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Israel's Edge: The Story of The IDF's Most Elite Unit - Talpiot
How will Israel keep its strategic edge over an increasingly dangerous Iran? Israel has been preparing for this day by creating a special and secretive IDF unit called Talpiot.
Instead of being trained to fight, the few soldiers each year selected for Talpiot are taught how to think. In order to join this unit they have to commit to being in the army for ten years, rather than the three years a normal soldier serves.
Talpiots are taught advanced level physics, math and computer science as they train with soldiers from every other branch of the IDF. The result: young men and women become research and development machines. Talpiots have developed battle ready weapons that only Israel's top military officers and political leaders know about. They have also dramatically improved much of the weapons already in Israel's arsenal.
Talpiot has been tasked with keeping Israel a generation ahead of a rapidly strengthening and technologically capable Iran. Talpiots contribute to all of the areas that will be most important to the IDF as Iran becomes even more powerful including missile technology, anti-missile defense, cyber-warfare, intelligence, satellite technology and high powered imaging. Talpiot soldiers have also been a major factor in the never ending fight against Israel's other enemies and many have left the R&D lab to fly fighter planes, serve in the field as commanders of elite army ground units and at sea commanding Israel's fleet of naval ships.
After leaving the army, Talpiots have become a major force in the Israeli economy, developing some of Israel's most famous and powerful companies.
Israel's Edge contains dozens of interviews with Talpiot graduates and some of the early founders of the program. It explains Talpiot's highly successful recruiting methods and discloses many of the secrets of the program's success. The book also profiles some of the most successful businesses founded by Talpiot graduates including CheckPoint, Compugen, Anobit, recently bought by Apple, and XIV, recently bought by IBM. No other military unit has had more of an impact on the State of Israel and no other unit will have more of an impact in the years ahead. The soldiers of Talpiot are truly unsung heroes.
Instead of being trained to fight, the few soldiers each year selected for Talpiot are taught how to think. In order to join this unit they have to commit to being in the army for ten years, rather than the three years a normal soldier serves.
Talpiots are taught advanced level physics, math and computer science as they train with soldiers from every other branch of the IDF. The result: young men and women become research and development machines. Talpiots have developed battle ready weapons that only Israel's top military officers and political leaders know about. They have also dramatically improved much of the weapons already in Israel's arsenal.
Talpiot has been tasked with keeping Israel a generation ahead of a rapidly strengthening and technologically capable Iran. Talpiots contribute to all of the areas that will be most important to the IDF as Iran becomes even more powerful including missile technology, anti-missile defense, cyber-warfare, intelligence, satellite technology and high powered imaging. Talpiot soldiers have also been a major factor in the never ending fight against Israel's other enemies and many have left the R&D lab to fly fighter planes, serve in the field as commanders of elite army ground units and at sea commanding Israel's fleet of naval ships.
After leaving the army, Talpiots have become a major force in the Israeli economy, developing some of Israel's most famous and powerful companies.
Israel's Edge contains dozens of interviews with Talpiot graduates and some of the early founders of the program. It explains Talpiot's highly successful recruiting methods and discloses many of the secrets of the program's success. The book also profiles some of the most successful businesses founded by Talpiot graduates including CheckPoint, Compugen, Anobit, recently bought by Apple, and XIV, recently bought by IBM. No other military unit has had more of an impact on the State of Israel and no other unit will have more of an impact in the years ahead. The soldiers of Talpiot are truly unsung heroes.
240 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 15, 2016
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545 people want to read
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January 1, 2020
Israel's edge is its new form of education for bright teenagers that will become problem-solvers, especially in the science and technology fields. Talpiot is a unit of these problem-solvers and inventors, not a fighting machine.
The background is the 1973 Yom Kippur war attack by massed armies of Arabs. It took the Israelis 9 days to turn the fighting around to their favour. They realised that they would always be out-numbered and that the Arabs had the best tanks, planes and military weapons as supplied, along with training, by the Russians.
At that time France was Israel's main supplier of weaponry. On threats of no oil, they withdrew all support including not delivering the Mirage jets paid for by the Israelis, who sneaked in and took them anyway. America stepped in to take up the slack and perhaps also, cynically, they and the Russians used the conflict as a way of facing off against each other and live-testing their tanks and weapons.
Israel realised that the only advantage it could ever have would be to be one step ahead in technology, to have the best weapons, the best planes, the best technology, the best training, and for that it needed to have a unit whose main advantage was they were thinkers and problem-solvers. So Talpiot was born.
