I always said to Sheldon Adelson that when it comes to the Jewish people, he is without a doubt the Moses Montefiore of our generation. That's right: just like the philanthropist who built Jerusalem's first neighborhoods outside the Old City walls, Adelson was a central pillar in the great enterprise to ensure the survival of the Jewish people and instill a strong Jewish identity in the young generation. He turned this aspiration into an active worldview, most prominently in education and particularly in education programs for strengthening Jewish identity throughout the Jewish world.
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The last time we met was at an especially poignant meeting held on Zoom several weeks ago, at which we named the Jewish Agency's Shlichut (emissaries) Institute in honor of Sheldon and Miriam Adelson. The aim was to honor their tremendous contribution to the Campus Israel Fellows project, which sends Israeli emissaries to campuses around the world. These emissaries act in a crucial arena of public debate in a time of boycotts and condemnations of Israel and Zionism.
Early in the morning, I and my predecessor Nathan Sharansky, who now serves as chairman of the Institute for the Study of Global Antisemitism and Policy, met at the Kiryat Moriah Campus in Jerusalem to speak via Zoom with Sheldon and Miri, who seemed relaxed and delighted to meet us. We had a warm and sober conversation about the current state of the world and about the love of Israel, which united us all.
Based on their deeply held conviction that the State of Israel is the mainstay of the Jewish people, Sheldon and Miri became the principal force behind giant endeavors such as Taglit-Birthright Israel, Campus Israel Fellows, the Israeli-American Council, and the Maccabi Task Force.
They also supported numberless educational projects, Jewish schools, institutes of higher education, yeshivas, summer camps and community centers, and, of course, Yad Vashem. All these institutions comprise a huge infrastructure that will be remembered for generations to come and will influence the connection between hundreds of thousands of young Jews and the State of Israel, their Jewish identity, and their people's history and culture.
Over the years, my friendship with Adelson developed into a deep personal relationship with a unique man and a leader of the Jewish people. He always stood out in his kind attitude, his modesty, and his accessibility. We did not always see eye to eye and at times had our disputes; however, we remained united in our deep commitment to the Jewish people and its national homeland – Israel.
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I offer my heartfelt condolences to Dr. Miriam Adelson, the love of his life and his partner in championing public causes. Miriam always placed the underprivileged at the heart of her laudable and wide-ranging activities. In their comprehensive undertakings, the Adelsons intertwined the past and present of Israel and the Jewish people, which, in their view, had always gone together. I extend my condolences to his children, grandchildren, friends, and admirers. May his memory be blessed.
Isaac Herzog is chairman of the Jewish Agency
