Irving and Cherna Moskowitz Foundation

Irving and Cherna Moskowitz Foundation
Name	Irving and Cherna Moskowitz Foundation
Formation	1990s
Headquarters	Miami, Florida
Founders	Irving Moskowitz, Cherna Moskowitz
Type	Private foundation
Region	United States, Israel
Focus	Jewish causes, Israeli settlements, medical philanthropy

Irving and Cherna Moskowitz Foundation

The Irving and Cherna Moskowitz Foundation is a private philanthropic organization established by businessman Irving Moskowitz and philanthropist Cherna Moskowitz with offices in Miami, Florida and activities in Israel. The foundation has supported medical institutions such as Hadassah Medical Center and religious and settlement projects associated with West Bank communities, engaging with organizations like Ateret Cohanim and political actors in Israel and the United States. Its activities have prompted scrutiny from media outlets including the New York Times and advocacy groups like Peace Now and Americans for Peace Now.

History

The foundation was founded in the 1990s by Irving Moskowitz, a physician and businessman who emigrated from Pittsburgh and established a hospital chain in Hawaii and Florida, and his wife Cherna Moskowitz, a homemaker originally from Poland. Early philanthropic commitments included donations to Mount Sinai Medical Center (Miami Beach) and cultural institutions such as Jewish Federation of Greater Miami and United Jewish Appeal. In the 2000s the foundation shifted significant resources to projects in Jerusalem, backing organizations involved in property acquisition in East Jerusalem neighborhoods like Silwan and Shimon HaTzadik, and supporting settlement groups involved with Gush Etzion and Ma'ale Adumim.

Governance and Leadership

Leadership of the foundation centered on its founders, with Irving Moskowitz serving as principal decision-maker until his death and Cherna Moskowitz handling family and charitable relations. The board has included family members and associates from Miami and Jerusalem, interacting with executives of beneficiary organizations such as Ateret Cohanim, Elad (organization), and hospital administrators at Hadassah Medical Organization. Legal counsel and accounting oversight have involved firms linked to nonprofit governance standards used by foundations like The Rockefeller Foundation and Ford Foundation, while donors and directors have engaged with municipal authorities in Jerusalem Municipality and policy institutes including The Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs.

Mission and Funding Priorities

The foundation's stated priorities combine support for healthcare institutions, Jewish education, and projects reinforcing Jewish presence in contested areas of Jerusalem and the West Bank. Major healthcare grants targeted institutions such as Hadassah Medical Center and local clinics in Miami Beach, while educational funding benefited yeshivot and organizations like Chabad and Yeshiva University affiliates. Settlement-related funding has supported property purchases and infrastructure projects in neighborhoods connected to groups like Ateret Cohanim and Ir David Foundation (also known as Elad (organization)), aligning with political positions promoted by parties such as Likud and activists associated with Betar and Herut movements.

Major Grants and Projects

Notable grants included capital donations to Hadassah Medical Center and endowments for programs at Bar-Ilan University and Hebrew University of Jerusalem. The foundation funded housing and acquisition efforts in Silwan, backing organizations that sought to restore historic Jewish presence, and financed municipal-style infrastructure projects cited in reports by Peace Now and investigative pieces in Haaretz. Philanthropic contributions also supported veterans’ causes connected to Israel Defense Forces families and cultural preservation projects with partners like Israel Museum and Yad Vashem programming initiatives.

Political Activities and Controversies

The foundation's settlement funding drew criticism from Israeli and international organizations including Peace Now, B'Tselem, and Human Rights Watch, and coverage by The Washington Post and The New York Times highlighted tensions between philanthropic activity and Israeli–Palestinian conflict dynamics. Allegations focused on covert property transactions involving proxy organizations such as Ateret Cohanim and Elad (organization), prompting municipal scrutiny from Jerusalem Municipality officials and legal challenges that reached the attention of the High Court of Justice (Israel). In the United States, debates involved nonprofit disclosure norms overseen by the Internal Revenue Service and watchdog groups like Charity Navigator and The Center for Public Integrity.

Financials and Transparency

As a private foundation, the organization filed tax forms subject to Internal Revenue Service regulations, and its public financial disclosures showed multimillion-dollar grants over multiple fiscal years. Transparency advocates and investigative journalists compared its reporting practices to standards used by foundations such as Gates Foundation and Soros-funded entities, while critics argued for fuller disclosure of project beneficiaries and intermediary organizations. Legal and accounting reviews referenced compliance frameworks from United States Department of Justice and nonprofit governance guidelines promoted by Independent Sector.

Category:Foundations based in the United States Category:Philanthropy in Israel