{{short description|American physician}} {{Infobox person | name = Irving Moskowitz | image = Irving Moskowitz Beit Orot.jpg | caption = Moskowitz speaking at Beit Orot on the Mount of Olives, his wife Cherna to his left. | birth_date = {{birth date|1928|01|11}} | birth_place = New York City, New York | birth_name = | death_date = {{death date and age|2016|06|16|1928|01|11}} | death_place = | education = M.D. (University of Wisconsin) | occupation = Physician<br>Businessman<br>Philanthropist | known_for = Radical Zionist activism<br>Funding of Israeli settlements in the West Bank | children = 8 (4 boys and 4 girls) | spouse = Cherna Moskowitz | parents = | family = | website = | Net worth = }}
'''Irving Moskowitz''' (January 11, 1928 – June 16, 2016)<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/213741|title=Jewish philanthropist Dr. Irving Moskowitz passes away|website=Arutz Sheva|date=16 June 2016 |access-date=2016-06-16}}</ref> was a highly controversial<ref name=":0" /> American physician, businessman, and activist. His activism, in part, sought to create a Jewish majority in Palestinian Arab neighborhoods of East Jerusalem by purchasing land.
==Biography== Irving Moskowitz was the ninth of thirteen children born to Jewish immigrants from Poland. He stated that 120 of his relatives were killed in the Holocaust.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,987062,00.html |title=The power of money |work=Time Magazine |date=September 29, 1997 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081031225326/https://time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,987062,00.html |access-date=September 20, 2021 |archive-date=2008-10-31 }}</ref> He grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and received a medical degree from the University of Wisconsin. He then moved to California where he started his medical practice, later building and managing hospitals.<ref>See [http://www.moskowitzfoundation.org/bio.html Moskowitz Foundation Biography Page].</ref> He started the foundation in 1968.<ref name=":0">[http://www.rightweb.irc-online.org/profile/Moskowitz_Irving Irving Moskowitz], an extensive profile.</ref> At the time of his death Moskowitz resided in Miami Beach, Florida. The Moskowitz family net worth is estimated at over $1.5 billion.{{Citation needed|date=April 2024}}
Moskowitz was married to Cherna, with whom he had 8 children, over 48 grandchildren and over 20 great-grandchildren. Among his notable Zionist activities was establishing a foundation to help Shinlung immigration to Israel.<ref>Karen Primack, ''Jews in places you never thought of'', Ktav Publishing House, 1998, p. 280-281. {{ISBN|0-88125-608-0}}</ref> The family also established the ''Moskowitz Prize for Zionism'' in 2008.<ref>[https://www.haaretz.com/2008-02-15/ty-article/right-wing-u-s-millionaire-launches-alternative-to-israel-prize/0000017f-db88-db22-a17f-ffb9046d0000 Right wing U.S. millionaire launches alternative to Israel Prize], ''Haaretz'', 5 February 2008</ref>
He built a business running hospitals, as well as gambling in California. He was the founder of the Moskowitz Foundation, created "to help people in need regardless of race, creed, politics or religion."<ref>[http://www.moskowitzfoundation.org/ Moskowitz Foundation Home Page]</ref> The foundation raises funds for Jewish housing projects in East Jerusalem through its bingo hall in Hawaiian Gardens, California.<ref>{{cite news|title=Bingo King Aids Israeli Right Wing|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-05-09-mn-2155-story.html|newspaper=LA Times|date=May 9, 1996}}</ref> The funding is channeled through two settler organizations El'ad and Ateret Cohanim that work to create a Jewish majority in Palestinian neighborhoods of East Jerusalem.<ref>Sharrock, David. 'Inside story: Lost property In 1929, the Muslim Ghuzlan family saved their Jewish neighbours from an Arab mob. So why are they now being evicted from their home by settlers?', ''The Guardian'', February 4, 1999.</ref>
Moskowitz had battled Alzheimer's disease for many years and eventually succumbed to it on June 16, 2016, at the age of 88.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=DeTure |first1=Michael A. |last2=Dickson |first2=Dennis W. |date=2019-08-02 |title=The neuropathological diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease |journal=Molecular Neurodegeneration |volume=14 |issue=1 |pages=32 |doi=10.1186/s13024-019-0333-5 |issn=1750-1326 |pmc=6679484 |pmid=31375134 |doi-access=free }}</ref>
