Jewish Philanthropic World Devastated

January 20, 2009

The Robert I. Lappin Charitable Foundation Web site stated their programs were “discontinued, effectively immediately.” The foundation had their entire US $8 million endowment invested with Madoff. “The Foundations’ programs have touched thousands of lives over many years in our efforts to keep our children Jewish,” said Robert Lappin.

The Texas-based Julian J. Levitt Foundation, lost about US $6 million. The Yeshiva University and the Steven Spielberg Wunderkinder Foundation were heavily affected as well. American Jewish history expert at Brandeis University Jonathan Sarna commented, “It is catastrophic—there’s no other word. The Jewish community will look different when this is all over.”

The fallout will no doubt affect many projects for the needy in Israel. Let us pray that God will allow the Christian community to step up to the plate and help fill the void.

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