Academic kids often decide they want to go into Talpiot at about the age of 14 and work towards the entrance tests. The majority are invited by the selectors that visit schools around the country. Their qualifications are that they are good at physics and maths, team players, people-persons who are physically very fit, probably sporty. Once they get into Talpiot, they go straight to university to do science and maths in an accelerated course, one year shorter, where hours are long, holidays abbreviated and they have to do military training as well. After that they can elect to go further academically to PhD level.
The lessons are very interesting. A problem is given to them, the background explained, the solution doesn't exist, that is for them to come up with. But not alone, in teams and with as much help and input as they need from the lecturer or anywhere else. Sometimes it could seem a bit of a game with seemingly frivolous questions like those competitions where the participants have to invent a toy that flies from a limited number of materials. Although Talpiot military is restricted necessarily to Israeli Jews, Israeli Muslims are welcomed on the academic courses. It is not about politics or religion, but creativity and technology.
The leaders, the thinkers, the diplomats emerge and so do those who can't work in this way and will have to follow another path. Exams are the same, they answer questions in groups, can use any source to help them. It is their creativity that is being tested not their memories! Our exam systems are antiquated by comparison and those with bad memories, no matter they might excel in their work, often fail or get subpar results. Testing what can be done with the information learned, allowing access to any source (as in the real world) would point the way forward in both occupations, and as Israel outside of the military has shown, the country.
Eventually they will do short stints with every type of army speciality and can pick one where they would like to be attached to and problem-solve. This can be anything at all. It might be clothes, electronics, communications, food delivery, missiles, a problem is a problem. The army can be more efficient the less problems it deals with. They are in for 9 years so that is a long time to develop specialist knowledge. Some stay much longer. Some become Talpiot trainers themselves - all the instructors are ex-Talpiot.
When they leave, they invariably go into technology and are immediate successes. Working the way they always have, no matter what industry they can call on all previousTalpiot members who will forever be their team, their family, sometimes their partners, for advice, input and participation. Some stay in Israel, some go to the US and other countries, but all stay in technology in one way or another.
The first two thirds of the book are 5 star, the last, recounting the names and inventions and businesses of many former members is tediously boring, 2 stars max. So 4 stars overall. But really, really worth reading because the form of education detailed is unlike anything we do and it's results are provable.
This is not about the conflict, it is not about who has rights, territory, attackers, victims or anything political or religious. It is about an education system that produces extraordinary results.
_______________
Notes on reading
The background is the 1973 Yom Kippur war attack by massed armies of Arabs. It took the Israelis 9 days to turn the fighting around to their favour. They realised that they would always be out-numbered and that the Arabs had the best tanks, planes and military weapons as supplied, along with training, by the Russians.
At that time France was Israel's main supplier of weaponry. On threats of no oil, they withdrew all support including not delivering the Mirage jets paid for by the Israelis, who sneaked in and took them anyway. America stepped in to take up the slack and perhaps also, cynically, they and the Russians used the conflict as a way of facing off against each other and live-testing their tanks and weapons.
Israel realised that the only advantage it could ever have would be to be one step ahead in technology, to have the best weapons, the best planes, the best technology, the best training, and for that it needed to have a unit whose main advantage was they were thinkers and problem-solvers. So Talpiot was born.
Academic kids often decide they want to go into Talpiot at about the age of 14 and work towards the entrance tests. The majority are invited by the selectors that visit schools around the country. Their qualifications are that they are good at physics and maths, team players, people-persons who are physically very fit, probably sporty. Once they get into Talpiot, they go straight to university to do science and maths in an accelerated course, one year shorter, where hours are long, holidays abbreviated and they have to do military training as well. After that they can elect to go further academically to PhD level.
The lessons are very interesting. A problem is given to them, the background explained, the solution doesn't exist, that is for them to come up with. But not alone, in teams and with as much help and input as they need from the lecturer or anywhere else. Sometimes it could seem a bit of a game with seemingly frivolous questions like those competitions where the participants have to invent a toy that flies from a limited number of materials. Although Talpiot military is restricted necessarily to Israeli Jews, Israeli Muslims are welcomed on the academic courses. It is not about politics or religion, but creativity and technology.
The leaders, the thinkers, the diplomats emerge and so do those who can't work in this way and will have to follow another path. Exams are the same, they answer questions in groups, can use any source to help them. It is their creativity that is being tested not their memories! Our exam systems are antiquated by comparison and those with bad memories, no matter they might excel in their work, often fail or get subpar results. Testing what can be done with the information learned, allowing access to any source (as in the real world) would point the way forward in both occupations, and as Israel outside of the military has shown, the country.
