UIA worldwide luminary passes away

November 20, 2009 by Henry Benjamin
Read on for article

Mendel Kaplan, a larger than life figure known and respected throughout the Jewish world, has passed away in his native South Africa.

Mendel Kaplan

Mendel Kaplan

He received world-wide acclaim for his efforts to drive Jewish emigration from Russia to Israel following the collapse of the former Soviet Union.

Kaplan was Chairman of the Jewish Agency between 1987 and 1995 and made several trips to Australia. UIA luminary and Life President Joseph Brender told J-Wire: “I have met many community leaders from all over the world but there were not many people like this man. He was unique.”

An Israeli citizen, Kaplan served as honorary president of Keren Hayesond from 1995 until his death.

The current UIA Federal President Bruce Fink did not meet Kaplan.

Life President Stanley Roth said:  We learnt the tragic news just before Shabbat. Bruce in his two years at the helm as President did not have the privilege of dealing with, or hearing or seeing Mendel Kaplan z”l in action, and therefore, on behalf of UIA NSW,  pass on our condolences, and feelings of shock and loss, to Jill and the whole extended Kaplan family. Our World Chairman Avi Pazner accurately described Mendel as a “giant in the Jewish world” – his passion for and commitment to Israel, his robust character, and his influence over the international UIA scene, were all truly legendary. KH will not be the same without him.

Mendel Kaplan died at the age of 73 and is survived by his wife Jill Lazar Kaplan, four children and his grandchildren.

Comments

One Response to “UIA worldwide luminary passes away”
  1. Vernon Katz says:

    We cannot afford to lose such a gem

Speak Your Mind

Comments received without a full name will not be considered
Email addresses are NEVER published! All comments are moderated. J-Wire will publish considered comments by people who provide a real name and email address. Comments that are abusive, rude, defamatory or which contain offensive language will not be published

Got something to say about this?

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.