Your Daily Phil: How Sylvan Adams shifted Israeli cycling into high gear
Good Thursday morning.
In today’s edition of Your Daily Phil, we report on the largest-ever single donation to UCLA’s history department. We feature an opinion piece by Jonathan Greenblatt marking the 30th anniversary of the deadly terror attack on a Jewish community center in Buenos Aires; and one by Dara Fersel about the short- and long-term bonds forged by the giving circle experience. Also in this newsletter: President Joe Biden, Rabbi Claudia Kreiman and Jenna Leventhal. We’ll start with an interview with Sylvan Adams, whose financial support has elevated Israeli cycling to the world’s biggest stages.
The co-owner of the Israel Premier Tech team and an accomplished cyclist himself, Israeli-Canadian billionaire Sylvan Adams was speaking with eJewishPhilanthropy’s Judah Ari Gross over Zoom from a hotel room in France as he waited for news of his athletes’ results in that day’s stage of the Tour de France.
The prestigious competition, which kicked off last month and runs through the end of this week, represents the first of two major cycling events in which Israeli riders will compete this summer. The second will be the Paris Olympics — the first time that Israel has had a rider in the men’s road race category since Henry Ohayon and Yitzhak (Jacques) Ben David raced in Rome in 1960.
If this summer marks the pinnacle of Israeli cycling, it is only for now: “We are just getting started,” Adams said with a grin. “We will reach for the moon.” In large part because of Adams — and in some cases, in full part because of him — the past six years have seen major advancements in Israeli cycling, allowing it to compete on an international level.
Adams got involved in cycling later in life, first starting to race at age 41. He’s now 65 and has won nine Canadian national titles and four world titles in the sport. “I didn’t even know about cycling until I started competing myself,” he said.
The real estate mogul’s efforts in Israel began roughly a decade ago with the construction of an Olympic-size velodrome in Tel Aviv, the only such indoor-track cycling facility in the Middle East, which broke ground in 2016 and opened two years later. Before construction of the velodrome even began, an Israeli investor and cycling enthusiast Ron Bar-On, who had co-founded the Israel Premier Tech in 2014 with Ran Margaliot, contacted Adams about getting involved with the team. They are now co-owners.
“The velodrome was a serious game changer. That’s what’s allowing us to compete in the Olympics,” Dani Oren, the head of the elite sport department at Israel’s Wingate Institute, told eJP. “But beyond the field of cycling, there’s also the institute that he founded at Tel Aviv University [the Sylvan Adams Sports Center]. There’s no doubt that he’s contributed greatly to Israeli sport.”
Tooting his own horn, Adams said that the development program that he and his team have created is putting Israeli teams “at the highest level of its sport.”
“Yes, Maccabi Tel Aviv can be in the European championships of basketball, but everybody knows the NBA is the highest level of basketball. In cycling, that’s the Tour de France. And like I said, I’m here in France at the moment with my team,” he said. “People always ask me, ‘Is this your dream?’ No, this is not my dream. I don’t dream. I make a plan and I execute.”
His goal with his donations toward Israeli sports is to put the country front and center on the world stage in a positive light.
“Our best answer to the haters is to win. How can we frustrate them any more?” he said.
MAJOR GIFTS
Luskin: $25M donation to help UCLA students study the past and understand the present ‘in service of the public good’
The University of California, Los Angeles history department will be renamed for Meyer and Renee Luskin in honor of a $25 million donation from the Southern California business leader and his wife, both of whom are UCLA alumni and longtime donors to the school, eJewishPhilanthropy’s Haley Cohen reports. The department will now be called the UCLA Meyer and Renee Luskin Department of History.
How it will be used: The largest-ever single donation to the department and to the UCLA College Division of Social Sciences, the gift builds on the more than $100 million the Luskins have given to the university, including a $5 million donation in 2017. The new gift is expected to support faculty, students and public-oriented programs in the UCLA history department, according to the university. It will also aid the expansion of several of the department’s centers and programs, such as the Luskin Center for History and Policy, the Public History Initiative, the “Why History Matters” series and the new “Making History in Los Angeles” program.
