Culver City resident, Jona Goldrich, and other Jewish philanthropists have used their life’s obstacles to serve as role models of strength and service for others.
The Four Seasons Los Angeles in Beverly Hills served as the venue for the Passing the Torch Event June 20. The event honored Jona Goldrich, Guilford Glazer, Parviz Nazarian and Max Webb for their achievements and service to the community.
Jona Goldrich, fled the holocaust in Poland and fought in the War of Independence, before finally immigrating to America.
In the states, Goldrich worked his way up from being a window screen installer, to one of California’s most successful housing developers.
Despite his success and prominence in his career field, Goldrich never lost sight of his beginnings and his Jewish background. He played a prominent role in the development of the Los Angeles Museum of the Holocaust, funded several projects for the preservation of Yiddish language and culture, and created first-class sports and fitness centers at the Tel Aviv University.
Because of his dedication to his community, he was awarded an honorary doctorate degree from Tel Aviv University.
Another honoree, Guilford Glazer, also worked hard to mold his conditions and his community. Glazer developed his father’s small business into a major real estate development company, owning and operating nine million square feet of office, industrial and retail buildings at its peak.
“I started from nothing. When people ask me, how did you do it? I always say, ‘ich weiss nicht,’ meaning, I do not know. But what I do know is that anyone who is worse off than you, you have to help him or her,” said Glazer.
Glazer later helped the RAND Corporation, America’s largest think tank. He and his wife, Diane Pregerson Glazer, have also founded significant schools and departments at universities in the United States, Israel and China, including Tel Aviv University.
Born in Poland, Max Webb survived 18 internment camps and the infamous Holocaust Death March. He began a new life in America in 1952, co-founding the S&S Construction Company.
The Webb family has given generously to dozens of American and Israeli educational institutions. His relationship with TAU began in the 1960s, when he established a local chapter of TAU’s American Friends to help build the campus.
Today that campus is home to an architectural marvel, the Max Webb Family School of Languages Building, and multiple programs in Yiddish preservation and scholarship. Webb is also the recipient of an honorary doctorate from TAU.
Iranian-born Izak Parviz Nazarian fought in the seventh tank brigade in Israel’s War of Independence. Before the Islamic Revolution forced him to move his family to Los Angeles in 1979, he was an active advocate for women’s rights in Iran.
Nazarian was awarded an honorary doctorate by TAU, and he firmly believes that education is the key to Israeli success. He has served on numerous university boards in Israel.
At TAU, he established the Chair for Modern Iranian Studies, and recently established the Pouran and Izak Parviz Nazarian Center, which houses the Citizens’ Empowerment Center in Israel. He also created the Magbit Foundation to provide scholarships and interest-free loans for Israeli students.
Rabbi David Wolpe, named “most influential Rabbi in America” by Newsweek magazine and “one of the hundred most influential people in Los Angeles” by Los Angeles Magazine gave a special tribute to the honorees. When describing the honorees, Wolpe commented that each man embodies the “Jewish imperative to give back.”
“Judaism believes that we have blessings not only to enjoy the world, but to share them with others. That is our mandate and mission. These men exemplify that idea. Each has given so much – above and beyond what is required or expected,” said Wolpe.
The honorees joined together to pass their influence and knowledge toward future generations, in hopes that they continue their legacy of service and philanthropy toward Israel. All funds for the event went in support of scholarships for promising students.
