48 | JULY 1 • 2021

OBITUARIES
OF BLESSED MEMORY

‘H

ero of Israel,
” a “one-
man space agency”
and “huge loss for the
defense establishment” are just
some of the descriptions of Israel
Defense Prize laureate
and rocket scientist Aby
Har-Even, who was
injured during riots in
Acre last month and
died June 6 at age 84.
His contribution to
space exploration and
Israel’s national security
is unknown to most Israelis, and
much of his activity will remain
a mystery.
Har-Even was born in
Romania and made aliyah with
his parents in 1950. He studied
mechanical engineering at the
Technion, and then later, during
his military service, did a degree
in electrical engineering.
He was involved in procur-
ing advanced weaponry for the
IDF’s arsenal: defensive weapons
and anti-aircraft guns. Later, he
commanded the Hawk missile
battery, which was deployed to
protect the Nuclear Research
Campus, served in the R&D
department and headed the team
that reviewed lessons learned
from the Yom Kippur War.
In 1977, he was awarded the
Defense Ministry Prize for a
secret project still prohibited
from being publicized to this day.
As a civilian, Har-Even filled
a number of positions at Israel
Aerospace Industries, was the
fifth director of Israel’s Space
Agency and led a team that
developed Israel’s Shavit satellite
rocket launcher. In recent years,
he spent time working on R&D
at Rafael Advanced Defense
Systems.

Due to the confidential nature
of much of his work, however,
we are unlikely to ever under-
stand the scope of his contribu-
tions to Israel’s security.
“
After completing the
development of the Shavit
satellite launcher, Aby
began offering consulting
services to American
technology companies,
”
said space analyst Tal
Inbar. “Later on, he began
working with Israel’s civil-
ian space agency. Among other
projects he was involved in was
the mission with Ilan Ramon,
Israel’s first astronaut to go to
space.
”
On the night of May 11, while
staying at the Efendi Hotel in
Acre, Har-Even was injured
when Arab rioters set fire to
the building. He was brought
unconscious to Haifa’s Rambam
Hospital, suffering from serious
burns and smoke inhalation. On
June 6, he passed away with his
family at his side.
“His greatest contribution
was his work with Israel’s Space
Agency, where he focused on
Israel’s ability to launch satellites,
”
notes Dr. Igal Patel, former chair-
man of the Israeli Astronomical
Association. “
Aby helped Israel
join the international space com-
munity.
“His second greatest contribu-
tion was to Israel’s security, since
he was responsible for the devel-
opment of the Shavit launcher, as
well as all of the reconnaissance
satellites.
”
In recent years, Har-Even
and Patel worked together to
establish a space center in Israel,
which Har-Even had agreed to
chair.

Israel’s Space
Pioneer

SIGAL BEN DAVID JERUSALEM POST

Aby
Har-Even

TIMES OF ISRAEL

AMERICAN
FRIENDS

the board of

American Friends of Magen
David Adom

as well as the organization’s staff

mourn the passing of

Marcia Applebaum

caring philanthropist and dear friend of

Magen David Adom, Israel’s national EMS

and blood-services organization.

We offer our condolences to the

entire Applebaum family.

We hope they will be comforted by her

memory and by the knowledge of her lasting

legacy — the thousands of lives in Israel

saved by her thoughtful generosity.

Saving lives. It’s in our blood.

Catherine Reed
Chief Executive Officer

Mark D. Lebow
National Chairman

Richard Zelin
Director of Strategic Philanthropy
Midwest Region

Wendy Strip
Development Executive
Greater Detroit Area