‘Guide to a better future’: Meyer Luskin is the founder of Scope Industries, a Santa Monica-based firm that recycles and processes food waste. “We believe the study of history is vital in creating informed participants in a vibrant democratic society,” he said in a statement. “This gift will ensure that students and faculty have ample resources and opportunities to study the past, which will allow them to further [understand the present] in service to the public good.” In a separate statement, Renee Luskin echoed the importance of studying history. “To understand and nurture the values that lay at the foundation of our democracy, it is essential to mine the past as a guide to a better future. Such knowledge can aid in solving some of our world’s biggest challenges,” she said.
No mention: The gift comes as several Jewish UCLA donors, such as Sharon Nazarian, president of the Y&S Nazarian Family Foundation, have publicly decried rising antisemitism on the campus since Oct. 7. In a January interview with eJP’s sister publication, Jewish Insider, Nazarian pushed for donors to repurpose their dollars and “invest in antisemitism education.” The Luskins did not comment on anti-Israel hostility at the Los Angeles university when announcing their gift, and did not respond to an interview request from eJP.
ZACHOR AND MORE
Why I am going to Argentina
“As the 30th anniversary of the AMIA bombing approached, I knew I had to go to Buenos Aires myself this year,” writes Anti-Defamation League CEO Jonathan Greenblatt in an opinion piece for eJewishPhilanthropy.
A devastating attack: “This journey is first and foremost dedicated to honoring the victims of the bombing. On July 18, 1994, the Asociación Mutual Israelita Argentina (AMIA), the Argentinian Jewish federation in Buenos Aires, became the target of a devastating suicide car bomb attack carried out by a terrorist proxy of the Islamic Republic of Iran. This tragic event remains the deadliest attack in Argentina’s history, taking 85 lives and injuring over 300. We must never forget that these were real people, not just numbers, and included Jewish and non-Jewish victims. Each victim had a life, a family, dreams — things we often take for granted. They were robbed of everything because of senseless hatred for who they were.”
A familiar evil: “Carried out by Hezbollah, one of Iran’s many terrorist proxies, this bloody attack was rightfully condemned as a crime against humanity by the Argentinian Supreme Court of Justice… As we all know, Hamas, another Iranian regime-backed terrorist group, committed unspeakable atrocities against Israel on Oct. 7, murdering around 1,200 people. The Oct. 7 massacre now surpasses the AMIA bombing for the title of the deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust. Same backer. Same target. Different decade.”
Mourn — and mobilize: “[T]his week is not solely about commemorating the past. It is also about confronting the challenges of the present and future, including the persistent threats of antisemitism, hate and terrorism that continue to plague our world, our synagogues, our community centers and our campuses. This isn’t just a personal pilgrimage, but a call to action… We’re not just coming together to mourn, but to mobilize in support of Israel and global Jewish security and against the ever-present threats posed by Iran. It’s the least we can do to honor those we lost at AMIA. We owe them that much.”
NEXT-GEN PHILANTHROPY
Giving circles: A powerful tool for Jewish fundraising
“[Y]ounger philanthropists are deeply invested in seeing tangible, measurable outcomes from their contributions. This makes the giving circle an ideal vehicle for their philanthropy,” writes Dara Fersel, director of Amplifier, in an opinion piece for eJewishPhilanthropy.
How it works: “Giving circles provide donors with the opportunity to donate a set amount of money to a common fund that is administered by the group as a whole. This collaborative approach not only magnifies the impact of their contributions but also engages members in the philanthropic process, fostering a sense of community and shared purpose… This makes the members of giving circles much more involved in the decision-making process than traditional forms of philanthropy in which donors simply write checks. The individual members of giving circles often end up getting more involved in the organizations as donors or volunteers and typically maintain a longer-term relationship with the charities than they would if they had just written a check.”
Growing in popularity: “[According to a recent survey by the Dorothy A. Johnson Center, Colemena Consulting and Philanthropy Together, the] collective giving sector has jumped to 4,000 groups contributing a total of over $3.1 billion, which is more than double just seven years ago. Among Jewish giving circle participants in particular, the study found that 89% developed a stronger sense of belonging to a community, 82% felt a greater ability to live their values and 76% reported greater confidence to act to positively effect change.”
