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The difference is Merrill Lynch. 1-800-741-5034 Merrill Lynch Trust Bank of Michigan 1533 North Woodward Avenue, Suite 333 Bloomfield Hills, MI 48304 Merrill Lynch A tradition of trust. @ 1996 Merrill Lynch Trust Bank of Michigan. Complete Financial Services FREE Municipal Bonds Listing Receive Weekly Report PaineWebber THE D ETRO We invest in relationships. 58 Gerald E. Naftaly Vice President-Investments 32300 Northwestern Hwy., Suite 150 Farmington Hills, MI 48334 (810) 851-1001 or (800) 533-1407 _...Find It All In The Jewish News Classifieds Call 354-5959 ew people can look out the ing on optical equipment. Back in Palestine after the window and see their life- time accomplishments war, he fought during the War of spread out before them. Independence with the Palm.ach's Stef Wertheimer, quintessential crack units. Then, at 23, he champion of private enterprise, launched his career. At first he ultimate foe of big government, assumed the somewhat humble and arguably Israel's most suc- position of technical consultant cessful industrialist ever, is clear- to the nascent military indus- tries, at the time located in the ly among that select few. From his spacious office at the northern coastal town of Na- Western Galilee headquarters of hariya. There he produced his his multimillion-dollar precision own cutting tools with a lathe in cutting-tool business Iscar, Mr. a shack. That was the beginning Wertheimer can see the Tefen In- of Iscar. An old veteran of pitched bat- dustrial Park, a unique hothouse he created for successful export tles with bureaucrats and a crit- industries. Just down the hill ic of fashionable obsession with is Kfar Havradim (Rose-Garden capital markets, Mr. Wertheimer Village), a model community of is convinced Israeli law aims to 3,000 that provides the highest, penalize people who want to pro- quality of life in the area, anoth- duce and encourages "those who er Wertheimer initiative. A few play with money." It's bad in any hills beyond is the Zur Industri- case, he explains, but particular- al Institute, his latest pet project, ly for a country with a peace which is still under construc- tion. The jewel in the crown is un- doubtedly Iscar, the machine- tool empire. Considering that sales in the first three-quarters of last year were almost as much as the entire previous year, some analysts believe the company, which sells Japanese car makers some of the tools with which their robots work, is well on its way to an annu- al $1 billion turnover. Not a bad achievement list for someone about to turn 70. Even so, Mr. Wertheimer prefers to look ahead. "Gazing out this window, I see process and an identity dilemma. A man of unambiguous views, empty hills. I see a country that has yet to be built. And I have to Mr. Wertheimer believes Israeli hurry up to do all the things I leaders are still too occupied with security issues to properly ad- want to do," he says. Perhaps ifis this constant dis- dress long-term economic and ed- satisfaction that has been Mr. ucational issues. With this kind of attitude, Mr. Wertheimer's driving force. Un- happy with the government's Wertheimer naturally joined the record on privatization, he reformist Democratic Movement laments a lingering "exile men- for Change, and in fact served as tality" of dependence on others' a Knesset member in the late largesse, and he disparages the 1970s. But politics wasn't for him. system which "rewards" the stock Frustrated with the "talking, not market's "casino players." It's as doing" he witnessed in Wall he's ever done was meant to Jerusalem, he returned in 1981 prove one point: The most im- to the hills of Galilee to do what portant national pursuit is in- he does best and likes most. Three years later he turned over dustrial export. Born in Weimar, Germany, daily operation of Iscar and his Mr. Wertheimer came to Pales- two other companies, Blades tine with his family two years be- Technology and Plasal, to his son. Mr. Wertheimer's passion for fore the outbreak of World War II, at age 11. A rebellious kid, he education is equaled only by his got kicked out of school for fight- faith in the Galilee and the ing, and went to work as a life- Negev, which he believes will gradually become the main na- guard. Later, he began working in op- tional source of innovation. "I tics, and served with the British don't see Jerusalem or Tel Aviv Royal Air Force in Bahrain work- renewing themselves," he says. F