Quick Facts
Biography
Israel Goldstein (June 18, 1896 – 1986) was an American-born Israeli rabbi, author and Zionist leader. He was one of the leading founders of Brandeis University.
Early life and education
Goldstein, born in Philadelphia, was a noteworthy graduate of South Philadelphia High School (SPHS) in 1911. At that time the school program was manual training, but his record showed to school administrators that there was more promise for academics servicing the immigrant population of South Philadelphia. He graduated the school at age 14 and then graduated the University of Pennsylvania three years later at the age of 17.
Career and Zionist activity
From 1918 until his immigration to Israel in 1960, Israel Goldstein served as the rabbi of Congregation B'nai Jeshurun in New York, the second oldest synagogue in the city. He was head of the New York Board of Rabbis (1928–30), the Jewish National Fund of America (1934-1943), the Zionist Organization of America (1943-1946), and American Jewish Congress (1952-1959), and helped found the National Conference of Christians and Jews.
In 1945, he was a consultant to the U.S. delegation at the Founding Conference of the United Nations in San Francisco.
In 1961-1971, Goldstein was World Chairman of Keren Hayesod-United Israel Appeal. He led Keren Hayesod during a period of expansion and growth, particularly after the Six-Day War.
Death
Israel Goldstein died at Shaare Zedek Hospital in Jerusalem after a long illness.
Published works
- Century of Judaism in New York (1930)
- Towards a Solution (1940)
- Shanah b’Yisrael (Next Year in Israel; 1950)
- American Jewry Comes of Age (1955)
- Brandeis University - Chapter of its Founding
- Transition Years, New York-Jerusalem, 1960-1962 (1966)
- Israel at Home and Abroad (1977)
- My World as a Jew: The Memoirs of Israel Goldstein (1984)
- My World as a Jew: The Memoirs of Israel Goldstein (first ed.). Cornwall Books/Associated University Presses. 1984. ISBN 0845347802. Retrieved 29 July 2016.
Honors and commemoration
Dr. Goldstein has been inducted into the SPHS Alumni Cultural Hall of Fame.
In 1947, more than 1,000 acres of Jewish National Fund land situated between Gaza and Lachish were named "Chevel Goldstein" (lit. "Goldstein's region") in his honor.
The Israel Goldstein Youth Village, whose director he was, is named after him. Established in 1949, it is a Zionist youth village in the Katamon neighborhood of Jerusalem.
On his eightieth birthday, Israeli prime minister Yitzhak Rabin and other government and Zionist movement officials gathered at his home to pay him tribute.
The Rabbi Dr. I. Goldstein Synagogue on the Givat Ram campus of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem was built in his honor.
The Israel Goldstein Prize for Distinguished Leadership is the highest honor bestowed by Keren Hayesod. The prize has been awarded annually since 1980, the 60th anniversary of Keren Hayesod.