Abraham Zarem, one of the last surviving Manhattan Project scientists, dies at 106

(JTA) — Abraham Zarem was 28 when he joined the Manhattan Project, the vast U.S. government effort to develop the atom bomb.

Engineers like him gathered in secret laboratories in New Mexico, California, New York City and elsewhere to provide the practical know-how the theorists lacked.

“‘They were geniuses, but didn’t know how to build a f—king thing,’” Zarem recalled, according to his longtime rabbi at Sinai Temple in Los Angeles, David Wolpe.

Zaum, who went on to a distinguished career in technology, business development and leadership management training, died March 8 in Los Angeles. He was...