By Ronn Torossian
NEW YORK — A few weeks ago in a comment to the San Diego Jewish World, The Leichtag Foundation responded to my earlier criticism by saying that their donations “…involves the prerogative of a private foundation making determinations on best use of its resources. We are confident that our grant to the New Israel Fund was in line with our strategies and objectives and feel the money was well-spent.”
Indeed they can spend their money how they want – yet, one must stand up against those who fund activities which are dangerous for Americans and Israel.
Tomorrow, Israel’s Supreme Court will rule on the planned demolition of several terrorists’ Jerusalem homes, including the terrorist who tried to kill American Rabbi Yehuda Glick, the terrorist who slammed his tractor into a bus, two who drove their cars into people near train stops, and those who murdered a few weeks ago in a brutal massacre during prayer in a Jerusalem synagogue. The homes of these terrorists’ families are set to be destroyed in order to deter future terrorists.
Opposing this action is an Israeli rights organization, Hamoked which is representing the families of the terrorists. Thanks to Hamoked legal manuevers Israeli courts issued a temporary restraining order against the government’s ability to destroy the homes – and as numerous articles including this article in Yediot Achronot note tomorrow a hearing will determine if these actions can go forth. Hamoked is a grantee of the New Israel Fund, which has provided grants in the amount of $688,901 from 2008-2013. Hamoked regularly accuses Israel of “collective punishment” and other false untruths which damage the democratic state of Israel.
One can plainly see on Hamoked’s website their New Israel Fund partnership – yet Ms. Charlene Seidle, executive vice president of the Leichtag Foundation and the incoming President and Chief Executive Officer of the Jewish Community Foundation of San Diego, asked via email: “I am still confused about what is newsworthy about this message?”
The incoming CEO of a major Jewish organization in San Diego helping to fund causes which benefit the families of Arab terrorists who kill Jews in Jerusalem is indeed very newsworthy.
Some of us put money in charity (tzedekah) boxes – others give charity to help protect the families of terrorists. Recently, Birthright Israel ended their longstanding partnership with the extremist New Israel Fund. So, too must the Leichtag Foundation stop funding the extremist New Israel Fund.
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Ronn Torossian is a New York based philanthropist, author and entrepreneur. (Note: An e-mail to the Leichtag Foundation & The Jewish Community Foundation of San Diego has not been responded to as of publishing time.)
Torossian is right on target highlighting the fact that the New Israel Fund is engaged in anti-Israel activities and any funds given to it simply support the destructive goals of the organization. The truth about the NIF should be proclaimed loudly and clearly so that unsuspecting Jews, thinking that their tzedekah is going to a good cause, will understand that is not the case if they donate to NIF. Kol Hakovod to Torossian for always trumpeting the truth.
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