionist movement from 1925, serving on the executive of the Zionist Federation of Germany and as a delegate to the Zionist Congress in 1931.

After immigrating to the land of Israel in 1933, he continued his economic research and publishing, lectured at the Technion and the Higher School of Law and Economics, and held senior positions in public life—including Director General of Bank Hapoalim (1938-1949), member of the Tel Aviv City Council (1941-1948), Knesset member for the Mapai party, and minister in several Israeli governments (1951-1955, 1955-1959).

Institutions named in his honor include the Naftali Building at Tel Aviv University, the Peretz Naphtali Prize for Economics and Social Sciences, Ironi Yud-Alef High School, and the Peretz Naphtali Foundation.

The Peretz Naphtali Foundation, established in 1982 by the Histadrut (New General Federation of Labor in Israel) and the German Trade Union Confederation (DGB) as an independent foundation, supports research on the world of labor and promotes humanitarian initiatives.

The foundation aims to establish and promote institutions in the fields of science, culture, and society; academic programs; courses and lectures focused on the humanities, social and economic issues, labor relations, and public affairs.

It provides financial support to dozens of organizations, including those that assist war casualties, displaced families, residents of border communities near Gaza, and the north and south of Israel. The foundation also supports organizations that promote the inclusion and welfare of people with disabilities in the labor market, educational institutions, and groups working to prevent violence against women.