Haapalah / Aliyah Bet

During World War II, Dr. Harden Ashkenazy was sent to treat Jewish forced laborers in the Ukraine Україна.

Gad Hilb served as Captain aboard Pan York Kibbutz Galuyot קיבוץ גלויות.
Gad Hilb cites: "Yosef (Yossi) Hamburger, the CEO of the operation involving these two ships, joined us. With him came the Palyamnik, Akiva Offenbach."
"On 15th August 1947 I was appointed captain of the “Pan York” with a crew consisting of 3 professional Israeli officers (me, Ephraim Tzuk and Werner Salomon). There were three other officers, six experienced Spanish seamen, and 7 American Jewish volunteers. There were also 3 men of the Mosad for Aliya Bet, Nissan Levitan, Reuven (Pupchen) Oren and Shlomo Hans Rosen."

Nimrod Eshel served as Palyam Escort aboard Pan York Kibbutz Galuyot קיבוץ גלויות.

Esteban 'Captain Steve' Hernandorena served as 1st Mate aboard Pan York Kibbutz Galuyot קיבוץ גלויות.

Donald 'Donny' Aaron Molofsky served in the Catering Department aboard Pan York Kibbutz Galuyot קיבוץ גלויות.

Akiva Offenbach served as Palyam Escort aboard Pan York Kibbutz Galuyot קיבוץ גלויות.

In December, 1947, Willie Rostoker was appointed 3rd Mate by by the Captain, Gad Hilb, aboard Pan York Kibbutz Galuyot קיבוץ גלויות.

Efraim Tzuk served as Chief Engineer abaord Pan York Kibbutz Galuyot קיבוץ גלויות.

Irving Weingarten served as Senior Deckhand aboard Pan York Kibbutz Galuyot קיבוץ גלויות.

Yoash 'Chato' Tzidon served as Palyam Escort aboard Pan York Kibbutz Galuyot קיבוץ גלויות.

On August 15, 1947, Gad Hilb was appointed Captain of Pan York Kibbutz Galuyot קיבוץ גלויות, with a crew of 3 Israeli officers, Gad Hilb, Ephraim Tzuk as Chief Engineer, and Werner Salomon.
The crew also included three other officers, including Estaban Hernandorena "Captain Steve', six experienced Spanish seamen, 7 American Jewish volunteers, and 3 men from Mossad le'Aliyah Bet, Nissan Levitan, Palyam Commander and Shlomo Hans Rosen, and Palyamniks, Zalman Perach, Akiva Offenbach, Willie Rostoker, David Lowenthal, Irving Weingarten, and Gidonim, Reuven Oren and Malka Rofeh.

On December 23, 1947, Dr. Harden Ashkenazy sailed on Pan York Kibbutz Galuyot קיבוץ גלויות. from Constanţa, for Palestine.

On December 23, 1947, Eugene Herzberger, and his wife, Magda, and Magda's mother, a relative of Magda's helped arrange the voyage, sailed on Pan York Kibbutz Galuyot קיבוץ גלויות, from Constanţa, for Palestine.

Dr. Harden Ashkenazy and his wife, Nina, were interned by the British at Karaolos Καράολος Internment Camp.

Eugene Herberger and his wife, Magda, were interned by the British at Karaolos Καράολος Internment Camp.

In January, 1948, a year after their capture. passengers of laNegev לנגב, were transported by British Army to Famagusta, where they boarded SS Kedma קדמה, at that time the only Jewish passenger ship in service, for the overnight trip to Haifa.

In January, 1948, Rafael 'Rafi' Hagy Ben Zur sailed on SS Kedma to Haifa.

In January, 1948, Dr. Harden Ashkenazy and his wife, Nina, sailed on Kedma קדמה Rafael Luccia, to Haifa.

By 1948, Dr. Harden Ashkenazy set up the neurosurgery department at Beilinson Hospital, where he helped save the lives of hundreds of soldiers during Israel's wars.
He trained neurosurgeons, who head departments in hospitals throughout Israel.

In February, 1962, Dr. Harden Ashkenazy, of the Beilinson Medical Center, travelled to Istanbul, at the invitation of Turkish physicians, to consult on the case of Isaac Altabev, former Democratic deputy, who was released from jail after suffering a brain lesion.
Mr. Altabev had been sentenced, along with other members of the discredited Democratic regime, for alleged unconstitutional acts.