Birthright israel honored its largest benefactors.
Casino mogul Sheldon Adelson and his wife, Dr. Miriam Adelson, were feted at a gala dinner Tuesday night that raised $2.6 million for birthright. Sheldon Adelson, the chair of the Sands Corp. who has become the third wealthiest American from his casino town in Macao, China, has given and pledged some $60 million to birthright over the past year. Both called the decision to give millions to birthright, which annually sends tens of thousands of young Jews to Israel on free 10-day trips, a “no-brainer.” Birthright israel has an $80 million annual budget.
Since announcing the formation of the Adelson Family Charitable Foundation late last year, Adelson has quickly become a major player on the Jewish philanthropic scene, giving $25 million to Yad Vashem. He also started a conservative newspaper in Israel.
Reports have speculated that the Adelson foundation eventually could give away up to $200 million annually to Jewish and Israeli causes.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
