The late Prof. Raanan Weitz (1913 - 1998) aptly referred to as “Mr. Development”, is known as the individual that has had the most influence on rural development in Israel. Born in Rehovot in 1913, Raanan Weitz graduated with a PhD from the University of Florence in 1937 and immediately commenced working in the settlement department of the Jewish Agency in Israel. During the next 47 years, he was involved in most of the development activities taking place in Israel. Starting as a regional planner, he progressed through to director of the department by 1963, the post he held until his retirement in 1984. During this period, hundreds of new villages and settlements were established under his guidance and leadership. He was at the forefront of the transition from subsistence farming to high-tech, specialized, export-oriented agriculture, and the planning and development of new regions according to the unique integrated approach (the Rehovot Approach). Under his leadership and guidance, hundreds of thousands of new immigrants were successfully absorbed and gainfully employed in the rural regions during this period.
Prof. Weitz was also involved in numerous development projects in developing countries as an expert consultant to governments and international organizations. He wrote and edited numerous books and articles on the various aspects of development and integrated planning, among them: "Rural Development in a Changing World" (1971), "Integrated Rural Development: The Rehovot Approach" (1979), "New Roads to Development" (1986) and the groundbreaking and renowned “From Peasant to Farmer” (initially published in 1971). Throughout his lifetime, Prof. Weitz initiated and conducted numerous research studies and in 1991, he received the highest commendation granted in the country, the “Israel Award”, for his work in development and research in agriculture and regional planning in Israel and abroad.
In 1963, Prof. Weitz established and chaired the Settlement Study Center (SSC) for research and planning in development issues in Israel and for the dissemination of the Israeli experience across less developed regions. The “Rehovot Approach” to Integrated Regional Development planning was developed and formulated by Prof. Weitz and the professional faculty of the Center. After his death in 1998, the Center was renamed in his honor as the “Weitz Center for Development Studies”. In late 2015, the Center re-branded itself as the "Weitz Center for Sustainable Development". Bearing true to our founding father, the Weitz Center for Sustainable Development maintains its commitment to becoming a local Israeli and international leader in delivering high quality sustainable development training and consultancy services.
Prof. Weitz was also involved in numerous development projects in developing countries as an expert consultant to governments and international organizations. He wrote and edited numerous books and articles on the various aspects of development and integrated planning, among them: "Rural Development in a Changing World" (1971), "Integrated Rural Development: The Rehovot Approach" (1979), "New Roads to Development" (1986) and the groundbreaking and renowned “From Peasant to Farmer” (initially published in 1971). Throughout his lifetime, Prof. Weitz initiated and conducted numerous research studies and in 1991, he received the highest commendation granted in the country, the “Israel Award”, for his work in development and research in agriculture and regional planning in Israel and abroad.
In 1963, Prof. Weitz established and chaired the Settlement Study Center (SSC) for research and planning in development issues in Israel and for the dissemination of the Israeli experience across less developed regions. The “Rehovot Approach” to Integrated Regional Development planning was developed and formulated by Prof. Weitz and the professional faculty of the Center. After his death in 1998, the Center was renamed in his honor as the “Weitz Center for Development Studies”. In late 2015, the Center re-branded itself as the "Weitz Center for Sustainable Development". Bearing true to our founding father, the Weitz Center for Sustainable Development maintains its commitment to becoming a local Israeli and international leader in delivering high quality sustainable development training and consultancy services.
The Weitz Center throughout the years...
International participants engaged in a dialogue with Prof. Weitz
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MASHAV-Sponsored Training on Urbanization, Rehovot, 2011
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Jubilee Celebrations - Over 50 Years of Dedication to Sustainable Development, Dec. 2015
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