Founders, Pioneers & Luminaries

• Yehuda Leib Ashlag
• Hayim Nahman Bialik
• Rachel Bluwstein
• Meir Dizengoff
• A. D. Gordon
• Theodore Herzl
• Berl Katznelson
• Rav Kook
• Even Yisrael - Adin Steinsaltz
• Avraham Stern
• Shaul Tchernichovsky

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Ynet 2005 Poll

In 2005, the Israeli news website Ynet conducted a vote to determine whom the general public considers the 200 Greatest Israelis of all time.

Due to the nature of the poll used to select and rank the Israelis, the results do not pretend to be an objective assessment.

• 1. Yitzhak Rabin (1922–1995), Prime Minister and Chief of Staff of the Israel Defence Forces, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate.
• 2. David Ben-Gurion (1886–1973), the first Prime Minister of State of Israel
• 3. Ehud Manor (1941–2005), songwriter and translator
• 4. Menachem Begin (1913–1992), Prime Minister and Nobel Peace Prize laureate
• 5. Ilan Ramon (1954–2003), combat pilot in the Israeli Air Force and the first Israeli astronaut
• 6. Naomi Shemer (1930–2004), songwriter and the "First Lady of Israeli Song"
• 7. Rehavam Ze'evi (1926–2001), extreme right wing politician and historian
• 8. Ariel Sharon (1928-), politician and Prime Minister
• 9. Ezer Weizman (1924–2005), politician and President of Israel
• 10. Ninet Tayeb (1983-), pop rock singer and actress
• 11. Shimon Peres (1923-), President of Israel and Prime Minister, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate.
• 12. Ron Arad (1958-), Israeli Air Force weapon systems officer
• 13. Yonatan Netanyahu (1946–1976), member of the Israel Defense Forces elite Sayeret Matkal unit
• 14. Ze'ev Revach (1940-), actor and comedian
• 15. Meir Har-Zion (1934-), military commando fighter
• 16. Eli Yatzpan (1965-), television host and Comedian
• 17. Shlomo Artzi (1949-), singer-songwriter and a composer
• 18. Benjamin Netanyahu (1949-), politician and Prime Minister
• 19. Shmuel Yosef Agnon (1888–1970), Hebrew nobel prize laureate writer
• 20. Yeshayahu Leibowitz (1903–1994), philosopher and scientist
• 21. Ephraim Kishon (1924–2005), writer, satirist, dramatist, screenwriter, and film director
• 22. Arik Einstein (1939-), singer and songwriter
• 23. Ovadia Yosef (1920-), Haredi rabbi, Talmudic scholar, a recognized authority in Halakha
• 24. Rafael Eitan (1929–2004), Chief of Staff of the Israel Defence Forces and politician
• 25. Gal Fridman (1975-), windsurfer and first Israeli to win an Olympic gold medal
• 26. Eli Cohen (1924–1965), spy
• 27. Yehoram Gaon (1939-), singer and actor
• 28. Ehud Banai (1953-), singer and songwriter
• 29. Yitzhak Shamir (1915-), politician and Prime Minister
• 30. Tal Friedman (1963-), actor and comedian
• 31. Avram Hershko (1937-), biologists and Nobel Prize in Chemistry laureates
• 32. Ofra Haza (1957–2000), singer, actress and international recording artist
• 33. Shaike Ophir (1929–1987), film actor, mime and comedian
• 34. Meir Ariel (1942–1999), singer-songwriter
• 35. Miki Berkovich (1954-), basketball player
• 36. Yair Lapid (1963-), journalist, author, and TV presenter
• 37. Zvika Hadar (1966-), actor, comedian and television host
• 38. Stef Wertheimer (1926-), entrepreneur and industrialist
• 39. Aharon Barak (1936-), President of the Supreme Court of Israel
• 40. Eli Ohana (1964-), football player and manager
• 41. Amos Oz (1939-), writer, novelist and journalist
• 42. Meir Shalev (1948-), writer
• 43. Nathan Alterman (1910–1970), poet, journalist, and translator
• 44. Abie Nathan (1927–2008), humanist and peace activist
• 45. Chaim Weizmann (1874–1952), chemist, Zionist leader, President of the World Zionist Organization and the first President of the State of Israel
• 46. Keren Or Leybovitch (1973-), swimmer
• 47. Dana International (1972-), transsexual singer, who won the 1998 Eurovision Song Contest
• 48. Uri Zohar (1935-), film director and actor
• 49. Shalom Hanoch (1946-), singer, lyricist and composer
• 50. Ariel Ze'evi (1977-), judoka
• 51. Yossi Banai (1932–2006), performer, singer and dramatist
• 52. Abba Eban (1915–2002), diplomat and politician
• 53. Shlomo Goren (1917–1994), Orthodox Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of Israel
• 54. Yisrael Meir Lau (1937-), Orthodox Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of Israel
• 55. Dudu Topaz (1946–2009), actor and television host
• 56. Shari Arison (1957-), businesswoman
• 57. Shulamit Aloni (1928-), politician and left-wing activist
• 58. Aryeh Deri (1959-), leader of Israel's Shas Party
• 59. Aviv Geffen (1973-), rock musician, singer, songwriter, producer, keyboardist and guitarist
• 60. Zohar Argov (1955–1987), singer and a distinctive voice in the Mizrahi music scene
• 61. Ehud Barak (1942-), Chief of Staff, politician and Prime Minister
• 62. Hanoch Levin (1943–1999), dramatist
• 63. Tal Brody (1943-), basketball player
• 64. Geula Cohen (1925-), politician and journalist
• 65. Yigal Allon (1918–1980), politician, acting Prime Minister and commander of the Palmach
• 66. Moni Moshonov (1951-), actor and comedian
• 67. Ralph Klein (1931–2008), basketball player and coach
• 68. Oded Kattash (1974-), basketball player and coach
• 69. Gil Shwed (1952-), programmer and entrepreneur
• 70. Elazar Shach (1898–2001), the rosh yeshiva of the Ponevezh yeshiva and founded the Degel HaTorah political party
• 71. Nahum Stelmach (1936–1999), football player and manager
• 72. Yonatan Geffen (1947-), poet, playwright, writer, lyricist, journalist and translator
• 73. Moshe Dayan (1915–1981), military leader and politician
• 74. Arie Lova Eliav (1921-2010), politician
• 75. Golda Meir (1898–1978), politician and the Israel's first female Prime Minister
• 76. Yaron London (1940-), journalist, lyricist and TV presenter
• 77. A. B. Yehoshua (1936-), novelist, essayist and playwright
• 78. Shoshana Damari (1923–2006), singer and actress
• 79. Haim Yavin (1932-), television anchor
• 80. Uri Malmilian (1957-), football player and manager
• 81. Pnina Rosenblum (1954-), politician, model and businesswoman
• 82. Yehuda Amichai (1924–2000), poet
• 83. Tzvika Pick (1951-), composer and singer
• 84. Avraham Even-Shoshan (1906–1984), Hebrew linguist and lexicographer
• 85. Eli Hurvitz (1932-), industrialist
• 86. Levi Eshkol (1895–1969), politician and Prime Minister
• 87. Leah Goldberg (1911–1970), poet and writer
• 88. Teddy Kollek (1911–2007), mayor of Jerusalem
• 89. Linor Abargil (1980-), model and Miss World
• 90. Chaim Topol (1935-), theatrical and film performers
• 91. Matti Caspi (1949-), composer, musician, singer and lyricist
• 92. Haim Revivo (1972-), football player and businessman
• 93. Chava Alberstein (1947-), singer, lyricist, composer, musical arranger and actress
• 94. Eyal Berkovic (1972-), football player
• 95. Yehuda Poliker (1950-), singer-songwriter
• 96. Netiva Ben-Yehuda (1928-), writer and lexicographer
• 97. David Grossman (1954-), writer and essay
• 98. Hanna Meron (1923-), actress
• 99. Meir Shamgar (1925-), President of the Israeli Supreme Court
• 100. Moti Kirschenbaum (1939-), journalist, announcer and TV presenter
• 101. Daniel Kahneman (1934-), psychologist and Nobel laureate
• 102. Gila Almagor (1939-), actress
• 103. Yael Arad (1967-), judoka and the first Israeli to win an Olympic medal
• 104. Natan Yonatan (1923–2004), poet
• 105. Mordechai Spiegler (1944-), football player and manager
• 106. Ilana Dayan (1964-), journalist, announcer and TV presenter
• 107. David Elazar, (1925–1976), Chief of Staff of the Israel Defence Forces
• 108. Yitzhak Navon (1921-), President of Israel, playwright and author
• 109. Dvora Omer (1932), author
• 110. Nachum Gutman (1898–1980), painter, sculptor and author
• 111. Daniel Barenboim (1942-), pianist and conductor
• 112. Moshe Ivgy (1953-), actor
• 113. Rifaat Turk (1957-), football player and the first Arab to ever play for the Israel national football team
• 114. Ze'ev (1923–2002), caricaturist
• 115. Chaim Herzog (1918–1997), politician and President of Israel
• 116. Chaim Chefer (1925-), lyricist
• 117. Zubin Mehta (1936-), conductor of Western classical music
• 118. Erez Tal (1961-), announcer and TV presenter
• 119. Galila Ron-Feder Amit (1949-), author
• 120. Ida Nodel (1931-), refusenik
• 121. Yitzhak Sadeh (1890–1952), the commander of the Palmach and one of the founders of the Israel Defense Forces
• 122. Mordechai Gur (1930–1995), Chief of Staff of the Israel Defence Forces
• 123. Avihu Medina (1948-), singer-songwriter
• 124. Zahi Armeli (1957-), football player
• 125. Yaakov Peri (1944-), head of the General Security Service and businessman
• 126. Martin Buber (1878–1965), philosopher, translator and educator
