Colonel (in res.) Zvika Rak was born in Marseilles in 1948. He made Aliyah with his parents on board the immigrant ship Exodus. The family settled in Haifa where he attended the Hebrew Reali School. In his youth, Rak was active in the youth movement HaNoar HaOved VeHaLomed.

In 1966, he enlisted in the IDF and served in the armored corps. During his service, he graduated from Officers School and in the Six-Day War he served as a tank commander. In the Yom Kippur War, Rak served as a commander of a tank company in the Golan Heights. On the 11th day of the war, he was critically injured and was saved by the company doctor. For his brave actions and leadership, Zvika was awarded the Medal of Distinguished Service.

Following his rehabilitation, he went on to serve is various military positions such as the Commander of the Reali School Military Academy and Haifa District Commander. He was discharged with the rank of Colonel.

Zvika holds a graduate degree from the University of Haifa and is a graduate of the IDF National Security College.

In his civilian life, he served as the Haifa Municipality Internal Auditor, and later, as the Director of the Education, Culture & Welfare Department. He also served as the CEO of the Netanya Municipality and the Director of its municipal stadium project. Passionate about social justice and education, these days Zvika serves as the Chairman of the Board of the Neri Bloomfield Haifa School of Design (WIZO), a Director of the Rambam Health Care Campus and as a Director of the Yerucham Foundation, responsible for the construction of the Irus Ha’midbar Hotel, a social and educational enterprise.