Eventually they will do short stints with every type of army speciality and can pick one where they would like to be attached to and problem-solve. This can be anything at all. It might be clothes, electronics, communications, food delivery, missiles, a problem is a problem. The army can be more efficient the less problems it deals with. They are in for 9 years so that is a long time to develop specialist knowledge. Some stay much longer. Some become Talpiot trainers themselves - all the instructors are ex-Talpiot.
When they leave, they invariably go into technology and are immediate successes. Working the way they always have, no matter what industry they can call on all previousTalpiot members who will forever be their team, their family, sometimes their partners, for advice, input and participation. Some stay in Israel, some go to the US and other countries, but all stay in technology in one way or another.
The first two thirds of the book are 5 star, the last, recounting the names and inventions and businesses of many former members is tediously boring, 2 stars max. So 4 stars overall. But really, really worth reading because the form of education detailed is unlike anything we do and it's results are provable.
This is not about the conflict, it is not about who has rights, territory, attackers, victims or anything political or religious. It is about an education system that produces extraordinary results.
_______________
Notes on reading
October 2, 2021
Unitatea Talpiot isi are originea in neincrederea si pesimismul generate de Razboiul de Yom Kippur. In cursul acelui conflict, nepermis de multe tancuri si avioane israeliene au fost distruse. Israelul isi pierduse suprematia tehnologica. Un risc vital pentru un stat cu resurse umane si materiale limitate. Scopul unitatii Talpiot este producerea si mentinerea unui decalaj tehnologic intre Israel si dusmanii sai. "Iron Dome" este un produs Talpiot.
July 9, 2024
Gewirtz masterfully recounts how the Talpiot program harnesses the historical and intelligence lessons learned over decades, leveraging them to cultivate a cadre of military leaders and innovators. This elite unit, known for its rigorous selection process, is designed to think ahead and strategically address future challenges, ensuring that Israel remains at the forefront of technological and military advancements.
What stands out in this narrative is the emphasis on creativity, high energy, resourcefulness, and tenacity—qualities that are not only central to the success of Talpiot but also reflective of Israel’s broader approach to national security and technological innovation. The book offers numerous interviews and insights from graduates and key figures associated with the program, providing a firsthand account of its impact and significance.
From the development of groundbreaking technologies like Iron Dome to the cultivation of leaders who have significantly influenced Israel’s military and intelligence victories, Israel’s Edge underscores the importance of proactive and strategic thinking in an ever-evolving global landscape.
Overall, Israel’s Edge is an essential read for anyone interested in military strategy, technological innovation, and the unique factors that contribute to Israel’s defense capabilities. It’s a testament to how a forward-thinking, strategically embedded approach can create a powerful spear that not only defends but also drives a nation’s technological prowess.
What stands out in this narrative is the emphasis on creativity, high energy, resourcefulness, and tenacity—qualities that are not only central to the success of Talpiot but also reflective of Israel’s broader approach to national security and technological innovation. The book offers numerous interviews and insights from graduates and key figures associated with the program, providing a firsthand account of its impact and significance.
From the development of groundbreaking technologies like Iron Dome to the cultivation of leaders who have significantly influenced Israel’s military and intelligence victories, Israel’s Edge underscores the importance of proactive and strategic thinking in an ever-evolving global landscape.
Overall, Israel’s Edge is an essential read for anyone interested in military strategy, technological innovation, and the unique factors that contribute to Israel’s defense capabilities. It’s a testament to how a forward-thinking, strategically embedded approach can create a powerful spear that not only defends but also drives a nation’s technological prowess.
June 9, 2016
I received this book through the Goodreads Giveaways Program!
The concept and topic of the book, an elite group formed of the highest achieving high school students who undergo superior and accelerated academic training in math, science and computer sciences, while also undergoing military training, in order to develop improved solutions to military problems, is quite intriguing.
This book was unlike other books featuring elite groups in that content seemed very generalized. We are told such a group exists, the type of individual they are searching for, the focus of their education, and names of alums who have graduated the program who have gone on to do great things. However, perhaps due to the secrecy issues surrounding the group, I was disappointed that we did not learn more about the military side of the training they received, more about the systems and weapons they have helped improve/create, etc. I felt that enough was given to create an appetite, but then all we were given was a sample of the main meal.
