Ne’eman Family,
His Friends and Admirers,

Regrettably, I was not able to be here with you to mourn the passing of Professor Yuval Ne’eman.  I asked Minister Roni Bar-On to say a few words on my behalf.

Professor Ne’eman was proof of the State of Israel’s ability to achieve that which seemed impossible to achieve, to believe in our strengths even when they seemed meager, and to strive untiringly towards excellence and success.

The list of his accomplishments in all the fields in which he dealt – engineering, science, security and public service – is fantastic, almost incomprehensible.  His contribution  to the State of Israel – from his youth in the Hagana and his service in the Givati Brigade during the War of Independence, through to his mobilizing to head the Israeli space project – is vast and admirable.

However, despite all these activities, Professor Ne’eman was a humble and modest person, who recognized his abilities, but also did not hesitate to acknowledge his limitations.  In his sharp and witty manner, he once said: “If I look at the vast universe which surrounds us, and I see what a negligent piece of it I occupy on Earth, which is a small speck, part of the solar system, which is part of billions of suns, which are part of the Milky Way, of which there are billions, the question of my status on Earth is very irrelevant.”

I had the privilege to serve side-by-side with Professor Ne’eman as a member of Knesset and Government Minister.  His knowledge and wisdom served to inspire those around him.  His passing leaves a gaping void within us.

In a few days, we will celebrate the 58th Day of Independence of the State of Israel.  We will all remember Yuval Ne’eman as a symbol of optimism and faith in the ability of man and the ability of our small country to dare, and to succeed.

May the memory of Professor Yuval Ne’eman be blessed.