Subscribe to Print Edition | Thu., March 27, 2008 Adar2 21, 5768 | | Israel Time: 14:10 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Advertising Books Arts & Leisure Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Last update - 21:13 16/08/2007 A few observations on the richest Jew on the planet I've been trying for the last few weeks to obtain an interview with billionaire Sheldon Adelson, so far with little success. So until I manage to run him to ground, all I have to offer is this feature that appeared in the paper on Monday, and these observations on the richest Jew on the planet: I got up close to Adelson twice over the last couple of months. The first time was at the the Democracy and Security Conference in Prague, otherwise known as the "dissident's summit," a joint Israeli-Czech-Spanish venture that was in a large part underwritten by Adelson through his Center for Strategic Studies at the Jerusalem Shalem Center. The conference was attended by a large number of statesmen, academics and pro-democracy activists from around the world, chief among them former president George Bush. Advertisement Adelson, despite being the main sponsor, didn't speak at the conference or mingle very much. Indeed, he seemed to me to be deliberately staying on the sidelines, out of the limelight, and very few of the delegates even realized who he was. I tried to accost him but he refused to answer my questions, (save to say "don't believe what you read in the newspapers"). This Sunday in Jerusalem, he participated in two major events by the birthright project, for which, through his commitment of at least $60 million, he has become the largest donor. At both gatherings he gave emotional speeches and engaged freely with the young American Jews who were visiting Israel for the first time - mainly thanks to his largesse. He cracked jokes with them, posed for photographs and seemed to be having the time of his life. He might be the seventh richest man in the world, and according to Forbes worth about 27 billion bucks, but he still seems to prefer the company of anonymous teenagers to that of the high and mighty, the great and the good. I've seen other tycoons before with much smaller fortunes. They usually travel with a much larger entourage, are isolated from their surroundings and generally whisked from place to place in air-conditioned bubbles. Whether or not it's a pose, Adelson succeeds in exuding an almost effortless sense of openness, that almost makes you believe that he feels his billions don't change who he is or make him different than the rest of us. But that's where we shouldn't go wrong. Part of the facade at least is true, Adelson is a good Jew who wants young Jews in the 21st Century to be like his generation were, proud - if not mitzvah-observing - Jews, who could be proud Americans while making sure to marry within the tribe. And he would like to continue seeing Israelis as those brave pioneers, building and defending the land without getting tainted with any corruption. But unlike the rest of us, Adelson thinks he can actually do something about it. I don't want to question Adelson's motives, I'm pretty convinced he really believes that what he's doing is for the greater good of the Jewish people, but a man of his power and fortune also believes that he should get to decide what is good for the Jewish people. Giving money to birthright and other Jewish philanthropic causes is great, and other Jewish tycoons are doing the same, but the signs are that Adelson wants something more. From what I've heard from people who have been with him behind closed doors, he makes no secrets of his desire to influence both Israeli and American politics. Once again, there's nothing wrong there, and the fact that his agenda is staunchly partisan, boosting Bibi Netanyahu here and the GOP in the U.S., doesn't make it any less legitimate. What we should realize though, is that unlike previous mega-donors who were usually content with a quarter of an hour visit with the prime minister when they came over, but knew that their millions didn't buy them any real influence over government policy, it looks as if Adelson is intent on becoming a player himself. No, he's no Gaydamak, he's not going to indulge in any flamboyant antics, nor will he set up a new party or even run for office himself, but he is already a significant factor behind the scenes, and will continue to wield even more power, both through his new newspaper Yisrael HaYom (Israel Today) and other channels yet to be revealed. Previous entries: August 12, 2007: Fuchs isn't the only 'bastard' August 10, 2007: Too tired to blog, but... August 8, 2007: 'You bet I'm going on this march' August 7, 2007: Training for the war that won't be August 6, 2007: 'The real change is that we're training at all' August 5, 2007: Olmert's own heritage is no excuse Bookmark to del.icio.us   Best served cold Safed chief rabbi calls on state to exact 'revenge' against Arabs. The Jewish hurdle Obama: I disagree with aide who blamed 'NY, Miami' for failed peace talks.   1.   A few observations on the richest Jew on the planet 00:10  |  alex 17/08/07   2.   Jews in Israel a perplexed 04:01  |  Jack 17/08/07   3.   SHELDON 06:00  |  Bernie 17/08/07   4.   Give Sheldon a break 07:26  |  Max 17/08/07   5.   Mr Adelson is a man to be respected 09:25  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 17/08/07   6.   He who pays the piper calls the tune 10:02  |  Yoav Naor 17/08/07   7.   sheldon 12:08  |  mike 17/08/07   8.   Richest Jew on the Planet 12:06  |  willross 26/03/08   9.   god bless this man , he`s wonderfull 18:30  |  HAL TRIPP 26/03/08

Today Online Rights group: Deaths in IDF W. Bank raid were apparent executions Responses: 98 Top rabbis: Harvesting organs of the brain dead is `bloodshed` Responses: 34 Ari Shavit: Olmert doesn't belong in the prime minister's office Responses: 7 Shmuel Rosner: Bush is now behaving like a responsible adult Responses: 9 Meron Benvenisti: Israel's environmental plans do not include Palestinian needs Responses: 6 Rosner's Domain Obama rejects advisor's comments on American Jews and peace process Poll: what percentage Jews will vote McCain? Kurtzer: The pro-Israel lobby, not obstacle for peace How many voters will abandon the Democratic Party? (WTR) Slight preference for Clinton among Jewish Democrats More Headlines 13:19 Defense officials: Hezbollah rockets can reach almost all of Israel 10:34 Rights group: Deaths in IDF Bethlehem raid were apparent executions 08:32 Barak confirms transfer of armored vehicles to PA 13:46 Syria urges Arab states to overcome differences at summit 11:51 Police seize 63 kilos of hashish, guns in Givat Shmuel apartment 13:57 MKs okay state-funded center commemorating Gaza settlers 10:53 Israel posts clips on YouTube of J'lem yeshiva terror attack 08:45 Top rabbis: Harvesting organs of the brain dead is `bloodshed` 05:10 State program to tackle problem of polygamy in Bedouin community 06:24 MKs advance bill calling for new Orthodox-secular school system 09:42 Netanyahu calls for treasury to cut taxes and state budget 05:19 Bible club founded by Ben-Gurion gets revived with a Peres twist Previous Editions Select Day 26 mar 25 mar 24 mar 23 mar 21 mar 20 mar 19 mar 18 mar 17 mar 16 mar 14 mar 13 mar

Special Offers Advertisement Pardes Institute Summer Sessions Study Jewish texts and issues in Jerusalem, Co-ed, All Levels FAREWELL ISRAEL New Film The Coming War for Islamic Revival - View Movie Trailer Free the Palestinians from: Corrupt Kleptocracy, Tyrannical Theocracy, Abysmal Anarchy Long-term Israel programs MASA is your gateway. More programs. More grants. 7589 rockets fired so far HELP US TO HELP THEM Fattal Hotel Chain Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel. ISRAEL BONDS Build Israel Israel bonds - a multi-purpose way to celebrate Israel's 60th Eldan Rent a Car Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations Junkyard Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt

Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |

Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.

© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved