Sheldon Adelson doubled the Taglit-Birthright program. Literally. There was a moment 15 years ago, when we realized that the equation comprising the Israeli government, Diaspora Jewry, especially in the US, and the group of Jewish millionaires, could not meet the great demand among Jewish students to visit Israel at the expense of the Jewish people.
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In 2006, 25,000 youths visited Israel as part of the Birthright program, out of a potential 100,000 contemporaries. The growing waiting lists for the program, especially in North and South America, caused frustration among many of the students, who wanted to enjoy the special privilege of free flight and free stay in Israel for 10 days.
I well remember the preparations for the meeting between him and the first two first donors who heeded my call to promote Birthright, Charles Bronfman and Michael Steinhardt. We had no idea if Adelson would be willing to participate in funding the project with which I had come up.
When Bronfman detailed the idea, he learned that Adelson was already familiar with it. When Bronfman told him that a $1 million donation would be greatly appreciated, Adelson seemed to take offence. Steinhardt was quick to suggest a $5 million donation, to which Adelson inquired why the two were selling such a great idea so cheaply.
As for me, he said that the great ideological difference between us will not prevent him from helping the most important Jewish project of the last 50 years.
The huge sums he and his wife, Miriam, invested in the project, doubled the number of participants per year from 25,000 to more than 50,000, allowing us to achieve our goal.
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I disagreed with him on nearly everything, but not on the main issue: the promise of Jewish continuity. There is no doubt that in this field his deep commitment will be greatly missed.
Dr. Yossi Beilin is a veteran Israeli politician who has served in multiple ministerial positions representing the Labor and Meretz parties.