Again, an interesting topic, and one that perhaps the United States should explore, if they are not already doing so. Anyone interested in Israeli military, defense, etc. would find this book interesting!
The concept and topic of the book, an elite group formed of the highest achieving high school students who undergo superior and accelerated academic training in math, science and computer sciences, while also undergoing military training, in order to develop improved solutions to military problems, is quite intriguing.
This book was unlike other books featuring elite groups in that content seemed very generalized. We are told such a group exists, the type of individual they are searching for, the focus of their education, and names of alums who have graduated the program who have gone on to do great things. However, perhaps due to the secrecy issues surrounding the group, I was disappointed that we did not learn more about the military side of the training they received, more about the systems and weapons they have helped improve/create, etc. I felt that enough was given to create an appetite, but then all we were given was a sample of the main meal.
Again, an interesting topic, and one that perhaps the United States should explore, if they are not already doing so. Anyone interested in Israeli military, defense, etc. would find this book interesting!
August 22, 2018
I'm of two minds about this book. The concept of Talpiot is compelling and something the world should learn from. However, I don't feel Gewirtz made his telling of the formation and success of this unit compelling at all. I would have liked to read more about how Talpiot rose to its strength, the politics behind the unit, and how Talpiot strengthens Israel. While there is certainly some of that in this book, 75% of the book are mini-biographies of Talpiot graduates. While some of these are interesting, there were simply too many, and the book got boring. Instead of reading the full book, you can get just as much out of reading the first few chapters on its history, and the last chapter.
September 26, 2019
In publicized genius
Having always wondered what made Israel so unique when it comes to creative leadership, this book provides the insight. A great guide in how to develop creativity in addition to leadership.
Having always wondered what made Israel so unique when it comes to creative leadership, this book provides the insight. A great guide in how to develop creativity in addition to leadership.
February 2, 2025
#nsreads 73
Some things I've been realizing in dribs and drabs, hard truths and noble lies, that mean one big task for myself in seeking closure in exactly 363 days is reckoning in that (hopefully) healthier headspace
Some things I've been realizing in dribs and drabs, hard truths and noble lies, that mean one big task for myself in seeking closure in exactly 363 days is reckoning in that (hopefully) healthier headspace
September 12, 2019
Really appreciated finding out about Talpiot, quite a system. But the book itself bogged down for me after the first third.
May 2, 2016
ISRAEL’S EDGE: THE STORY OF THE IDF’S MOST ELITE UNIT - TALPIOT written by Jason Gewirtz and published by Gefen Publishing House.
IDF is the Israel Defense Force
Talpiot is a Hebrew word meaning ‘tall turrets’ and/or ‘sturdy strongholds’
MAFAT is the acronym for Administration for the Development of Weapons and Technological Infrastructure established in the early 1980s by Defense Minister Ariel Sharon and used as the ‘umbrella’ for all things R&D in the Israeli Military
The Yom Kippur War (October 1973) caught Israel a bit off guard. There was much soul-searching among military and government leaders, as well as fear and anxiety.
“How did this fiasco happen?” Israel asked itself.
In the years before the war, Israel was engaged in constant war and military preparedness. Also, many Arab nations were receiving mass shipments of arms from the Soviet Union. There were also new weapons and technology being used against Israel.
Israel was caught ‘napping’, so to speak. Two professors at Hebrew University, Professor Shaul Yatziv and Professor Felix Dothan, wanted to give Israel its edge back. Their idea or goal was to rearm Israel with the best and the brightest young minds who would work exclusively on research and development for the IDF.
It took several years to get the government and especially the IDF behind their idea. In 1977, Menachem Begin became Prime Minister and Rafael Eitan was appointed chief of staff. They were both committed to change and an elite educated unit in the army. Talpiot was finally born.
Many organizational details had to be worked out - the recruitment process; the admissions process; curriculum; teachers; examinations; program structure and the partnership and the cooperation of the IDF and MAFAT.
The first recruiting began for Talpiot and the program was developed. The first Talpiot class reported in the summer of 1979.
The rest is history.
This book is very interesting reading. The access points were very helpful - a good cover picture; an introduction; a table of contents (20 chapters); a timeline (which I found very helpful); a salute from the author and acknowledgements.
I especially liked chapter 20: The Future; the timeline; many comments about the Israeli educational system and education, in general; examples of the Talpiot graduate network; all the many accomplishments of the Talpiot participants; Unit 8200 and the many innovations that developed from Professor Yatziv and Professor Dothan’s original plan.
