The first time I met Sheldon Adelson, almost 30 years ago, he asked me, "How can I help Soviet Jews behind the Iron Curtain?" I met him and his wife Miri dozens of times since then, and it seemed to me that every moment of his life, Sheldon was busy thinking, "How can I help the Jewish people and Israel?"
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Sheldon told stories about his father, a poor man who dreamed of coming to Israel but did not get the chance to do so. His father identified with the struggles of other Jews but did not have the means to help them.
As a young boy, Sheldon used to sell newspapers, and he always used to say proudly that he sold the newspaper that announced the establishment of the State of Israel.
It seemed that Sheldon believed that his business success came about so that he can help his people and his country, an opportunity that his family did not have.
His approach to philanthropy was no different than his approach to business. He and Miri worked as a dedicated and determined duo, testing the existing ways to help the Jewish people and developing new and long-term strategies. And when they were sure that a certain path was the right way to help, their generosity knew no bounds.
Sheldon was the one who came up with the idea for the Birthright Israel program. He realized that it would strengthen the Jewish people at a time of weakness. He knew there was a line of people who wanted to participate, and his decision was clear. From now on – no more lines. The project is available to every Jew in the world. And if that meant that donating millions of his own money every year, then so be it. The project has become one of the most global and meaningful enterprises in the world.
During the Second Intifada, I told then-Prime Minister Ariel Sharon that the most critical battle is that for the future of young Jews who are on American university campuses and that we needed to send emissaries there. But because of financial constraints, the Jewish Agency only had a few representatives on the land of liberty. After thorough research, Sheldon and Miri understood what tremendous impact these representatives could make, and the situation changed. Today we have emissaries on hundreds of American campuses. The entire emissary program has been upgraded thanks to the Adelson family.
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I want to point out that despite his tremendous contributions and personal interest, Sheldon never tried to pressure the projects politically. Helping the Jewish people should happen outside of political disagreements. Every Jew can participate in the project, regardless of his or her political affiliation.
Sheldon was one of history's most generous philanthropists who strengthened the Jewish people and the State of Israel, thus fulfilling his father's dream.
May his memory be for a blessing.
Natan Sharansky is an Israeli politician, human rights activist, and former chairman of the Jewish Agency.
