Israel Goldstein

Who was Israel Goldstein?

Israel Goldstein was an American-born Israeli rabbi, author and Zionist leader. He was one of the founders of Brandeis University.

Goldstein, born in Philadelphia, and a noteworthy graduate of South Philadelphia High School in 1911. At that time the school program was mannual 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. He later became the rabbi of Congregation B'nai Jeshurun in New York, the second oldest synagogue in the city, from 1918 until his immigration to Israel in 1960. He was head of the New York Board of Rabbis, the Jewish National Fund, and the Zionist Organization of America, and helped found the National Conference of Christians and Jews.

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.

On his eightieth birthday, Israeli prime minister Yitzhak Rabin and other government and Zionist movement officials gathered at his home to pay him tribute.