Z. moved to Israel in 1970 after completing his undergraduate degree in history at Yeshiva University. He obtained an M. A. degree in 'Holocaust' studies at the Institute of Contemporary Jewry of the Hebrew University, where he also completed his Ph. D. on 'Holocaust' matters. 

In 1978, Z. was invited to be the first director of the Simon Wiesenthal Center in Los Angeles. In 1980 he returned to Israel, where he served as a researcher for the U.S. Justice Department’s Office of Special Investigations. His efforts assisted in the preparation of cases against numerous suspected Nazi war criminals living in the United States, Australia, Canada, Great Britain, Argentina, and other countries. These efforts have enabled the passage of special laws in Canada (1987), Australia (1989) and Great Britain (1991). 

In 1991, Z. led the campaign against suspected Nazi war criminals in Lithuania. During the years 1992-1999, he lectured to thousands of Israeli soldiers about his work. He was appointed to serve on the relevant joint Israeli-Lithuanian commission. In 1999 he led similar efforts in Croatia, and in 2000 in Latvia. In June 1999, his activities were the subject of a ZDF television documentary, which was subsequently shown in several countries. In 1995 and 1996, Z. was invited to Rwanda to assist the local authorities as a genocide expert. In recent years, Z. has lectured extensively to audiences all over the world regarding his efforts. 

Z. has published over two hundred articles on the 'Holocaust' in Jewish scholarly journals, the Los Angeles Times, Boston Globe, Jerusalem Post, Tikkun, Jerusalem Report, Maariv, Haaretz, Yediot Achronot, Eretz Acheret, Jewish Chronicle and other publications. He is the coordinator of Nazi war crimes research worldwide for the Wiesenthal Center and the author of its annual Status Report.  

In 2002, Z. launched the 'Operation Last Chance', which offers financial rewards for information which will facilitate the prosecution and punishment of suspected Nazi war criminals. The project has been initiated in Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Poland, Romania, Austria, Croatia, Hungary and Germany. On January 15, 2008, the prize was increased by a Jewish donor from the US from $10,000 to $25,000. 

Letzte Änderung / Last update: 13.08.2010 

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