Israel’s First Computer: WEIZAC Story
The inception of computer technology in Israel marked a groundbreaking leap in the nation’s scientific and technological progress. On October 16, 1955, the Weizmann Institute of Science celebrated the operation of the country's first electronic computer, affectionately named WEIZAC—an acronym for Weizmann Automatic Calculator. As one of the earliest electronic computers worldwide, WEIZAC was entirely built at the Weizmann Institute and symbolized Israel’s entry into the era of advanced computation. This pioneering achievement demonstrated the country’s commitment to innovation and scientific excellence during its formative years.
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The initiative to develop WEIZAC was spearheaded by Professor Chaim L. Pekeris, the head of the Applied Mathematics Department at the Weizmann Institute. Having recently immigrated from the United States, where he contributed to research at Princeton’s Institute for Advanced Study alongside renowned figures like Albert Einstein and John von Neumann, Pekeris was determined to bring advanced computational capabilities to Israel.
His vision was for a machine powerful enough to support scientific calculations fundamental to theoretical and applied research. The project was approved by a committee of distinguished scientists including Einstein, von Neumann, and Oppenheimer, despite initial skepticism about the necessity of such technology in a small, developing country.
WEIZAC’s design was based on the architecture of the pioneering Princeton computer created by John von Neumann, which first operated in 1953. However, the Israeli team incorporated several improvements, utilizing the latest advances in technology at the time. Construction began in early 1954 under the technical leadership of Dr. Gerald Estrin and a dedicated team of engineers and technicians.
The computer’s arithmetic unit contained around 2,000 vacuum tubes, a technological hallmark of the early electronic age. WEIZAC’s memory initially comprised a magnetic drum fabricated at the Weizmann Institute workshops, with a capacity of 1,024 words, each word consisting of 40 bits. This was later upgraded to faster ferrite-core memory purchased from the United States, significantly multiplying processing speed.
Operating until 1963, WEIZAC was Israel’s only computer system for several years, playing a vital role in academic and scientific computation. It served a variety of uses, including calculations related to physics, chemistry, economics, and meteorology, facilitating research that was otherwise impossible with manual methods or simpler mechanical calculators.
Input and output were managed through paper tape readers and teleprinters, reflecting the cutting-edge communication technology of the era. The success of WEIZAC laid the foundation for subsequent computing developments in Israel, including the acquisition of newer machines in academic institutions and defense research centers.
Visitors to the Weizmann Institute of Science today can experience a tangible piece of this historic moment. The institute preserves parts of the original WEIZAC computer, which are displayed in the Ziskind Building on the campus, symbolizing the institute’s heritage as a cradle of Israeli science and technology. The institute is open to visitors, allowing tourists to delve into the fascinating story of Israel’s technological origins while enjoying the grounds of one of the world’s premier scientific research centers. Opening hours typically range from Sunday to Thursday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, but it is advisable to check ahead for special tours or events.
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