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Acquisition and Divestiture Activities (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2008	Jul. 06, 2010
Spin-off of Vishay Precision Group, Inc.
Bonuses received by certain executive officers			$ 2,100
Ownership interest retained in VPG					0.00%
Sale of Automotive Modules and Subsystems Business
Duration of term loan (in years)				3 years
Term loan issued in connection with business acquisitions				15,000
Business Acquisitions
Acquisition of business, net of cash acquired	85,493	19,335	0
Other intangible assets related to acquisitions	133,717	103,927
Goodwill related to acquisitions	34,866	9,051	0
Huntington Electric Inc [Member]
Business Acquisitions
Acquisition of business, net of cash acquired		19,335
Goodwill related to acquisitions		9,051
HiRel Systems [Member]
Business Acquisitions
Acquisition of business, net of cash acquired	85,493
Other intangible assets related to acquisitions	43,950
Goodwill related to acquisitions	$ 25,815
Common Stock [Member]
Spin-off of Vishay Precision Group, Inc.
Exchange Ratio Under Spin-Off			1 share of VPG common stock for every 14 shares of Vishay common stock
Class B Convertible Common Stock [Member]
Spin-off of Vishay Precision Group, Inc.
Exchange Ratio Under Spin-Off			1 share of VPG Class B common stock for every 14 shares of Vishay Class B common stock