Today in History: Israel's First Computer Revolution

In an era where almost everyone has a computer, sometimes right in the palm of their hand, it's hard to imagine that only 65 years ago, Israel welcomed its first computer. And it was nothing like the personal computer you have at home...

WEIZAC—short for Weizmann Automatic Computer— was the name of Israel's first computer, launched on the 30th of Tishrei, 5716. It was one of the first of its kind worldwide. The cost of building it was about $50,000—equivalent to around half a million dollars today. The size of this computer was enormous, taking up an entire hall. Today, a part of this computer is on display at the Weizmann Institute of Science, and even that takes up an entire wall...

Professor Chaim Leib Pekeris, who founded the Department of Applied Mathematics at the Weizmann Institute, was a key figure in the computer's creation. This massive computer operated with 12 vacuum tubes and capacitors, and data was input using punched cards—which was also how commands were given to it. WEIZAC's basic structure continues to serve as a foundation for today's modern computers.

The computer's job was to perform complex calculations. Most of its operational time was dedicated to scientific research at the Weizmann Institute, although other agencies also were allotted time to use it, like the IDF, Central Bureau of Statistics, companies involved in mining and oil exploration, as well as scientists from other universities.

It took another six years before another computer was acquired for the Mamram unit in the IDF. The first computer, WEIZAC, continued to operate for about eight years, and after its operations ceased, it was replaced by a new computer, also built at the Weizmann Institute, which was called "Golem."