Amit Magazine Summer 2006.qxd

INTERVIEW
QA &
14
You just made a generous
gift through the Jewish
Funders Network. How
did you learn of this
opportunity? I saw an ad
in the Jewish Daily Forward
which alerted me to a
unique program matching
gifts to Israel-related causes
cosponsored by the Sacta
Rashi Foundation and the
Jewish Funders Network.
We are grateful to the Sacta
Rashi Foundation, the
largest private funder of
programs in Israel. They
stepped up to match our
gift – along with many,
many others – dollar for
dollar. I also wish to thank
the Jewish Funders Network
for the idea of a matching
gift program to inspire
younger givers to participate
in a bigger way.
Do you come from a
family where philanthropy
is a key value?
Absolutely. Our parents
have always taught us that it
was critical to be generous
with our time and resources
and they led by example.
How did it come about
that you selected AMIT
for your donation? My
mother, Mona Solomon,
was president of Margalit,
our Kew Garden Hills
QUESTIONS FOR…
David Solomon
Teaching Children To Fish
AMIT chapter. Although
I was only six or eight
years old, I vividly recall
her co-chairing the
Queens Fresh Air Fund
Luncheon. I even visited a
local plant nursery with
her to make sure every
detail, such as the flowers,
was just right to ensure a
successful AMIT function.
Even then I was impressed
with her devotion to the
organization.
The funds will be used
to provide tutoring and
counseling at AMIT
Kiryat Malachi Junior
and Senior High School.
Why was this of particular
importance to you?
Kiryat Malachi is one of the
poorest towns in Israel.
The tutoring and counseling
provided by AMIT is one of
the highest forms of
tzedakah (charity) as it
teaches our children to fish,
rather than just providing
them with sustenance.
AMIT gives children from
the poorest, most challenged
homes, the opportunity
to learn a profession or
trade. This helps them to
support themselves and
their families, ultimately
benefiting the communities
in which they live, and
Israel as a whole.
The plaque that hangs
in AMIT Frisch Beit
Hayeled honors many of
your family members,
including those who
perished in the
Holocaust, z”l. How
does it make you feel
that you can honor their
memory in this fashion?
I can think of no greater
tribute to our relatives who
were murdered al kiddush
Hashem (sanctifying God’s
name) than to help underprivileged
children, especially
those from some of the
toughest neighborhoods and
difficult family circumstances.
They will have a
chance in artzeinu (our
homeland) to grow and
become productive members
of Israeli society.
You work in the fastpaced
world of high
finance. Does an act
like this have an influence
on your every day
business dealings?
Certainly. First, I work at a
firm that is incredibly
involved in the community.
Secondly, getting involved
in projects like this gives
me perspective as to what
life is truly about. In addition,
I am able to utilize
skills that I have honed in a
professional context to help
bring our community in
Israel and the Diaspora to
greater levels spiritually and
economically.
You are only 33 years
old. Do you think more
young people can add to
the quality of their own
lives by helping Israeli
children in need?
Absolutely. The only reason
I agreed to do this interview
is to show other young people
that they are capable and
indeed best positioned, to
accomplish great things benefiting
AMIT and other
Israel related causes. AMIT
welcomes with open arms
the ingenuity, input, time
and precious resources of
young donors. Jewish
organizations need young
blood to take things to the
AMIT Summer 2006 www.amitchildren.org