Sheldon Adelson, the longtime casino mogul who bet big on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump, died on Tuesday of complications from treatment for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. He was 87 years old.
The news of his death removed other items from the front pages of Israeli newspapers. It has also been widely reported in the electronic and print media of America, as well as in many other publications around the world.
Politicians and public figures in Israel and the United States were quick to express tribute and send their condolences to the Adelson family after the Boston-born Jewish tycoon passed away.
Deprived of his social media accounts, Trump could not tweet his feelings about the man who had contributed so much to his campaign.
Adelson maintained regular contact with Trump after he took office and saw some of his beloved goals towards Israel come to fruition, including the move of the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem, in a break with decades of American politics, Reuters reported. Adelson attended the opening ceremony of the embassy in Jerusalem in May 2018.
He and his wife were invited to major events at the White House.
Donald Trump Jr. posted on his social media account: “Sheldon was a true American patriot and a giant among men. He treated his employees like family. His philanthropic generosity has changed countless lives. The US-Israel relationship is stronger today because of him. “
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President Reuven Rivlin wrote on his Twitter account: “Saddened by the passing of Sheldon Adelson, who loved the Jewish people and Israel and was a great American patriot, and who strengthened the ties between Israel and America with boundless generosity. Condolences to Miriam and the whole family. May your memory be a blessing. “
Netanyahu had a special relationship with Adelson, who reportedly launched his free daily tabloid Israel Hayom for Netanyahu’s benefit. He released a statement that said he and his wife, Sara, were heartbroken by Adelson’s passing.
“He was a wonderful friend to us personally and an incredible champion of the Jewish people, the Jewish state and the alliance between Israel and America,” said Netanyahu. “Sheldon shamelessly loved America and appreciated the freedom and the opportunity it gave him. He worked tirelessly to ensure that the same freedom and opportunity were given to others in America and around the world.
“The warmth of your heart, the clarity of your thinking and the determination of your actions were truly exceptional. From humble beginnings in a Boston suburb, he has become one of the world’s greatest entrepreneurs and philanthropists.
“With his wife Miri, he has ceaselessly contributed to strengthening the Jewish people and the Jewish state, funding discoveries in medicine and science and promoting higher education. He gave anonymously to help victims of terror and countless others in need.
“Sara and I joined Miri and her family in mourning for a great friend, a great man and a great Jewish patriot.
“We will never forget you. May your memory be blessed.”
The Washington Post reported Adelson’s death with the headline: “With Sheldon Adelson’s death, Netanyahu loses an important supporter.”
Jewish Agency President Isaac Herzog dubbed Adelson “the modern Montefiore” and said he was “one of the great Jewish leaders of this generation” who “always stood out for his kind attitude, openness, modesty and accessibility – even when we disagreed. I loved him very much. “
Former US President George W. Bush said in a statement: “He was an American patriot, who struggled out of a tough Boston neighborhood to build a successful company.
“He was a generous benefactor of charitable causes and a strong supporter of Israel.”
Bush invited Adelson to join his entourage when he visited Israel for the celebration of the 60th anniversary of the state’s independence.
Adelson’s life “represents the best of the American dream,” United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement.
“From serving his country in the U.S. Army, to his entrepreneurial spirit, to his efforts to strengthen the alliance between Israel and the United States, Sheldon’s life has had great consequences,” he said. “The world, Israel and the United States are safer because of his work. His philanthropic donations impacted the world of medicine, education, and Jewish-American life. His political involvement strengthened our democracy ”.
“Our nation lost a remarkable man with the death of my friend Sheldon Adelson,” said Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell in a statement, adding that Adelson “poured out his success in philanthropy, from treating drug abuse to research. about cancer and other diseases countless Jewish causes around the world that were especially close to your heart. “
The Republican Jewish Coalition praised Adelson for being “one of the most important figures in American Jewish history”, calling him “an extraordinary philanthropist and a dear mentor and friend”.
The birthright, to which Adelson had given tens of millions of dollars, called him “a man of vision, action, Zionism and inspiration”.
Health Minister Yuli Edelstein wrote: “The late Sheldon Adelson was a Zionist in everything he did, a warm Jew with a great love for the State of Israel … His activity in Israel and around the world for the State was well known . His death is a loss for all lovers of Israel ”
“During my time as chairman of the Birthright steering committee, Sheldon was a major contributor to the program,” he wrote. “I saw his achievements, dedication, affection and generosity up close. I saw closely how Zionism was important to him, as well as his father’s legacy, as he used to say. Over the years, we have had the honor and humility to work alongside the Adelson family, which ultimately guarantees the future of the Jewish people ”.
The president of the World Zionist Organization, Yaakov Hagoel, expressed his condolences in a statement, calling Adelson “one of the greatest supporters and contributors of our generation to Zionism, Israel and the Jewish people”.
The United States ambassador to Israel, David Friedman, tweeted: “Although blessed with vast wealth, he had exceptional humility and faith. No one will take your place. “
The ambassador to the United States, Ron Dermer, tweeted: “The Jewish people mourn one of their most proud children, Sheldon Adelson, who has dedicated himself to strengthening his people, his homeland and the ties between his beloved America and Israel. He was a true giant, as good as he was great, whose memory will never be forgotten. “
Although Adelson was a strong and influential supporter of the Republican Party, his parents were staunch Democrats. When asked about this, he would say that he had not left the Democratic Party; that had left him.
Adelson, who was influential in Israeli politics, was quoted in several interviews as saying that he did not believe in wealthy people using their money to interfere in politics, but as long as it was doable, he would.
He was the main financier of Freedom’s Watch, a now defunct political advocacy group that was formed to contain the influence of George Soros.
Known for his many and varied endeavors, Adelson, even as a boy, displayed considerable business acumen. At age 12, he borrowed $ 200 from his uncle, which in 1945 was a lot of money, and used it to buy a license to sell newspapers. Much later in life, he owned three newspapers: Israel Hayom, Makor Rishon and the Las Vegas Review Journal. In 2007, he made an unsuccessful attempt to buy Maariv.
When he was 16, he borrowed $ 10,000 from his uncle to start a candy vending machine business. He started many other commercial ventures.
After he became a casino mogul, long before his marriage to his Israeli wife, Miriam, who is the publisher of Israel Hayom, he wanted to open a casino in Eilat. But he faced strong opposition every time he tried, because the Israeli government feared that a casino would be the core of an Israeli mafia.
Adelson fought against the popularization of cannabis legislation because his adopted son Mitchell, who was the son of his first wife, died of a cocaine and heroin overdose.
Last year, he reportedly paid $ 67 million for what had for many years been the official residence of the United States ambassador to Herzliya Pituah. It was placed on the market by the US Department of State and sold at the highest bid. It is believed to be the highest price paid for a single-family home in Israel.
Adelson also owned properties in Jerusalem. Mayor Moshe Lion added his voice to those who mourned Adelson’s death and who were aware of his significant contribution to the image and development of Jerusalem.