Dov Lautman, a highly successful entrepreneur and
philanthropist, passed away Saturday morning at the age of 77.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Saturday that
“Lautman was one of the founders of modern Israeli industry and a pioneer of
advanced technology and exporting,” Ynet reported.
The prime minister called him a Zionist “who saw the
promotion of education as both a personal and a national mission. Even when he
became ill… he continued to pursue his work. May he rest in peace.”
Finance Minister Yair Lapid wrote on his Facebook page that
“Lautman was a great example of people who do, and don’t just talk.”
Lautman, who suffered from muscular dystrophy, or ALS (also
referred to as Lou Gherig’s disease), was awarded the prestigious Israel Prize
for lifetime achievement in 2007. He headed the Israel Manufacturers
Association from 1986 to 1993.
Born in Tel Aviv, Lautman traveled to the United States to
study engineering at MIT.
When he returned to Israel, he became the CEO of a textile
company, Sabrina, and later the owner and founder of Delta Galil Industries,
which employs thousands of workers and is based in the north of Israel.
He was
also appointed as the prime minister’s special envoy for economic development
and foreign investment in the mid-1990s, during Yitzhak Rabin’s tenure.
Lautman also worked on social affairs to promote
understanding and coexistence between Jews and Arabs.
His funeral will be held Sunday in Kiryat Shaul.
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