FOERDER, YESHAYAHU

FOERDER, YESHAYAHU (Herbert; 1901–1970), Israeli economist and banker. Foerder, born in Berlin, studied law and joined the Zionist student organization, Kartell juedischer Verbindungen. He was secretary of the German Zionist Organization from 1924 to 1926. Settling in Palestine in 1933, he was one of the founders of the Rassco Rural and Suburban Settlement Company (see israel , Housing), serving as its managing director until 1957. During the Mandate period Foerder represented Aliyah Hadashah, a party consisting mainly of German immigrants, in the Va'ad Leummi. In 1949 he was elected to the Knesset by the Progressive Party, which he represented until 1957. From 1957 he was chairman of the board of directors of Bank Leumi le-Israel and of the General Mortgage Bank. Foerder was the author of numerous publications on Zionism and on economic problems. (Kurt Loewenstein)