Hoffa once rounded up the neighbor-
hood children near a Teamster complex
in Detroit and bought ice cream for them
all. He purchased new sports equipment
many times for these boys and girls living
in a less-than-prosperous section of the
city, near Tiger Stadium.
Teamster archivists say Jimmy Hoffa
wrote a personal check to Dr. Martin
Luther King Jr.'s civil rights organization
for $25,000 during the
1960s. "He was the most
progressive person I
ever met;' says Barry
Solomon, a Detroit-
based labor attorney.
"Jimmy admired the
courage of the Israeli
people fighting for their Barry
Solomon
existence against the
odds. To him, it mirrored
the beginnings of the labor movement."
As Jimmy Hoffa moved up the union
ranks, his passion for Israel continued
to grow, as did Teamster support. After
Israel's successful battle for independence
in 1948, the Teamsters lent financial sup-
port to the fledgling nation by buying
millions of dollars of Israel Bonds, and
Jimmy Hoffa continued to find causes to
support within the Jewish state, Teamsters
archivists say.
Hoffa "greatly respected the ability of
the Jewish people through the ages to
overcome hardships:' biographer Arthur
Sloane writes.
A Father's Steps
Next November, Jimmy Hoffa's two chil-
dren plan to visit Israel for the dedication
of the Rabin Center museum and the
Hoffa/Teamsters exhibit. It will be Jim
The Rabin Center museum's Path of Nations
Hoffa's first trip to Israel; Barbara made
the pilgrimage with her father in August
of 1956 when Israel broke ground for the
James R. Hoffa Children's Home, then situ-
ated on one of the terraced hills of Judea
in Ein Karem, a small village that was the
scene of heavy fighting during the Israeli
war of liberation.
During the '56 dedication, Jimmy Hoffa
handed a check for almost $300,000 for
the orphanage to Israel Counsul General
Simcha Pratt.
Hoffa helped raise the money four
months earlier during a State of Israel
The museum will be dedicated in November, along with the Hoffa/Teamster exhibit.
testimonial dinner honoring the labor
leader's role during Israel's early years. The
event was held at the Michigan State Fair
Coliseum in Detroit. The mega-fundraiser
drew 2,650 A-list guests, including union
leaders from throughout the country;
Abba Eban, then the Israel ambassador
to the United States; leaders of the United
Automobile Workers and representatives
from most other unions.
General Motors, Ford, Montgomery
Ward and Sears Roebuck purchased
blocks of tickets and sent ranking vice
presidents to the dinner.
During the '56 trip, Hoffa and Barbara
met a variety of dignitaries, includ-
ing Ben-Gurion, Meir, the mayors of
Jerusalem, Haifa and Beersheva and the
leaders of the Histradut labor organiza-
tion. They visited an industrial plant in
Haifa and talked with shop stewards and
workers.
"We hope this children's home will be
a center which symbolizes the spirit of
Israel;' Jimmy Hoffa said in his dedication
speech."We believe that the job that Israel
has done in setting up educational centers
for young and old alike is unique.
"Building this country in a span of a
few short years — building its industry,
its homes, its schools, its strength — is
an undertaking unparalleled in human
history. You are a nation which believes in
democracy and lives it. You are a beacon of
light in the Middle Ease
Crancer describes the trip as "fascinat-
ing" and looks forward to returning for the
Rabin Center's museum dedication with
her brother. They will travel with close
associates and Teamsters from Nov. 7-16.
"We are trying to carry on a tradition:'
Crancer says. "My dad admired the Israelis
for working so hard. My dad felt a connec-
tion, having gone through the labor strug-
gle himself. Rabin was a
great man who believed
in peace. Dad would
have loved to make this
trip again to see how the
country has grown and
progressed."
In Israel, the Hoffas
Yitzhak Rabin
will participate in a
commemoration of
Rabin's assassination with Israeli digni-
taries, including the prime minister and
president of Israel.
"We are raising money for Israel, and
I am excited about that and about going
to Israel:' says Jim Hoffa. "It has been
more than 50 years since my dad went to
Israel with Barbara, and it will be great to
retrace the same steps. My family has a
long connection to Israel."
Local freelancer Kimberly Lifton, formerly a
Jewish News staff writer, pens a weekly busi-
ness feature called First Class that runs on
Sundays in the Detroit Free Press. You can e-
mail her at Liftonk@comcast.net.
January 24 • 2008
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