ISRAEL’S EDGE is very well-written, thoroughly researched and an interesting and educational read. I would heartily recommend this book
IDF is the Israel Defense Force
Talpiot is a Hebrew word meaning ‘tall turrets’ and/or ‘sturdy strongholds’
MAFAT is the acronym for Administration for the Development of Weapons and Technological Infrastructure established in the early 1980s by Defense Minister Ariel Sharon and used as the ‘umbrella’ for all things R&D in the Israeli Military
The Yom Kippur War (October 1973) caught Israel a bit off guard. There was much soul-searching among military and government leaders, as well as fear and anxiety.
“How did this fiasco happen?” Israel asked itself.
In the years before the war, Israel was engaged in constant war and military preparedness. Also, many Arab nations were receiving mass shipments of arms from the Soviet Union. There were also new weapons and technology being used against Israel.
Israel was caught ‘napping’, so to speak. Two professors at Hebrew University, Professor Shaul Yatziv and Professor Felix Dothan, wanted to give Israel its edge back. Their idea or goal was to rearm Israel with the best and the brightest young minds who would work exclusively on research and development for the IDF.
It took several years to get the government and especially the IDF behind their idea. In 1977, Menachem Begin became Prime Minister and Rafael Eitan was appointed chief of staff. They were both committed to change and an elite educated unit in the army. Talpiot was finally born.
Many organizational details had to be worked out - the recruitment process; the admissions process; curriculum; teachers; examinations; program structure and the partnership and the cooperation of the IDF and MAFAT.
The first recruiting began for Talpiot and the program was developed. The first Talpiot class reported in the summer of 1979.
The rest is history.
This book is very interesting reading. The access points were very helpful - a good cover picture; an introduction; a table of contents (20 chapters); a timeline (which I found very helpful); a salute from the author and acknowledgements.
I especially liked chapter 20: The Future; the timeline; many comments about the Israeli educational system and education, in general; examples of the Talpiot graduate network; all the many accomplishments of the Talpiot participants; Unit 8200 and the many innovations that developed from Professor Yatziv and Professor Dothan’s original plan.
ISRAEL’S EDGE is very well-written, thoroughly researched and an interesting and educational read. I would heartily recommend this book
August 22, 2020
Good book.
August 3, 2018
I have never been to Israel but I admire the people and the nation very much. I have trained alongside Israeli soldiers and have nothing but respect for the Israeli fighting man. I’m sure these positive attitudes are part of the reason I enjoyed Israel’s Edge The Story of the IDF’s Most Elite Unit - Talpiot by Jason Gewirtz so much but aside from my positive attitude, Israel’s Edge is a well-written look at how a new and vital department of the Israeli military came into being and its huge impact on the military as well as society. I learned a lot about a country that I have always been interested in and the detailed description of wars, historic meetings, and momentous decisions rang true.
It is obvious from the first page that Jason Gewirtz researched this topic thoroughly. I read quite a lot of military books, both fiction and non-fiction but I had never heard of Talpiot, which is now Israel’s most elite unit. It was fascinating to read how a professor motivated only by the desire to serve his country by bringing into existence a critically needed unit slowly worked his way up the chain of command and finally presented his idea to the man that could make it a reality. Israeli civilian and military culture combine and strengthen each other in a way that is unique, and absolutely essential given the country’s precarious military situation. The rest, as they say, is history, exciting history, and Jason Gewirtz tells that history very well.
It is obvious from the first page that Jason Gewirtz researched this topic thoroughly. I read quite a lot of military books, both fiction and non-fiction but I had never heard of Talpiot, which is now Israel’s most elite unit. It was fascinating to read how a professor motivated only by the desire to serve his country by bringing into existence a critically needed unit slowly worked his way up the chain of command and finally presented his idea to the man that could make it a reality. Israeli civilian and military culture combine and strengthen each other in a way that is unique, and absolutely essential given the country’s precarious military situation. The rest, as they say, is history, exciting history, and Jason Gewirtz tells that history very well.
January 19, 2025
A bit too propaganda-like in my opinion even though its undeniable that this elite force has contributed to Israel being so successful and being one of the countries with the best intelligence ops and military ops
May 26, 2016
Received a copy from Goodreads Give Away Program.
This was a very interesting and enlightening read. It was well written and very well researched. I had never heard of Talpiot before, but I am extremely impressed with the founders and their tenacity to continue on with the project even with all the obstacles they encountered. They had the foresight to develop an educational program that would serve the world and their country. The founders and graduates of Talpiot definitely "think out of the box".