Worthy Reads
Still a Believer: In The Times of Israel, Rabbi Claudia Kreiman, daughter of one of the 85 victims in the 1994 terrorist attack on the Asociación Mutual Israelita Argentina, shares memories of her her mother and how she shaped her worldview even after her death. “I vowed to respond to hatred not with more hatred, but with love and acts of lovingkindness. Most importantly: I told myself to seek humanity even when it is hard to find. Following Hamas’s deadly and brutal attacks on October 7th, seeking light, joy, and humanity has become much harder for me, and the clarity I once knew has been existentially shaken… When you long for something, you don’t give up. Longing makes you keep going. It was longing for my mom that helped me continue finding meaning and joy in the midst of my mourning when I was twenty years old. Longing and a broken heart somehow lit the way to hope, to possibility, to love and beauty. Now I must learn again how to sit in the darkness and allow hope and light to rise. Somewhere deep inside, I still believe that humans can be and do better, that the world can be a beautiful place. As I commemorate thirty years since my mom left this world, I remind myself that I can persevere with a broken heart – indeed, it is the only way.” [TOI]
To Trust or Not to Trust: The “2024 Edelman Trust Barometer Global Report” found low levels of trust in government, media, business and nongovernmental organizations when it comes to new technologies, writes Kyoko Uchida in a blog post for Candid. “The innovations and technologies mentioned in the survey are: green energy, such as biofuels, liquid hydrogen, and wind and solar power; artificial intelligence, including machine learning, natural language processing, and generative AI; gene-based medicine, such as mRNA vaccines, gene splicing, and gene therapy; and genetically modified foods. According to the report, a majority of respondents who believe that innovation is poorly managed thought that society is changing too quickly and not in ways that benefit people like them… When asked whom they trusted to introduce innovations into society, ensuring they are safe, understood by the public, beneficial, and accessible, respondents overall were neutral on business, NGOs, and government but distrusted the media. Low-income respondents, however, expressed distrust of NGOs, government, and the media, while high-income respondents expressed greater trust in NGOs and business.” [Candid]
What Donors Remember: In Forbes, Gabe Cooper advises nonprofit leaders to consider that their organization or cause’s fan base has the potential to be more than just a source of fundraising dollars. “I believe most organizations are missing the secret ingredient separating mediocre and high-impact nonprofits: the ability to build a strong and vibrant community. The reality is that most nonprofits have access to a group of potential ambassadors and raving fans who care deeply about their cause. The most effective nonprofits can tap into this community and mobilize it to create sustained results… Ironically, if you surveyed 100 donors about their most memorable experience with a charity, it likely wouldn’t be donating money. Most would probably talk about their experiences doing some activity with the nonprofit’s community. They would talk about walking in a 5K, prepping meals at a food bank or working at an adoption event for an animal shelter. In other words, your community is most fulfilled when they are doing the work for your cause, not just giving to it. [Forbes]
Around the Web
The NGO Human Rights Watch released a report on Wednesday featuring detailed documentation of “violations of international humanitarian law and war crimes” committed on Oct. 7 by Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine and the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades…
Argentinian President Javier Milei pledged to intensify the country’s anti-terrorism efforts and dignitaries read letters from President Joe Biden and Pope Francis at a security forum held Tuesday and Wednesday in Buenos Aires, co-organized by the World Jewish Congress and Latin American Jewish Congress in partnership with AMIA and Delegación de Asociaciones Israelitas Argentinas (DAIA), the umbrella organization of Argentina’s Jewish community…
The New York Times reports that Democratic megadonors are deploying a spectrum of strategies in their attempts to both get President Joe Biden to drop out of the presidential race and ensure a viable Democratic candidate steps in…
The Jerusalem Youth Chorus, a choral and dialogue program for Palestinian and Israeli youth from East and West Jerusalem, performed “Home” by Phillip Phillips during Tuesday night’s episode of “America’s Got Talent”…
Inside Philanthropy highlights the philanthropic work of Women of Reform Judaism, the women’s affiliate of the Union for Reform Judaism…
