Born and raised in New York City, Murray Greenfield served in the merchant marines during WWII. When he heard about the 'Aliyah Bet' - or 'illegal immigration' - as the British termed the rescue of Jews who survived the Holocaust. He joined the American volunteers who sailed on Rust Buckets. After spending time in a British prison on the isle of Cyprus, Murray eventually moved to Eretz Israel at the age of 20. He continued to volunteer for many public organizations, and is on the board of various associations and organizations.