The Timeline at the end of the book provides a telling story of Israel and their struggle since its inception.
Perhaps it's time for our learning institutions to start teaching students "how to think". The United States might once again become great.
Definitely recommend. A very educational read.
M
This was a very interesting and enlightening read. It was well written and very well researched. I had never heard of Talpiot before, but I am extremely impressed with the founders and their tenacity to continue on with the project even with all the obstacles they encountered. They had the foresight to develop an educational program that would serve the world and their country. The founders and graduates of Talpiot definitely "think out of the box".
The Timeline at the end of the book provides a telling story of Israel and their struggle since its inception.
Perhaps it's time for our learning institutions to start teaching students "how to think". The United States might once again become great.
Definitely recommend. A very educational read.
M
May 29, 2017
Fascinating look at how Israel identifies its most productive geniuses
Over 40 years in Silicon Valley high tech employment, I've had the opportunity to work with various Israeli scientists, engineers and technicians. They were some of the smartest, most effective people I have ever known. Now I know why.
Over 40 years in Silicon Valley high tech employment, I've had the opportunity to work with various Israeli scientists, engineers and technicians. They were some of the smartest, most effective people I have ever known. Now I know why.
December 27, 2018
Good book I had no idea about this group. This was very interesting and informative. I learned a few thing about Israel's history that really tied it all together for me.
May 25, 2019
This book thought us how we can build a team which can bring innovation. This talks about specific israel 's defence case but can be used anywhere.
June 16, 2024
"Arma secretă a Israelului"
Războiul de șase zile din 1967 a reprezentat o campanie aproape perfectă pentru Israel. Forțele armate israeliene au pulverizat pur și simplu armatele arabe în trei direcții: sud, nord, est. Aviația israeliană a reușit să distrugă în circa cinci ore flota aeriană a statelor din jur: Egipt, Siria, Iordania, Irak.
După acest triumf, armata israeliană a căzut într-un soi de amorțeală provocată de încrederea excesivă în propriile puteri.
Apoi, pe neașteptate, în octombrie 1973, de Yom Kipur, Egiptul și Siria au atacat concomitent Israelul, dinspre nord și dinspre sud, fără ca serviciul de spionaj să prevadă invazia în timp util. Sistemul de apărare israelian se bazează 75% pe sute de mii de rezerviști. Aceștia au început să curgă cu întârziere pe câmpul de luptă unde îi așteptau alte surprize: piloții militari israelieni nu reușeau să pătrundă în zona aeriană critică deoarece erau întâmpinați de cele mai moderne rachete sol-aer sovietice. Tancurile israeliene erau și ele spulberate.
Primele trei zile au fost un coșmar pt Israel: aviația, tancurile, spionajul nu funcționau. Statul Israel a înțeles că e nevoie de o armată mai puternică și mai bine dotată. La nivel tehnologic, Israel trebuia să se dovedească mai avansat decât URSS care livra aliaților arabi cele mai performante arme ale sale.
În acest context, s-a născut proiectul Talpiot. Doi specialiști în fizică și inginerie militară au conceput un sistem educațional care apela la cei mai buni 5% din tinerii creativi cu coeficient de inteligență ridicat ce urmau să fie "bombardați" câțiva ani cu un bagaj teoretic sofisticat (fizică, matematică, informatică, chimie), cât și cu experiențe diversificate în cât mai multe domenii militare. La sfârșitul acestui proces, ei trebuiau să ofere soluții originale la problemele identificate pe câmpul de luptă. Israel trebuia să devină lider al inovației tehnologice.
Azi, prin intermediul talpioților, Israel este între primele țări în domeniul producției de drone, rachete și sisteme antirachetă, sateliți și blindate. De asemenea, este lider mondial în producția de sisteme informatice și de aparatură medicală. Iron Dom a apărut de la ideea unor talpioți.
Războiul de șase zile din 1967 a reprezentat o campanie aproape perfectă pentru Israel. Forțele armate israeliene au pulverizat pur și simplu armatele arabe în trei direcții: sud, nord, est. Aviația israeliană a reușit să distrugă în circa cinci ore flota aeriană a statelor din jur: Egipt, Siria, Iordania, Irak.
După acest triumf, armata israeliană a căzut într-un soi de amorțeală provocată de încrederea excesivă în propriile puteri.
