Businessman and philanthropist Sheldon Adelson received an honorary doctorate from the Interdisciplinary Center Herzliya on Thursday in the first such ceremony at the Israeli university.
Professor Ariel Reichman, the president and founder of the institution, praised Adelson in a statement issued just before the event, calling him "a dear friend and true partner of IDC Herzliya" and said that his prolific and important activity in an abundance of fields made him "one of the most influential Jewish personalities in the world, due both to his thriving hotel and media businesses and to his enormous contributions and advocacy for Jewish life and the State of Israel."
According to Reichman, the decision to confer the degree on Adelson stemmed from a desire to express gratitude to Adelson, who has become "an inspiration and a model of the power of one individual's entrepreneurial determination and strength, of the ability to overcome difficulties and failures while exercising creativity, and of personal courage and rare ability."
Reichman added that "it is all of these things that make him one of the greatest entrepreneurs of our generation." He noted that the decision to grant Adelson this unique honor for the first time in the university's 25-year history was made "in appreciation of his life's work, his love, loyalty and contributions to the State of Israel, and his friendship and support of IDC Herzliya."
Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook and Twitter
During the speech at the event on Thursday, Reichman said he said Adelson was "one of the world's legendary entrepreneurs." He went on to say that "many people have marveled at the projects that he built: He built 'Venice' with gondolas and waterways in Las Vegas; he built in Singapore – what became a national landmark and symbol; but few people have the privilege to see up close the creativity and innovation, his resolve and ability to overcome challenges. Watching Sheldon going through his challenges and successes inspired me in my journey to build the IDC."
In his statement before the ceremony, Reichman said that both Adelson and his wife, Israel Hayom Publisher Dr. Miriam Adelson, have "always stood by IDC Herzliya, even in difficult times," recalling that "in 2013, the Adelson School of Entrepreneurship was established [at IDC] – the first of its kind in Israel and the world."
Later, at the event itself, he continued praising the couple.
"The Adelsons' creativity has not been limited to business, many of their contributions to Israel and the Jewish people are truly life-changing, and their direct support has enabled 150,000 young Jews to take part in the Birthright experience that has left a lasting impact on them and rekindled their connection to their Jewish roots. And by establishing the Israeli American Council, they created a powerful organization of hundreds of thousands of ex-Israelis whose goals include supporting Israel, maintaining Israeli culture and reducing assimilation. Their generosity is also witnessed in many other projects spread all over Israel and the United States."
He added, that "when the story of Israel will be told in the future it will undoubtedly portray them as prominent figures in the country's history."
The Adelsons are strong supporters of numerous educational and Jewish identity programs in Israel as well as in the United States. One such program, Taglit-Birthright Israel, offers young Jews a free 10-day tour of Israel.
The couple opened their first drug abuse clinic in Tel Aviv in 1993. Miriam Adelson helped develop a methadone program for teen addicts and has co-authored numerous research papers on methadone treatment. In 2000, the Adelsons opened the Dr. Miriam and Sheldon G. Adelson Clinic for Drug Abuse Treatment and Research in Las Vegas, Nevada to help treat painkiller and opioid addiction.
Since 2007, the couple has donated over $100 million to Birthright Israel, tens of millions of dollars to the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial, and to the establishment of the Adelson School of Medicine at Ariel University in Samaria.
In 2018, US President Donald Trump honored Dr. Adelson with the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Adelson was recognized for her work as a philanthropist and humanitarian, and as a doctor specializing in the treatment of narcotic addiction, the White House said at the time.
Various other business leaders were also among the recipients of an honorary degree at Thursday's ceremony, as well as Lt. Gen. (res.) Gadi Eizenkot.
Eizenkot was honored for his contribution to Israel's security and for preserving the values of the Israel Defense Forces when he was chief of the General Staff between 2015 and 2019.
The Adelson family owns the company that is the primary shareholder in Israel Hayom.
