2026-03-03 12:50:AM <br/> Tags: #people #KeyPeople #AmericanJewry #WorldJewry #Donor #LeftwingJewry ![[image-246.png|291x407]] # Charles Bronfman (1931-) - Charles Bronfman is a Canadian-American Jewish billionaire.[^1] - The Bronfman family ran the Seagram liquor empire from 1928 until its dissolution in 2000. - Bronfman has been among the most influential figures in global organized Jewry for decades. #### Bronfman and Organized Jewry - In 1991, Bronfman partnered with Jewish billionaire [[Les Wexner]] to found the [[Mega Group]].[^9] - The Mega Group was a collective of Jewish billionaires who used their wealth and connections to advance global Jewish interests. - Members of the Mega Group included: - Charles Bronfman - [[Les Wexner]] - [[Edgar Bronfman Sr.]] - [[Max Fisher]] - [[Michael Steinhardt]] - [[Len Abramson]] - [[Harvey Meyerhoff]] - [[Lawrence Tisch]] - [[Charles Schusterman]] - [[Steven Spielberg]] - [[Lester Crown]] - [[Ronald Lauder]] - In 1988, Bronfman contributed $1.6 million to [[Shimon Peres]]' prime ministerial election campaign.[^10] - In 1999, Bronfman contributed to the campaign of [[Ehud Barak]].[^11] - Bronfman's contributions to Barak were funneled through charitable organizations before being transferred to the Barak campaign. - In 1994, Bronfman and [[Michael Steinhardt]] founded [[Birthright Israel]] in partnership with the [[Jewish Agency]], an Israeli government institution.[^3] - Birthright was launched a few years later in 1999 with $8 million from Bronfman and Steinhardt each.[^6] - A handful of Jewish donors contributed $5 million each to help found the organization including: [[Ronald Lauder]], [[Les Wexner]], [[Marc Rich]], [[Len Abramson]], [[Edgar Bronfman Sr.]], [[Lew Wasserman]], [[Hadassah]], and [[Charles Schusterman]].[^7] - Bronfman contributed $1 million+ annually since.[^5] - In 2025, Bronfman described Birthright as his "life and love for the past 25 years."[^4] - In 2025 Bronfman made a [commitment](https://ejewishphilanthropy.com/your-daily-phil-charles-bronfman-on-his-25-million-legacy-gift-to-birthright/#:~:text=Bronfman%20committed%20to%20posthumously%20donate%20%2425%20million%20to%20the%20Birthright%20Israel%20Fund%20for%20the%20Jewish%20Future%2C%20a%20fund%20within%20the%20foundation%E2%80%99s%20endowment.) to donate $25 million to Birthright after his death. - In 1999 the [[United Jewish Appeal (UJA)]], [[United Israel Appeal]], and the Council of Jewish Federations merged to form the [[Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA)]].[^28] - Bronfman served as the founding chairman of the Jewish Federations from 1999-2001.[^1] - The Andrea and Charles Bronfman Philanthropies (ACBP) served as the vehicle for Bronfman's philanthropic activities from 1986-2016.[^1] - In 1990, the ACBP launched Keren Karev. - Keren Karev was the ACBP's program in Israel which funded infrastructure, social, and educational projects.[^12] - Keren Karev had a donation-matching program with the Israeli government, meaning every dollar Bronfman contributed was matched by the Israeli state.[^11] - From 2011-2015 [[Martin Indyk]]'s ex-wife Jill Collier Indyk is noted as the organization's executive director on its annual tax forms.[^8] - The ACBP contributed to: - ACBP donations sources: - 2001[^12], 2002[^13], 2003[^14], 2004[^15], 2005[^16], 2006[^17], 2007[^18], 2008[^19], 2009[^20], 2010[^21], 2011[^22], 2012[^23], 2013[^24], 2014[^25], 2015[^26], 2016[^27] | Years | Recipient | Total | Description | | --------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ---------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------- | | 2001, 2003, 2012-2016 | [[American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC)]] | $266,800 | Establishment Jewish fundraising and Israeli development organization | | 2001-2002, 2012-2015 | [[UJA-Federation of New York]] | $501,200 | Largest and most important of the Jewish Federations | | 