Hundreds of people gathered Tuesday in Las Vegas to pay their respects to philanthropist Sheldon Adelson.
The ceremony took place in accordance with all coronavirus restrictions and was organized by the Israeli American Council, which was supported by the Adelsons.
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For two hours, community members drove by the IAC Center in Vegas, and community members lit candles and prayed for the philanthropist.
Teenagers from Shevet Pisgah, the Israeli Scouts of Las Vegas, also came and stood guard next to the picture of the late Adelson, with Israeli and American flags next to them.
Adelson, who lived in Las Vegas for 30 years, not only managed a thriving business but also built a vibrant Jewish and Israeli-American community in the city and cultivated a close relationship with many members of it. Community members wanted to pay their last respects and decided to do so in the form of a convoy of cars led by the local IAC branch.
"Both Left and Right knew to appreciate his work in connecting American citizens to Israel," Chief Rabbi of Las Vegas Rabbi Yehoshua Harlig said. He attended the ceremony along with many other community leaders.
"As an American-Israeli patriot, he believed that what was good for the State of Israel would also be good for the United States. He left behind a great vision and great responsibility for us to continue on the path that he and his dear wife, Dr. Miriam Adelson, paved."
"What stood out the most to me is that Adelson treated each person, no matter if poor or wealthy, with the same respect," IAC Council Member Dr. Neville Pokroy said. "He lived and breathed philanthropy for all of humanity."
In addition to senior IAC officials, the ceremony was attended by the CEO of the Jewish Federation of Las Vegan Stefanie Tuzman, Chair of the Board Joshua Pianko, and Director of the Las Vegas branch of Friends of the IDF, Shiri Madmon.
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