==East Jerusalem housing projects== In 2007, Moskowitz worked toward resettling Jews in Palestinian neighborhoods in East Jerusalem vis a vis initiating plans to build 122 apartments on the site of the Shepherd Hotel in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood. The plan was downsized in 2009.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/jul/19/us-asks-israel-freeze-settlements Jewish settlements: Freeze project, US demands], Chris McGreal, ''The Guardian'', July 19, 2009.</ref><ref>[https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=ai1XgmcKlrJE Israel Will Not Stop East Jerusalem Land Purchases], ''Bloomberg News'', July 19, 2009.</ref> Final approval was given for 20 apartments on March 23, 2010, hours before Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with President Barack Obama at the White House.<ref>[https://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1158417.html New East Jerusalem homes approved hours before Netanyahu-Obama meet] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100326004853/http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1158417.html |date=2010-03-26 }}, Nir Hasson, ''Haaretz'', March 23, 2010</ref> The historic Shepherd Hotel was torn down to make room for the housing units.<ref>[https://swampland.time.com/2011/01/10/shepherds-hotel-demolished/ Shepherd's Hotel Demolished; U.S. Peace Efforts in the Debris], ''Time Magazine'', January 10, 2011</ref> A three-story parking garage and an access road was also planned for the site.<ref>[https://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1158417.html Israel to U.S.: Latest East Jerusalem building okayed last year] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100326004853/http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1158417.html |date=2010-03-26 }}, Nir Hasson, Barak Ravid and Natasha Mozgovaya, Haaretz Correspondents, and News Agencies, ''Haaretz'', March 24, 2010</ref>
==US philanthropy== Moskowitz was the founder and chair of the Irving I. Moskowitz Foundation, which donated $1.5 million to Hawaiian Gardens, California, for the construction of the Fedde Middle School Sports Complex, the first state-of-the-art sports facility in the city.<ref>[http://loscerritosnews.net/hawaiian-gardens-council-meeting-turns-ugly-over-sports-complex-agenda-item-p1002-150.htm Hawaiian Gardens Council meeting turns ugly over Sports Complex agenda item] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110820070655/http://loscerritosnews.net/hawaiian-gardens-council-meeting-turns-ugly-over-sports-complex-agenda-item-p1002-150.htm |date=2011-08-20 }}</ref> He donated to Karl Rove's American Crossroads, the Center for Security Policy and the Western Center for Journalism.<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/12/irving-moskowitz-israeli-settlements-anti-obama-super-pac_n_1416041.html|title = Irving Moskowitz, Controversial Backer Of Israeli Settlements, Gives $1 Million To Anti-Obama Super PAC|date = 2012-04-12|last = Blumenthal|first = Paul|publisher = Huffington Post}}</ref> The Irving Moskowitz Foundation donated $100,000 on March 17, 2011, to the American Red Cross for the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami relief efforts.<ref>[http://irvingimoskowitzfoundation.org/articles/american_red_cross.php The Irving I. Moskowitz Foundation donates $100,000 to The American Red Cross – Japan Relief Fund], March 17, 2011</ref> On June 26, 2013, The Irving Moskowitz Foundation donated $100,000 to the American Red Cross for Oklahoma relief efforts.<ref>[http://www.redcross.org/news/press-release/Moskowitz-Foundation-gives-100000-for-Oklahoma-Relief-Efforts Moskowitz Foundation gives $100,000 for Oklahoma Relief Efforts] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140811114357/http://www.redcross.org/news/press-release/Moskowitz-Foundation-gives-100000-for-Oklahoma-Relief-Efforts |date=2014-08-11 }}, ''American Red Cross'', June 16, 2013</ref> On November 21, 2013, the Irving I. Moskowitz Foundation presented a check for $100,000 to the American Red Cross Long Beach Chapter to aid the victims of Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines.<ref>[http://irvingmoskowitz.com/ Irving I. Moskowitz Foundation donates $100,000 to the American Red Cross for the Typhoon Victims in the Philippines], November 24, 2013</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * [http://www.moskowitzfoundation.org/ Moskowitz Foundation Home Page] * [http://www.irvingmoskowitz.com/ Irving Moskowitz Home Page] * [http://www2.guidestar.org/organizations/95-6201346/irving-i-moskowitz-foundation.aspx Irving I Moskowitz Foundation] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140331160123/http://www2.guidestar.org/organizations/95-6201346/irving-i-moskowitz-foundation.aspx |date=2014-03-31 }} on ''GuideStar'' * [https://web.archive.org/web/20090210045815/http://www.moskowitzprize.com/eng/prize.htm The Moskowitz Prize for Zionism]
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Moskowitz, Irving}} Category:1928 births Category:2016 deaths Category:American businesspeople in the casino industry Category:American businesspeople in construction Category:American businesspeople in the health care industry Category:American nonprofit businesspeople Category:American Orthodox Jews Category:American people of Polish-Jewish descent Category:American businesspeople in the real estate industry Category:American Zionists Category:Businesspeople from California Category:Businesspeople from Miami Category:Businesspeople from New York City Category:Businesspeople from Milwaukee Category:20th-century Jewish medical doctors Category:People from Miami Beach, Florida Category:Philanthropists from New York (state) Category:Medical doctors from Florida Category:University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health alumni Category:20th-century American businesspeople Category:20th-century American philanthropists Category:21st-century American Jews Category:Jewish American medical doctors