Yaacov Dori

YAACOV DORI (1899-1973)
Official Medal, 2010/5771
13th Medal in the "IDF Chiefs of Staff" Series

Yaacov Dori (Dostrovsky) was born in Odessa (Ukraine) in 1899 and made aliyah to Eretz Israel in 1906, in the wake of pogroms against the Jews in Russia. He studied at the Reali School in Haifa. In 1917, in the throes of the First World War, he was recruited to the British Army and served in the Jewish Legion. He was discharged from the British Army in 1921, following his active participation in defending the Jews of Tel Aviv from attacks by Arabs during the Jaffa riots at the beginning of May 1921, and because of his secret activity in the Haganah (pre-state defense organization).
Dori studied engineering in Belgium. Upon his return to Eretz Israel in 1926, he was appointed technical director of the Jewish Agency and took part in establishing new Jewish settlements in the Land. In 1929, he became commander of the Haganah in Haifa and later, head of the national command training bureau. In 1939, he became Chief of Staff of the Haganah. His code name was Dan. With the outbreak of World War II, he made plans for defending the Jewish population in Eretz Israel, in the event that German Forces under Rommel would attack the country. Among his plans was the "Masada Plan", according to which all the Yishuv (Jewish settlements) were to come together and create defensive positions for themselves in the Carmel Mountains. At the end of the war, Dori left to head the Haganah Delegation sent to purchase arms in the United States, in anticipation of the attack expected when the Establishment of the State of Israel would be declared.
In 1947, a year before the Declaration of Independence, David Ben Gurion requested that Dori return to Eretz Israel in order to take part in the establishment of the army and when the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) was formed, Dori became its first Chief of Staff. As such, Dori's first assignment was the almost impossible task of conducting the War of Independence without sufficient weapons and manpower. His organizational skills enabled him to recruit, equip and train thousands of new soldiers, among them new immigrants and Holocaust refugees, without any military experience.
In November 1949, Yaacov Dori retired from the military and was appointed chairman of the Science Council affiliated to the Prime Minister's Office. As a private citizen, Dori held many positions, including President of the Technion, chairman of public committees and Deputy Mayor of Haifa. He passed away in 1973.

Obverse:
Portrait of Lieutenant General Yaacov Dori

Reverse:
Inscription in the center “Chiefs of Staff of the Israel Defense Force" in English and Hebrew,
above the emblem of the Israel Defense Force, to the right, emblem of the Chief of Staff

Edge:
Smooth

Designer:
Igal Gabay

Engraving: Tidhar Dagan
Minting: Gold - ICMC Mint, Israel, Silver and Bronze - Hecht Products, Israel