Although I was born on the flatlands of Tel Aviv, my heart always yearned for the mountains and from a very early age I dreamed of traveling to far off places and took a great interest in anything that concerned mountains and climbing. In my youth I explored Israel's wilderness and hiked and climbed extensively in the Judean desert, the Negev desert and the graceful mountains of the Galilee. These natural habitats of Israel have made a lasting impression on me and although I have traveled all over the world, I still immensely enjoy exploring them with my three sons.
In 1978, just before entering army service, I first visited Nepal and trekked in a remote district. There I also got my first glimpse of Mount Everest and was even more determined to return to climb in the Himalayan peaks.
I spent my army service in a elite commando unit, "Sayert Matcal" and my experiences there helped to prepare me for future climbing expeditions - rigorous training, meticulous planning, decision making under pressure and the power of friendship and team work when facing hardship and danger.
These attributes coupled with my all-consuming determination and faith enabled me to achieve my dream of climbing Everest.
After completing my army service, I trained in a Swiss climbing school and spent the next year climbing extensively in the French and Swiss Alps. Afterwards I returned to Israel to study Geology at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and managed to spend all my free time climbing in Sinai, the Alps and in Alaska. After graduation, I devoted myself fully to climbing in remote areas of the world.
In 1986 I lead the first ever-Israeli expedition to a Himalayan peak and though we got within 240 meters from the summit, bad weather and high winds forced us down.
In 1987, I became the first Israeli to summit Mount McKinley and in 1989 lead the first Israeli expedition allowed to climb in communist Russia. There we reached the summit of Kojenevskaya Peak in the Pamir range (7038 meter) and were even accompanied by K.G.B. agents all the way to base camp!
In 1992 I became the first Israeli to summit Mount Everest and during the next years I completed climbing the "7 Summits", climbing the highest peak on each continent (including Australia).
During those years I also continued to climb extensively in New Zealand, Africa and South America, as well as to kayak in northwest Greenland and dog sled in Baffin Island with an Inuit group.
I have also been active in alpine rescue operations including the search for survivors of an expedition to Lenin Peak that was buried under an avalanche in the summer of 1990 - the largest disaster in climbing history.
Over the years I have used my activities to further links between Israeli athletes and foreign clubs as well as using my love of the mountains to introduce mentally challenged youths to the experience of achieving goals on a trek to Everest base camp. I also do volunteer work in prisons, hostels for drug rehab and for the handicapped, as well as lecturing on climbing and motivation in achieving goals all over Israel - for the army and air force, the Mosad, businesses, schools and clubs.
In addition to these activities, I have produces over 20 features documenting my activities for the Israeli television and have published a book and numerous articles about my exploits as well as photographs in Israeli and foreign press. I am also a member of the board of directors of the Israeli nature magazine "Masa Ahar".
These days I am working to organize a first joint Israeli-Palestinian
expedition with the hope bringing together Israeli and Palestinian
athletes. We hope to sail to Antarctica and to conquer together an
unclimbed peak. Mr. Simon Peres and the Peres Center for Peace are
supporting the expedition.
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