Apoi, pe neașteptate, în octombrie 1973, de Yom Kipur, Egiptul și Siria au atacat concomitent Israelul, dinspre nord și dinspre sud, fără ca serviciul de spionaj să prevadă invazia în timp util. Sistemul de apărare israelian se bazează 75% pe sute de mii de rezerviști. Aceștia au început să curgă cu întârziere pe câmpul de luptă unde îi așteptau alte surprize: piloții militari israelieni nu reușeau să pătrundă în zona aeriană critică deoarece erau întâmpinați de cele mai moderne rachete sol-aer sovietice. Tancurile israeliene erau și ele spulberate.
Primele trei zile au fost un coșmar pt Israel: aviația, tancurile, spionajul nu funcționau. Statul Israel a înțeles că e nevoie de o armată mai puternică și mai bine dotată. La nivel tehnologic, Israel trebuia să se dovedească mai avansat decât URSS care livra aliaților arabi cele mai performante arme ale sale.
În acest context, s-a născut proiectul Talpiot. Doi specialiști în fizică și inginerie militară au conceput un sistem educațional care apela la cei mai buni 5% din tinerii creativi cu coeficient de inteligență ridicat ce urmau să fie "bombardați" câțiva ani cu un bagaj teoretic sofisticat (fizică, matematică, informatică, chimie), cât și cu experiențe diversificate în cât mai multe domenii militare. La sfârșitul acestui proces, ei trebuiau să ofere soluții originale la problemele identificate pe câmpul de luptă. Israel trebuia să devină lider al inovației tehnologice.
Azi, prin intermediul talpioților, Israel este între primele țări în domeniul producției de drone, rachete și sisteme antirachetă, sateliți și blindate. De asemenea, este lider mondial în producția de sisteme informatice și de aparatură medicală. Iron Dom a apărut de la ideea unor talpioți.
February 16, 2021
„La 5 octombrie, la prânz, în rapoartele serviciilor israeliene de informații militare se specifică faptul că „probabilitatea ca egiptenii să intenționeze să reia lupta este redusă. Nu aa apărut nicio schimbare în estimările noastre cu privire la intențiile sirienilor”.
6 octombrie 1973 – Yom Kipur, a zecea zi a lunii tishrei din calendarul evreiesc, anul 5734. La ora 14, Egiptul atacă Israelul. Siria procedează la fel câteva minute mai târziu.
Israelul este luat prin surprindere în momentul în care Egiptul începe atacul, traversând Canalul Suez, care separa forțele egiptene de cele israeliene din 1967. Ritmul înaintării egiptenilor de-a lungul canalului se accelerează în timp ce, pe partea egipteană a acestuia, se aud în megafoane strigăte de Allahu akbar! Allahu akbar! (Allah e mare! Allah e mare!). soldații israelieni staționați de-a lungul Liniei Bar Lev – creată ca „un sistem de apărare impenetrabil” împotriva Egiptului după războiul din 1967 – se pregătesc să-și apere viața și țara împotriv atacului violent. Pentru mulți israelieni surprinși pe Linia Bar Lev, aceasta va fi ultima lor zi.”
6 octombrie 1973 – Yom Kipur, a zecea zi a lunii tishrei din calendarul evreiesc, anul 5734. La ora 14, Egiptul atacă Israelul. Siria procedează la fel câteva minute mai târziu.
Israelul este luat prin surprindere în momentul în care Egiptul începe atacul, traversând Canalul Suez, care separa forțele egiptene de cele israeliene din 1967. Ritmul înaintării egiptenilor de-a lungul canalului se accelerează în timp ce, pe partea egipteană a acestuia, se aud în megafoane strigăte de Allahu akbar! Allahu akbar! (Allah e mare! Allah e mare!). soldații israelieni staționați de-a lungul Liniei Bar Lev – creată ca „un sistem de apărare impenetrabil” împotriva Egiptului după războiul din 1967 – se pregătesc să-și apere viața și țara împotriv atacului violent. Pentru mulți israelieni surprinși pe Linia Bar Lev, aceasta va fi ultima lor zi.”
December 31, 2019
Though the idea is quite encouraging for a layman, it is quite evident that similar programs are running (undercover) in many countries (especially those who are the forerunners of military technology). And as such it is not a new concept. The only difference is that, the Talpiot graduates can claim themselves as the Talpiot graduates in job market. On a closer inspection, we can see that this kind of open program is practical, only in closed societies like Israel (where every citizen is of the same religion and is united because of the extremely fear towards surrounded enemies; where defense or related industry comes with a good quantity of jobs). The main drawback of the book is the length as well as lagging felt in certain chapters.
