Irving Moskowitz

Irving Moskowitz (January 11, 1928 – June 16, 2016)[1] was an American physician, businessman, and activist. His activism, in part, sought to create a Jewish majority in Palestinian Arab neighborhoods of East Jerusalem by purchasing land.

Irving Moskowitz
Dr. Moskowitz speaking at Beit Orot on the Mount of Olives
Born(1928-01-11)January 11, 1928
New York City, New York
DiedJune 16, 2016(2016-06-16) (aged 88)
NationalityUnited States
EducationM.D. University of Wisconsin
Occupationphysician
businessman
philanthropist
Net worth8 Billion USD
Spouse(s)Cherna Moskowitz
Childreneight, four boys and four girls

Biography

Irving Moskowitz was the ninth of thirteen children born to Jewish immigrants from Poland. 120 of his relatives died in the Holocaust.[2] He grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and received a medical degree from the University of Wisconsin. He then moved to California where he started his medical practice, later building and managing hospitals.[3] He started the foundation in 1968.[4] At the time of his death Moskowitz resided in Miami Beach, Florida.

Moskowitz was married to Cherna with whom he had 8 children (four adopted and four biological), over 48 grandchildren and over 20 great grandchildren. Among his notable Zionist activities was establishing a foundation to help Shinlung immigration to Israel.[5] The family also established the Moskowitz Prize for Zionism in 2008.[6]

He built a business running hospitals and legal gambling in California. He was the founder of the Moskowitz Foundation, created "to help people in need regardless of race, creed, politics or religion."[7] The foundation raises funds for Jewish housing projects in East Jerusalem through its charity bingo hall in Hawaiian Gardens, California.[8] The funding is channeled through two settler organizations El'ad and Ateret Cohanim that work to create a Jewish majority in Palestinian Arab neighborhoods of East Jerusalem.[9]

Moskowitz had battled Alzheimer's disease for many years and eventually succumbed to it on June 16, 2016 at the age of 88.

Housing projects

In 2007, Moskowitz worked toward resettling Jews in Palestinian Arab neighborhoods in East Jerusalem vis a vis initiating plans to build 122 apartments on the site of the Shepherd Hotel in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood. The plan was downsized in 2009.[10][11] Final approval was given for 20 apartments on March 23, 2010, hours before Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with President Barack Obama at the White House.[12] The historic Shepherd Hotel was torn down to make room for the housing units.[13] A three-story parking garage and an access road was also planned for the site.[14]

Philanthropy

Moskowitz was the founder and chair of the Irving I. Moskowitz Foundation, which donated $1.5 million to Hawaiian Gardens, California for the construction of the Fedde Middle School Sports Complex, the first state-of-the-art sports facility in the city.[15] He donated to Karl Rove's American Crossroads, the Center for Security Policy and the Western Center for Journalism.[16] The Irving Moskowitz Foundation donated $100,000 on March 17, 2011, to the American Red Cross for the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami relief efforts.[17] On June 26, 2013, The Irving Moskowitz Foundation donated $100,000 to the American Red Cross for Oklahoma relief efforts.[18] On November 21, 2013, the Irving I. Moskowitz Foundation presented a check for $100,000 to the American Red Cross Long Beach Chapter to aid the victims of Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines.[19]

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References
  1. "Jewish philanthropist Dr. Irving Moskowitz passes away". Arutz Sheva. Retrieved 2016-06-16.
  2. The power of money, Time Magazine, September 29, 1997.
  3. See Moskowitz Foundation Biography Page.
  4. Irving Moskowitz, an extensive profile.
  5. Karen Primack, Jews in places you never thought of, Ktav Publishing House, 1998, p. 280-281. ISBN 0-88125-608-0
  6. Right wing U.S. millionaire launches alternative to Israel Prize, Haaretz, 5 February 2008
  7. Moskowitz Foundation Home Page
  8. "Bingo King Aids Israeli Right Wing". LA Times. May 9, 1996.
  9. Sharrock, David. 'Inside story: Lost property In 1929, the Muslim Ghuzlan family saved their Jewish neighbours from an Arab mob. So why are they now being evicted from their home by settlers?', The Guardian, February 4, 1999.
  10. Jewish settlements: Freeze project, US demands, Chris McGreal, The Guardian, July 19, 2009.
  11. Israel Will Not Stop East Jerusalem Land Purchases, Bloomberg News, July 19, 2009.
  12. New East Jerusalem homes approved hours before Netanyahu-Obama meet, Nir Hasson, Haaretz, March 23, 2010
  13. Shepherd's Hotel Demolished; U.S. Peace Efforts in the Debris, Time Magazine, January 10, 2011
  14. Israel to U.S.: Latest East Jerusalem building okayed last year, Nir Hasson, Barak Ravid and Natasha Mozgovaya, Haaretz Correspondents, and News Agencies, Haaretz, March 24, 2010
  15. Hawaiian Gardens Council meeting turns ugly over Sports Complex agenda item Archived 2011-08-20 at the Wayback Machine
  16. Blumenthal, Paul (2012-04-12). "Irving Moskowitz, Controversial Backer Of Israeli Settlements, Gives $1 Million To Anti-Obama Super PAC". Huffington Post.
  17. The Irving I. Moskowitz Foundation donates $100,000 to The American Red Cross – Japan Relief Fund, March 17, 2011
  18. Moskowitz Foundation gives $100,000 for Oklahoma Relief Efforts, American Red Cross, June 16, 2013
  19. Irving I. Moskowitz Foundation donates $100,000 to the American Red Cross for the Typhoon Victims in the Philippines, November 24, 2013
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