Reps. Brian Mast (R-FL) and John Rutherford (R-FL) introduced a bill to honor Dr. Joseph Kirsner, a Jewish World War II veteran and accomplished gastroenterologist, with a congressional Gold Medal…
Nir Shlezinger, an assistant professor at the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, has been awarded the prestigious European Research Council (ERC) Starting Grant, which provides recipients with up to 1.5 million euros over five years…
The Levine Center to End Hate in Rochester, N.Y., recently received a bequest of $250,000 from a local Jewish Holocaust survivor as well as a $10,000 gift from the John F. Wegman Fund, another local funder…
Jewish Family Service of Atlantic and Cape May Counties announced it has been awarded a $10,000 grant from the Dennis Schuman Charitable Foundation to benefit the Lynn Kramer Village by the Shore, a community-based program for adults age 50 and older…
The USC Shoah Foundation announced the appointment of Catherine E. Clark as senior director of programs and Jenna Leventhal as director of administration…
Comedian Alex Edelman received an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Writing for a Variety Special for the HBO Original Comedy Special “Just For Us,” a filmed version of his one-man show about attending a meeting of white supremacists…
Alan Gill was awarded the Reisman Award at this year’s commencement ceremony of the Hornstein Program for Jewish Professional Leadership at Brandeis University…
Inge Adler, a Holocaust survivor and Boynton Beach, Fla., resident dedicated to Jewish philanthropy, died this week at 96…
Pic of the Day
More than 90 bnot sherut bodedot and bnei sherut bodedim — young women and men from communities all over the world who decide to commit to a year of national service in Israel after high school — were fêted on Tuesday evening at an end-of-year celebration held at Nefesh B’Nefesh’s Aliyah Campus in Jerusalem.
Hosted by Nefesh B’Nefesh in cooperation with the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration, the Jewish Agency for Israel, KKL-JNF and JNF-USA, the event was part of the Nefesh B’Nefesh’s Ori program, a support system for lone national service volunteers. The bnot and bnei sherut serve in volunteer roles across the country in hospitals, schools, emergency response organizations, government offices, the tourism industry and more.
Birthdays
Co-CEO of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, Alexander Ryvchin…
Israeli nuclear physicist and professor emeritus at Tel Aviv University, Jonas Alster… Theoretical chemist, 1981 Nobel laureate in chemistry, he has also published plays and poetry, born Roald Safran, Roald Hoffmann… Founding partner of NYC-based law firm Davidoff Hutcher & Citron, he was one of 20 people on Nixon’s Enemies List, Sidney Davidoff… President of the Jewish Genealogical Society of the Conejo Valley and Ventura County, Jan Meisels Allen… Former three-term mayor of Edmonton, Alberta, Stephen Mandel… Former prime minister of Peru, Yehude Simon Munaro… Executive director of the MLB Players Association for 26 years and then the same post at the NHL Players Association for 12 additional years, Donald Fehr… Beverly Hills resident, Felisa Bluwal Pivko… Finance, real estate and nursing home executive, Leonard Grunstein… COO of the World Jewish Restitution Organization, Mark Weitzman… Former Israeli Police spokesman, he is now a senior national radio broadcaster in Israel and an international talk-show host, Elihu Ben-Onn… Seattle-area consultant, Elihu Rubin… Former deputy finance chairman of the Republican National Committee, Elliott B. Broidy… Former minister for congressional affairs at the Embassy of Israel to the U.S., he was previously the Israeli ambassador to Belarus, Martin Peled-Flax… Reporter for NBC Nightly News and Today, Gadi Schwartz… Partner at Clifford Chance, Philip Wagman… CEO and co-founder at Let’s Bench, a publisher of customized keepsake prayer books and benchers, Yitz Woolf… Associate professor of cybersecurity law at the U.S. Naval Academy and formerly an attorney at Covington & Burling, Jeffrey Michael Kosseff… Deputy director of the White House National Economic Council until 2022, now a professor at NYU law school, David Kamin… Editor of Kveller and Hey Alma, Molly Tolsky… Managing creative strategist at MissionWired, Lauren Friedlander… CEO of Moving Traditions, Shuli Karkowsky… Senior spokesperson at the U.S. Treasury until 2023, now the policy communications lead at Coinbase, Julia Krieger… Senior manager of content strategy at Gauntlet, Philip Rosenstein… Foil fencer who competed for the U.S. at the 2020 Olympics, now preparing for the 2024 Paris Summer Olympic Games, Jacqueline Dubrovich… Director of Hillel at Queen’s University of Canada, Yosef Tarshish… Izi Doenyas… Ted Rosenberg…