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June 14, 2022A taste of Israeli IDF military R&D intelligence unit Talpiot aka "cutting edge israeli tech genome" project.
+PROs
+ background information behind the national sec. curtains
+ inception, development and the future of the Talpiot
+ linkage & benefits of Talpiot - IDF - society
+ showcasing some of Talpiots and their achievements
-CONs
- pro-israeli & sentimental, e.g. "a country that needs a strong fighting force perhaps more than any nation in the world"
- journalist level reporting on the 1st layer of data
- a bit repetitive at the end;
- lacking native comprehension of Israel history
+PROs
+ background information behind the national sec. curtains
+ inception, development and the future of the Talpiot
+ linkage & benefits of Talpiot - IDF - society
+ showcasing some of Talpiots and their achievements
-CONs
- pro-israeli & sentimental, e.g. "a country that needs a strong fighting force perhaps more than any nation in the world"
- journalist level reporting on the 1st layer of data
- a bit repetitive at the end;
- lacking native comprehension of Israel history
July 22, 2020
This book is an eye opener.
We keeping talking of making India great but are not even doing 1% work in that direction.
Usually the youngsters are not even taken seriously and asked for their view whether it is important political topics or their marriage.
Israel has shown the world that if a country has to progress, these 25-35 year olds have to get involved.
Sadly the current government in our country brands the bright ones as anti-nationals and locks them up, when they raise questions about controversial subjects like CAA.
We keeping talking of making India great but are not even doing 1% work in that direction.
Usually the youngsters are not even taken seriously and asked for their view whether it is important political topics or their marriage.
Israel has shown the world that if a country has to progress, these 25-35 year olds have to get involved.
Sadly the current government in our country brands the bright ones as anti-nationals and locks them up, when they raise questions about controversial subjects like CAA.
December 23, 2020
While the subject matter is interesting, especially since not much has been written about Talpiot, most of the book is a collection of mini-biographies of it former members, based mainly on information delivered by these individuals themselves. This books could have used some thorough vetting and editing, which might have presumably turned this more into a valuable analysis of military and Israeli history, and less into a adoring propaganda pamphlet.
March 18, 2024
Outstanding detailed documentary with vivid stories describing how Israel developed its elite Talpiot unit with Hebrew University to solve its most critical defense problems and advance technology applications around the world. Brilliant high school students were recruited for their intelligence, leadership potential, creativity, and desire to help Israel survive extinction. What a great education role model for any country.
May 2, 2021
The first few chapters are interesting. After that the book devolves into into a laundry list of name-dropping "famous" IDF graduates that have done things so "amazing" but secretive that they can't be discussed in this book; use your imagination. I'd recommend you do, to the fullest extent, and save your money on the purchase.
September 13, 2022
The first few chapters were really interesting. And the last few chapters got better again. But in the middle the author didn't give a lot of detail, which is understandable considering the sensitive and classified nature of the material. But it made it hard to follow a story or connect with the subjects of the stories.
May 13, 2024
While I found the subject matter very interesting and could appreciate the importance of the organization and people he described, the writing style did not really draw me in and the manner in which the author described the biographical details of his subjects was quite repetitive. I much prefer the storytelling of Dan Senor and how he discusses Israel and its culture.
February 9, 2018
The pinnacle of dull...
The author took an otherwise interesting subject and turned it into a long, boring unit history binder. The background leading to the creation of the program had a good flow and compelling narrative, but it is downhill from there.
The author took an otherwise interesting subject and turned it into a long, boring unit history binder. The background leading to the creation of the program had a good flow and compelling narrative, but it is downhill from there.
July 31, 2018
A tentative history of Talpiot
A good introduction of Talpiot, containing the success stories of how Talpiot contributes to the defense of Israel and more. A subsequent book could delve more into the process of what Talpiot trainees go through.
A good introduction of Talpiot, containing the success stories of how Talpiot contributes to the defense of Israel and more. A subsequent book could delve more into the process of what Talpiot trainees go through.
July 22, 2020
Israel’s Edge’
Being a former educator I was totally fascinated by the strategies combining military and academic education and the totally amazing results obtained from pushing already brilliant students to even greater achievement imaginable.
Being a former educator I was totally fascinated by the strategies combining military and academic education and the totally amazing results obtained from pushing already brilliant students to even greater achievement imaginable.
February 14, 2021
The book is wrote as if it is intended for 12 year old Israeli kids so they be proud of Talpiot. If that was the purpose - it’s probably a cool book, but as for me, I was expecting much deeper content.
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