The Jewish philanthropist, Dr. Irving I. Moskowitz, has passed away at the age of 88.
Dr. Moskowitz was born in New York, in 1928, but grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He was the 9th child in a family of 13 children.
After becoming a doctor, he moved to California and began getting involved in managing and buying hospitals, eventually expanding into Bingo clubs. He was last living in Miami, Florida.
In 1968, he founded the Moskowitz Foundation which helps people in need, in the US and all over the world.
Dr. Moskowitz is best known for his generous philanthropy to Israel, often working with Israeli organizations such as Elad and Ateret Cohanim in their work to restore Jewish life in eastern Jerusalem. He also helped establish the Beit El Yeshiva and Arutz-7, and of course the Moskowitz Prize for Zionism which bears his name.
Due to his extensive philanthropic work in building Israel, he has been compared to Montefiore and Rothschild.
Besides eastern Jerusalem, Moskowitz also helped buy land in Gush Ezion, Gush Katif and the Ramat HaGolan.
Dr. Irving Moskowitz is survived by his wife Cherna, 8 children, 42 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren.
He will be buried on Monday on the Mount of Olives.