• 127. Esther Roth Shahamorov (1952-), athlete
• 128. Uri Avnery (1923-), journalist, left-wing peace activist and Knesset member
• 129. Assi Dayan (1945-), actor and film director
• 130. Yitzhak Ben-Aharon (1906–2006), politician
• 131. Sami Michael (1926-), author and the president of The Association for Civil Rights in Israel
• 132. Asa Kasher (1940-), philosopher and linguist
• 133. Yuval Ne'eman (1925–2006), soldier, physicist and politician
• 134. Tanhum Cohen-Mintz (1939-), basketball player
• 135. Itzhak Perlman (1945-), violinist, conductor, and pedagogue
• 136. Sasha Argov (1914–2005), composer
• 137. Ohad Naharin (1952-), dancer and choreographer
• 138. Yona Wallach (1944–1985), poet
• 139. Zalman Shazar (1889–1974), President of Israel and author
• 140. Dan Ben-Amotz (1924–1989), writer, journalist, screenwriter and actor
• 141. Dan Shilon (1940-), journalist, announcer and TV presenter
• 142. Haim Bar-Lev (1924–1994), Chief of Staff of the Israel Defence Forces and politician
• 143. Emile Habibi (1922–1996), writer and politician
• 144. Oded Machnes (1956-), football player
• 145. Miriam Yalan-Shteklis (1900–1984), writer and poet
• 146. Ya'akov Hodorov (1927–2006), football goalkeeper
• 147. Haim Gouri (1923-), poet, novelist, journalist and documentary filmmaker
• 148. Efi Arazi (1937-), industrialist and businessman, founder of Scitex Corporation
• 149. Azriel Carlebach (1909–1956), journalist and editorial writer
• 150. Moshe Sharett (1894–1965), politician and Prime Minister of Israel
• 151. Orna Porat (1924-), actress
• 152. Leah Rabin (1928–2000), the wife of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin
• 153. Yafa Yarkoni (1925-), singer
• 154. Dahlia Ravikovitch (1936–2005), poet and peace activist
• 155. Miriam Ben-Porat (1918-), judge and state comptroller
• 156. Rivka Michaeli (1938-), actress, announcer and TV presenter
• 157. Aharon Appelfeld (1932-), novelist
• 158. Alon Abutbul (1965-), actor, announcer and film producer
• 159. Yair Rosenblum (1944–1996), composer
• 160. Yigal Mossinsohn (1917–1994), writer and playwright
• 161. Yigal Tumarkin (1933-), painter and sculptor
• 162. Hanna Rovina (1892–1980), actress and the original "First Lady of Hebrew Theatre"
• 163. Eli Amir (1937-), writer
• 164. S. Yizhar (1916–2006), writer and politician
• 165. Yigael Yadin (1917–1984), Chief of Staff of the Israel Defence Forces, politician and archeologist
• 166. Yossi Vardi (1943-), tech entrepreneur and businessman
• 167. Lea Gottlieb (1918-), fashion designer
• 168. Sara Levi-Tanai (1911–2005), choreographer
• 169. Pinchas Sapir (1906–1975), politician
• 170. Yevgeny Aryeh (1947-), theatre director
• 171. Alexander Penn (1906–1972), poet
• 172. Giora Spiegel (1947-), football player and manager
• 173. Yaakov Shabtai (1934–1981), novelist, playwright and translator
• 174. Yemima Avidar-Tchernovitz (1909–1998), writer
• 175. Avraham Shlonsky (1900–1973), poet and editor
• 176. Menashe Kadishman (1932-), sculptor and painter
• 177. Aharon Katzir (1914–1972), pioneer
• 178. Amos Mansdorf (1965-), tennis player
• 179. Rina Mor (1956-), model and Miss Universe
• 180. David Avidan (1934–1995), poet, painter, filmmaker, publicist and playwright
• 181. Yitzhak Ben-Zvi (1884–1963), President of Israel and historian
• 182. Pinchas Sadeh (1929–1994), writer, poet and translator
• 183. Neomi Polani (1927-), singer, producer and theatre director
• 184. Marcel Janco (1895–1984), painter and architect
• 185. Yehoshua Sobol (1939-), playwright, writer and director
• 186. Avigdor Stematsky (1908–1989), painter
• 187. Moshe Vilenski (1910–1997), composer
• 188. Nathan Zach (1930-), poet
• 189. Hanna Zemer (1925–2003), journalist
• 190. Anna Ticho (1894–1980), painter
• 191. Nisim Aloni (1926–1998), playwright and translator
• 192. Ram Karmi (1931-), architect
• 193. Yitzhak Danziger (1916–1977), sculptor
• 194. Yehezkel Streichman (1906–1993), painter
• 195. Yaacov Agam (1928-), sculptor
• 196. Yosef Zaritsky (1891–1985), painter
• 197. Siona Shimshi (1939-), painter and sculptor
• 198. Rina Sheinfeld (1938-), dancer and choreographer
• 199. Noah Mozes (1912–1985), the first editor of Yedioth Ahronoth
• 200. Baruch Agadati (1895–1976), painter, dancer and film director

External links ▪ 200 Greatest Israelis in Ynet