Shaul Eisenberg

Shaul Nehemia Eisenberg
Born	1921-09-22 Munich, Germany
Died	1997-03-27 Beijing, China
Occupation(s)	Entrepreneur, businessman
Known for	Founder of Israel Corporation; pioneer in Israel-China commercial relations; arms trader

Shaul Nehemia Eisenberg (; 22 September 1921 – 27 March 1997) was a billionaire entrepreneur from Israel.

Biography

Eisenberg was born in Munich into a devout Jewish family originally from Poland. He was the fifth child among six siblings of Sophie (née Katz) and David Eisenberg, with his mother originating from Krakow and his father from Warsaw. After the Nazis ascended to power, he escaped to Shanghai. While residing in Tokyo, Eisenberg wed Leah Freudlsperger, daughter of an Austrian artist, and they had six children together—five daughters and one son.

He passed away in Beijing in 1997, just two years prior to the termination of the Eisenberg Law. His estate, estimated to be worth approximately 1 billion dollars, became the subject of familial disputes. His son took over the management of the family enterprises. Eisenberg’s brother Rafael, known as a Hasidic scholar, died in 1976 and left behind twelve offspring.

Business career

During World War II, Eisenberg was involved with industrial factories associated with the Axis powers. Post-war, he transitioned to partnerships with American companies, focusing on importing iron products for Japan’s steel industry while exporting Japanese merchandise to India.

In the early 1950s, he broadened his operations throughout the Far East, especially in South Korea, where he invested capital and acted as an intermediary between local governments and Eastern manufacturers such as British Electric, Siemens, MAN SE, and Fiat Automobiles. Over a span of ten years, he played a pivotal role in implementing diverse initiatives including recycled paper manufacturing lines and procurement of aircraft and trains. His contributions were acknowledged by the Korean authorities. Up until the mid-1960s, Eisenberg was instrumental in fostering trade relations among South Korea, Japan, and Western nations.

He established Israel Corporation, which benefited from a unique 30-year tax incentive law colloquially named after him to promote entrepreneurial ventures. Utilizing these benefits, he applied his global business model within Israel, making his residence in Savyon. Through Israel Corporation, he acquired holdings in companies such as Zim Integrated Shipping Services and Oil Refineries.

At the same time, Eisenberg employed his extensive network to enable military transactions between Israel and the Far East, facilitating exports of Israeli weaponry to markets across Africa and South America. He was also a pioneer in creating commercial links between Israel and China.

As a significant political contributor, Eisenberg exerted influence over Israeli political affairs.

In 1979, he founded "Beit Asia" located in Tel Aviv, which served as the central office for his stock market ventures under Eisenberg's Group. He received support from his son-in-law Jonathan Zohovsky and group manager Michael Albin. Following the 1983 crash of the Israeli stock market, the group experienced major financial setbacks; investigations uncovered attempts to withhold information from investors. After Albin’s untimely death, Eisenberg distanced himself from his daughter and her husband. By the 1990s, his business engagements diminished due to shifts in emerging markets across the Far East and other contributing factors.

Others

He acted covertly as a special envoy to assist Lee Dae-yong, the South Korean Embassy's minister in South Vietnam, in securing his escape.

External links

• Underlying the 'Formal' Economy: Eisenberg's Role as an Intermediary Between South Korea and the Global Community