2001-2016 | [[Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA)]] (Formerly the United Jewish Communities (UJC)) | $2,044,779 | Largest Jewish fundraising organization | | 2001, 2012-2015 | [[American Jewish Committee (AJC)]] | $160,000 | Establishment Jewish organization | | 2001-2016 | [[Birthright Israel]] | $9,838,631 | Free trips to Israel for Jews | | 2001, 2015 | [[Jewish Agency]] | $65,000 | Israeli national institution | | 2001 | Tel Aviv University | $1,000,000 | Israeli university in Tel Aviv | | 2001-2002, 2009 | Hebrew University | $135,616 | Israeli university in Jerusalem | | 2002-2005, 2012-2013 | Various [[JCC Association of North America\|JCCs]] | $70,000 | Jewish community centers | | 2003-2004, 2012 | [[The Israel Project]] | $60,000 | | | 2004-2005 | [[Weizmann Institute]] | $4,583 | Top Israeli university | | 2004 | [[Avodah]] | $47,000 | Jewish social justice organization | | 2004, 2014-2015 | [[Friends of the IDF (FIDF)]] | $90,000 | Official advocacy organization of the IDF in the United States | | 2009-2010 | Jewish Funds for Justice (JFJS) - Later reformed as [[Bend the Arc]] | $4,000 | Far left Jewish political advocacy organization | | 2011, 2013 | [[Brookings Institution]] | $100,000 | Pro-Israel think tank | | 2011-2015 | [[New Israel Fund]] | $710,500 | | | 2011-2015 | [[Harold Grinspoon Foundation]] | $337,500 | | | 2011-2015 | [[Hillel International]] | $365,000 | Largest Jewish campus organization | | 2011-2013 | [[Foundation for Defense of Democracies]] | $196,000 | Pro-Israel establishment D.C. think tank | | 2012-2014 | [[Jewish Communal Fund]] | $104,000 | | | 2012, 2015 | [[Jewish Theological Seminary (JTS)]] | $10,500 | Conservative Judaism education organization | | 2013-2014 | [[Hadassah]] | $50,000 | Women's Zionist organization | | 2014 | [[Jewish Women International]] | $1,500 | | | 2014-2015 | Planned Parenthood Palm Beach Area | $13,500 | Abortion organization | | 2014 | [[ADL]] | $1,800 | Antisemitism-fighting organization | | 2016 | [[National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW)]] | $1,600 | | | 2016 | [[Jerusalem Foundation]] | $32,300 | | #### The Charles Bronfman Prize - The Charles Bronfman Prize (CBP) is "presented to a humanitarian under the age of fifty whose innovative work, fueled by Jewish values, has significantly improved the world."[^2] - The Charles Bronfman Prize has been awarded to 19 people since 2004, all of whom are Jewish. - A 2010 CBP laureate was Jared Genser.[^29] - Genser directly cited the Jewish Talmud to explain his charity work. - Genser is the founder of Freedom Now, a "human rights" NGO that works to free "prisoners of conscience" around the world. - Genser is a member of the [[Council on Foreign Relations (CFR)]]. - Another 2010 CBP laureate was Sasha Chanoff.[^30] - Chanoff is the founder and CEO of RefugePoint, a nonprofit that resettles African and third world refugees in the United States. - RefugePoint has aided Somalian resettlement into the United States. - The 2015 CBP laureate was Rebecca Heller.[^31] - Heller is the director and founder of the International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP). - IRAP facilitates third world immigration and "refugee resettlement" into the United States. - IRAP was the lead plaintiff opposing Trump's "Muslim travel ban" in 2017. - Heller is a member of the [[Council on Foreign Relations (CFR)]]. - The 2017 CBB laureate was David Lubell.[^34] - Lubell is the founder of Welcoming America, an organization that facilitates third world immigration to "over 200 cities and towns across the U.S. to transform communities into inclusive places where everyone thrives." #RedPill *Your home will be "transformed" into an "inclusive place" by these Jews and you can't do a thing about it.* - The 2018 CBP Laureate was Amy Bach.