Vilnay, Zev

Zev Vilnay (1900-1988) was an Israeli geographer, author and lecturer. Born in Kishinev, Russian Empire (now in Moldova), he emigrated to Palestine at the age of six and grew up in Haifa. He was a pioneer in the sphere of outdoor hiking and touring in Israel. His Palestine Guide (later editions: Guide to Israel) was published in 27 editions. He served as a military topographer and cartographer in the Haganah (the main Zionist paramilitary organization of the Jewish residents in the British Mandate for Palestine), and later in the Israel Defense Forces. He was a member of the first place-naming committee of the state of Israel established by Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion in 1950.