Haapalah / Aliyah Bet

Avraham Zakai served in Vav Company 'פל' ו, D Company 'פל' ד and the 4th Battalion גדוד הרביעי.

The Palyam פלי"ם‎ No. 1 Small Boat Commanders' course at Sdot Yam שדות ים:
Attendees:
* Avraham Zakai
* Aryeh 'Kippy' Kaplan

Avraham Zakai, a graduate of the first course for Captains, served as the first Commander מפקד פלים of the Palyam פלי"ם.

The Palyam פלי"ם‎ No. 3 Small Boat Commanders' course:
The course prepared seamen, who would serve in bringing Maapilim to Palestine.
Platoon leader:
* Gad Lasker
Instructors:
* Menachem 'Churchill' Cohen
* Zalman Perah
* Avraham Zakai
Attendees:
* Levi Aniv
* Yochai Bin-Nun
* Shaul 'Shuli' Oren
* Yosef Schwartzman Shachar
* Shmuel Yanai
* Hanan Yones
Levi Aniv cites: "The aim of the course was to prepare seamen who would be useful in the bringing in of future immigrants of the Aliyah Bet. We had a great deal of practice in rowing, sailing, and navigation."
The three boats on the Yarkon River that were used were Dov דב‎, Rivka רבקה and Tirza תרצה, one of which is now in the Clandestine Immigration and Naval Museum מוזיאון ההעפלה וחיל הים ע"ש דוד הכהן in Haifa חיפה.

In 1946, the Palmach פלמ"ח Squad Commanders' course (קורס מפקדי כיתות (מ"כים , which and lasted four months, was held at Sdot Yam שדות ים.
Commander: Avraham Zakai
Boat commanders:
* Meir Falik

Attendees:
* Gideon Weisser

In December, 1946, Yehuda Arazi asked Avraham Zakai to go to La Spezia and prepare Albertina for sailing.
He stayed in La Spezia and worked on Exodus 1947, Pan Crescent and a number of smaller vessels.