Coalition for Justice in Hawaiian Gardens and Jerusalem
The Story of Moskowitz and Hawaiian Gardens
Kol Ha'ir
January 10, 1997
MOSKOWITZ BOUGHT 3
DUNAMS
ON MOUNT SCOPUS
by Hillel Cohen
Explanation: Abu-Dis is a Palestinian village just east of the city limits of Jerusalem, i.e., in the West Bank.
Dr. Irving Moskowitz, patron of the settlers, plans to construct a yeshiva and dormitory between Beit Orot and Hebrew University.
Dr. Irving Moskowitz, patron of Ateret Cohanim (and also contributor to the Tehiya party, Golan settlers, and many others), recently completed another land deal in East Jerusalem. Not far from the Augusta Victoria hospital, quite near Hebrew University, the doctor bought a large plot with the intention of establishing on it a yeshiva and dormitories for its students. This time it will not be in the heart of an Arab area, like Ras al-Amud, but on the periphery, on the seam between East Jerusalem and the Mount Scopus enclave from before 1967.
The purchase was effected by the Everest Foundation, one of the non-profits set up by Moskowitz and his friends in Israel and the U.S. for purposes of land and property acquisition in East Jerusalem. The source of funding for the purchase is the bingo parlor that Moskowitz runs in California, most of whose patrons are lower-class Hispanics. According to the tax authorities of California and the agreement between Moskowitz and Hawaiian Gardens, where the bingo parlor operates, Moskowitz must use the profits only for educational or charitable purposes. In a correspondence between the Everest Foundation, which requested the money, and the Moskowitz Foundation, asked to make the contribution, the lawyer of the Everest Foundation in the U.S., Oren Ben-Ezra, said that this allocation of funds is for goals that are legitimate, since educational institutions and student dormitories will be constructed on that location. Negotiation about the deal began as far back as 1993, and the registration of the land under the name of the Everest Foundation was just completed several months ago.
The land, about 3 dunams [3/4 acre], was acquired from the British Jewish businessmen Bernard Lee and Leslie Liphart. They inherited the plot from their parents, who had bought it in the 1930s. In that sense, Moskowitz (with the help of his people in Israel) is using the same method of operation that he used in abu-Dis: identification of lands belonging to Jews in the territories and their purchase from the owners (or from the State Bequests Bureau). The cost of the acquisition is approximately $800,000, including design of the architectural plans.
A previous deal in which the Everest Foundation requested a similar sum from Moskowitz was the acquisition of the structure of the Shomrei HaHomot yeshiva at one end of HaGuy Street in the Old City. There too a promise was made that the structure, partially destroyed since 1948, would be renovated and serve only for religious and educational purposes. The owners of the property, including Shomrei HaHomot, added one more condition: The structure will be returned to their original owners when the messiah comes. They clarified that they will demand back the structure only with the coming of the messiah son of David (and not the messiah son of Joseph, who already appeared). Moskowitz agreed to the condition ó perhaps because he thinks the messiah won't arrive so fast, or perhaps because when the messiah arrives, what's a million dollars more or less.
Copyright 1997, Kol Ha'Ir.
For education and discussion only. Not for commercial use.
