Stef Wertheimer, Israel Prize Winner and Industrial Pioneer, Dies at 98

Stef Wertheimer, a former Palmach fighter, entrepreneur, industrialist, philanthropist, and Israel Prize laureate, passed away yesterday at the age of 98. Born in 1926 in Kippenheim, Germany, Wertheimer immigrated to Israel with his family in 1937. In 1943, he joined the British Air Force and served as an optical equipment support officer at the British Air Force base in Bahrain. In 1945, he joined the Palmach, completed a pilot course, and was appointed as an engineering officer and developer of underground defense industry.

In 1952, he founded the ISCAR Metalworking Company in Nahariya, initially in a family shed, and later in a larger warehouse. Today, ISCAR is one of the world's leading manufacturers in its field, with 98% of its production destined for export to the automotive, aviation, space, and electronics industries. In 2006, ISCAR was acquired by Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway group. Stef Wertheimer and his son Eitan insisted on selling ISCAR in Israel, thus helping to close Israel's budget deficit at the time.

In 1981, Stef's late wife Miriam opened the successful "Lechemi" bakery. She stood by his side and supported him in establishing factories and industrial parks. She passed away from a severe illness in 1989.

Dr. Ron Tomer, President of the Manufacturers Association, expressed deep sorrow over the passing of Stef Wertheimer, one of Israel's prominent industrialists. He stated that Wertheimer was one of the great industrialists of Israel - an initiator, inventor, educator, and visionary leader who saw industry as an engine of economic and social growth for the entire country. His vision became a reality on the ground - in the development of Israeli industry, in strengthening the periphery, and in investing in the future generation of manufacturing and innovation in the country.

In 1967, in response to Charles de Gaulle's embargo on French arms exports to Israel, Wertheimer began to manufacture blades for jet engines. What started as a small factory became a strategic asset: the Israeli Air Force would no longer depend on imported blades. Over the years, this factory gained international recognition and joined leading international aviation companies: Pratt & Whitney and Rolls Royce, which became his partners in blade manufacturing. Blade technology branches were established in several countries around the world.

Since 1982, Wertheimer has established seven industrial parks - six in Israel and one in Turkey. The first park in Tefen created a unique model, followed by the other parks. Their goal was to promote export industries to encourage a new generation of entrepreneurs, who were accompanied by professionals in the industrial parks until they could export. In the industrial parks, he combined art museums, stating that the most important attribute for any person in any profession is creativity, the importance of manual work, and the importance to create.

In the field of education, he established and supported, in collaboration with the Ministry of Industry, vocational schools for professional training in the field of advanced chip processing in Lavon (for Jews and Arabs), and for soldiers at IDF bases in the Navy in Haifa, and in G'olis of the Armored Corps, in order to promote professionals for Israeli industry.

Wertheimer, who established the settlements Kfar Vradim and Lavon, worked to integrate smart industry, in the industrial parks, alongside cultural activity, quality of life, and the establishment of quality living places - which allowed a young population to stay in the Galilee and the Negev.

Wertheimer's vision was to create work and livelihood in Israel and for the surrounding peoples, so that activity would be created instead of engaging in wars and thus stabilize the Middle East. He worked to establish joint industrial zones on the Jordanian and Egyptian borders, and convened a conference in Tefen - senior officials from the governments of the US, Europe, Israel, and representatives from Arab countries - to formulate a plan for regional cooperation to create employment and coexistence.

In 2011, he published the book "A Man Next to a Machine" on the history of the establishment of industrial parks and ISCAR.

Wertheimer, who lit a torch at the torchlighting ceremony on Mount Herzl on the 58th Independence Day, was decorated with awards and honors from Israel and abroad for his activity in many fields - Israel Prize 1991, President of the State Decoration, in the field of education - Kaplan Prize, Rothschild Prize, Yigal Allon Prize, Galilee Dignitary, M Avir Quality of Government, the prestigious Buber-Rosenzweig Prize in Germany, and more.

His son, his successor, Eitan Wertheimer, passed away from a severe illness two years ago. Stef Wertheimer left behind three children, nine grandchildren, and 23 great-grandchildren.