Gideon Weiss
Sunday May 18, 7 pm, Regent University Theatre
1000 Regent University Drive, Virginia Beach
The number of rockets fired into Israel by Hamas in November 2012 is estimated at around 1,000. Not all of the weapons were armed or considered a threat, but the majority of the 300 or so that could have caused major destruction, injuries, and death, were stopped.
Israel’s Iron Dome missile defense system was credited with detecting and eliminating those harmful missiles during Operation Pillar of Freedom, as the November conflict was called. The world marveled at video footage of rockets exploding in the sky before they could hit the ground, and, while there were three casualties, it was universally agreed that Iron Dome saved many lives.
The Simon Family JCC’s Celebrate Israel series, in partnership with the Community Relations Council of the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater, invites the community to An Exclusive Look into the Iron Dome: the Anti-Missile System that Protects Israelis.
The featured guest speaker is Lt. Col. Gideon Weiss, a vice president with Rafael USA, Inc., an affiliate of Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, which develops and manufactures advanced defense systems for the Israel Defense Forces, including the Iron Dome.
Weiss will discuss the development and deployment of the Iron Dome, and how it fits into Israel’s multi-layered missile and rocket defense.
“Gideon gives a very personal and emotional account as to why the Iron Dome is so important to Israelis’ safety,” says Robin Mancoll, CRC director.
“As a father, as someone who has lost family members in missile attacks, as a 28-year veteran of the IDF, and as an expert in the defense industry, there’s no one better to tell this story.
“This is not a technological or academic program—it’s an off-the-record briefing and an honest discussion about what so many Israelis go through on a daily basis, and the difficult choices they have to make to protect themselves and their families,” says Moncoll.
While this presentation is free and open to the community, because of the sensitive nature of the discussion, reservations are required in advance. Identification will be checked at the door.
The audience is invited to stay for discussion and dessert reception after Weiss’ presentation. RSVP by May 15 by calling 321-2337, or visit SimonFamilyJCC.org/IronDome.
by Laine Mednick Rutherford