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Andrea Bronfman was laid to rest today on the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem following a funeral service attended by nearly 1000 people. Speaking at the funeral were family members and associates as well as Shimon Peres and acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. We wish once again to extend our condolences to the family. Everyone spoke about Andrea Bronfman’s legacy and how her many, many good works will continue to keep her memory alive for years and decades to come.

We here at Jewlicious like to trumpet the fact that we are a grass roots endeavor. We are not funded by the organized Jewish community and we relish in pointing out aspects of it that we feel are worthy of criticism. However, during the funeral, I sort of realized how much I owe Philanthropists like Andrea and Charles Bronfman – how much of their selfless work has benefited me and the people I love. I dare say that even this Web site would never have happenned but for the synergy created thanks to Bronfman funded projects like birthright.

Both Laya and Michael made Aliyah shortly after having been on a birthright trip. Our continued understanding and exposure to young Jews, both Israeli and in the diaspora is made possible by virtue of our volunteer work as madrichim with birthright. I was able to rekindle my love of the physical state of Israel by virtue of my work with birthright.

All of this has served to inspire us to continue doing what we’re doing with Jewlicious and for that we thank Andrea for her part in making it happen.

Shalom Andy – thanks for everything.

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About the author

ck

Founder and Publisher of Jewlicious, David Abitbol lives in Jerusalem with his wife, newborn daughter and toddler son. Blogging as "ck" he's been blocked on twitter by the right and the left, so he's doing something right.

4 Comments

  • My friend, David, next time you walk through Yemin Moshe, consider that Montefiore was the Bronfman of that era perhaps along with the Rothschilds. Would there be an Israel today without their visions?

    Along with the Bronfmans and Tanenbaums of Canada, the Reichmanns were in their pre-Olympia and York bankruptcy and supported numerous enterprises around the Jewish world. When one considers Michael Steinhardt and the many other American benefactors who give not only money but their dreams and dedication to supporting the American communities, Jewish communities and Israeli communities around them, they certainly are owed our gratitude.

    We can criticize, because mistakes are made and resources are squandered. I don’t think the mistake is in the criticism – rather it would be if we were to cross a line and do it maliciously, something I do not believe we have done. Perhaps our mistake, however, is to take for granted the good works that take place around us. After all, we are on the same team even if sometimes our approaches differ.

    So much good is done on an ongoing basis that it takes the shock of such a sudden, unfortunate and untimely death of a fine philanthropist and leader such as Mrs. Bronfman to make us realize the depth of the loss.

    Aleha hashalom.

  • A very, very sad day. The Bronfman’s have always been there for the Jewish community-and for many, many other worthy causes. Their selflessness & altruism for noble causes has always been there for people in need of assistance. Andrea will be missed.
    Ken & Arthur Blankstein-Ure
    Winnipeg,
    CANADA