FacT-A-DaY
of South Africa. Suzman
helped form the Progres-
sive Party and became a
leading anti-apartheid
spokesman. Twice nomi-
nated for the Nobel
Peace Prize, she was the
longest-serving member
of parliament when she
resigned in 1989.
16. LEVI STRAUSS
(1829-1902) was a
native of Germany who
in 1848 followed his two
brothers to New York. He
later moved to California
in search of gold, and
began a successful busi-
ness manufacturing denim
pants, which were espe-
cially popular with the miners. With
his brothers, Strauss founded Levi
Strauss & Co., today a multimillion-
dollar business. In his lifetime,
Strauss supported numerous educa-
tional institutions; in his will, he left
much of his money to orphanages.
17. JUDAH TOURO (1765-1854)
was born in Boston, but probably is
best known for his connection to
New Orleans. A synagogue bear-
ing his name was founded there in
1658. Touro made his fortune in
real estate. During the War of
1812, Gen. Andrew Jackson was
so impressed with Touro's heroism
that he wrote about him in the book
Narrative of the Defense of New
Orleans. During his lifetime, Touro
gave away more than $500,000
to Jewish and secular causes and
established the first free library in
the United States -- the Touro Free
Library. He also paid for half (or
$10,000) of the construction on an
uncompleted project, the Bunker Hill
Monument. In his will, Touro left
money for orphanages, churches, a
hospital and 17 synagogues,
among others. His obituary read,
"In death, Touro became what he
had never been nor ever wanted to
ous other causes, including the
Salvation Army, the Red Cross,
Harvard University and the Library
of Congress, to which he gave
more than 30,000 Jewish books.
19. NATHAN STRAUS (1848-1931)
was the man behind R.H. Macy's.
Long interested in health issues, Straus
attended a convention where he
heard Louis Pasteur discuss a new
treatment to kill harmful bacteria in
milk (today, this process is known as
pasteurization). Strauss was so
impressed that in 1892 he began the
first movement in this country to pro-
vide pasteurized milk to the poor.
be in life — a local and
national hero, a leader
of men, a dignitary, a
man of inspiring pres-
ence, an exemplary Jew-
ish philanthropist."
18. JACOB HENRY
SCHIFF (1847-1920)
VSOMMEAft a tftg:;.;;;
was a German immi-
grant who came to the
United States in 1865.
He found a job as a
clerk in a brokerage
house; two years later, he opened
Thanks to the Straus Milk Fund, more
his own firm. By age 38, he
than 300 milk stations in 36 U.S.
headed Kuhn, Loeb & Co., an
cities provided healthy milk to infants
international banking firm, where
and children. Straus also established
Schiff opted to fund a new Ameri-
tuberculosis prevention centers and
can venture: railroads leading to
actively supported Zionism.
the West. Schiff was devoted to
the Jewish community, spearhead-
20. DAVID EINHORN (1809-
ing a successful campaign to end
1 879) was a Reform rabbi who
a Russian-U.S. treaty because of
risked his life to speak out against
Russia's treatment of Jews, and
slavery. From his pulpit at Har
raising more than $1 million to
Sinai Congregation in staunchly
help Jews persecuted in the 1903
pro-slavery Baltimore, he spent
Kishiniev pogrom. He helped
hour after hour denouncing slav-
establish the Jewish Theological
ery — to the point where police
Seminary of America, Jewish Pub-
warned him to leave the city or
lication Society of America, Amer-
face certain death. Finally, he
ican Jewish Committee and
relented and moved to Philadel-
Hebrew Union College. At the
phia, where he became rabbi of
same time, he donated to numer-
Kenesseth Israel.
21. STEVEN SPIELBERG (1948- ) is a
film director, writer and producer. His
first movie, The Sugarland Express
(1974), began a brilliant career that
includes Jaws, E.I, Saving Private
Ryan and Schindler's List, which won
him the Academy Award for Best Film
of 1993. Spielberg also has dedicat-
ed himself to an extensive project:
recording on film the memories of
Holocaust survivors through the Shoah
Visual History Foundation. Spielberg's
interest in his religion and Jewish histo-
ry, he said, is thanks to his wife, Kate
Capshaw, who converted to Judaism
before she wed him in 1991.
22. SOPHIE IRENE SIMON LOEB
(1876-1929) was a beautiful and
outspoken supporter of child rights.
Born in Russia, after moving to the
United States she helped form the
Child Welfare Committee of New
York and later served as first president
of the Child Welfare Committee of
America. Loeb, also a leading Zion-
ist, was memorialized on a fountain,
bearing images from Alice in Won-
derland, in New York's Central Park. It
reads: "In memory of Sophie Irene
Loeb, Lover of Children." Sen. W.H.
Hodges of Florida called her simply,
"America's greatest mother."
23. ANATOLY SCHARANSKY
(1948- ) was for many years the
Soviet Union's longest-held Prisoner
of Zion. A mathematician, he was
arrested and charged with treason
and espionage — yet he continued
to be the leading spokesman for all
Soviet Jews who wished to immi-
grate. After relentless pressure from
around the world, Soviet authorities
eventually gave in and released
him. Now named Natan Sharan-
sky, he is active in politics as Israel's
minister of the interior.
24. HANNAH SENESH (1921-
1944) was born into an assimilat-
ed, Zionist home in Hungary. In
1939, she moved to Palestine and
joined a kibbutz. Three years later,
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