[^33] - Bach is the founder and director of Measures for Justice, an organization that works to free black criminals from American prisons. - Measures for Justice claims "the system disproportionately impacts nonwhite communities, with one in six Black men having spent time in prison compared to one in 39 white men." - The 2025 CBP laureate was Gideon Maltz.[^32] - Maltz is the CEO of Tent Partnership for Refugees, an organization that facilitates employment for recent third world refugees in their host countries. - The CBP's summary notes "the United States has around 8 million job openings, Germany has 1.7 million unfilled positions." *Sorry natives, 8 million Africans, Indians, and Hispanics are getting your jobs.* #### Family Connections - Charles' father is [[Samuel Bronfman]].[^1] - Charles' brother is [[Edgar Bronfman Sr.]]. - Among Charles' nephews are [[Edgar Bronfman Jr.]], [[Matthew Bronfman]], [[Adam Bronfman]]. - Charles' son is [[Stephen Bronfman]]. - After [[Samuel Bronfman]]'s death in 1971, Charles and his brother [[Edgar Bronfman Sr.]] took over Seagram's, the family business. #### References [^1]: “Charles Bronfman,” _Wikipedia_, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Bronfman](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Bronfman). [^2]: “About,” _The Charles Bronfman Prize_, [https://thecharlesbronfmanprize.org/about/](https://thecharlesbronfmanprize.org/about/). [^3]: “Birthright Israel,” _Wikipedia_, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birthright_Israel](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birthright_Israel). [^4]: “Charles Bronfman on His $25 Million Legacy Gift to Birthright,” _eJewishPhilanthropy_, February 5, 2025, [https://ejewishphilanthropy.com/your-daily-phil-charles-bronfman-on-his-25-million-legacy-gift-to-birthright/#:~:text=Charles%20Bronfman%20commits%20%2425%20million](https://ejewishphilanthropy.com/your-daily-phil-charles-bronfman-on-his-25-million-legacy-gift-to-birthright/#:~:text=Charles%20Bronfman%20commits%20%2425%20million). [^5]: “Our Supporters,” _Birthright Israel Foundation_, [https://birthrightisrael.foundation/our-supporters#:~:text=Rita%20and%20Charles%20Bronfman](https://birthrightisrael.foundation/our-supporters#:~:text=Rita%20and%20Charles%20Bronfman). [^6]: “Birthright Israel,” _Philanthropy Roundtable_, [https://www.philanthropyroundtable.org/almanac/birthright-israel/#:~:text=Charles%20Bronfman%20and%20Michael%20Steinhardt%2C%20who%20put%20up%20%248%20million%20apiece](https://www.philanthropyroundtable.org/almanac/birthright-israel/#:~:text=Charles%20Bronfman%20and%20Michael%20Steinhardt%2C%20who%20put%20up%20%248%20million%20apiece). [^7]: “Briefly Noted: Reagan Friends Raising Money and $70-Million Donated to Birthright Israel,” _The Chronicle of Philanthropy_, June 15, 2000, [https://www.philanthropy.com/news/briefly-noted-reagan-friends-raising-money-and-70-million-donated-to-birthright-israel/](https://www.philanthropy.com/news/briefly-noted-reagan-friends-raising-money-and-70-million-donated-to-birthright-israel/). [^8]: “Andrea and Charles Bronfman Philanthropies Inc., Form 990-PF (2011),” _ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer_, [https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/display_990/133984936/2013_02_PF%2F13-3984936_990PF_201112](https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/display_990/133984936/2013_02_PF%2F13-3984936_990PF_201112). *Jill Collier Indyk can be found on page 7 under part VIII section 2(a). Her name appears in the same location on the tax filings for the all years between 2011 and 2015.* [^9]: “Study Group (Jewish group),” _Wikipedia_, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Study_Group_(Jewish_group). [^10]: Andrew Chang, “Israel’s Illegal Campaign Funds Problem,” _ABC News_, February 2, 2001, [https://abcnews.com/International/story?id=81545&page=1](https://abcnews.com/International/story?id=81545&page=1). [^11]: Shuki Sadeh, “How Foreign Donors Reshaped Israel: A Who’s Who,” _Haaretz_, March 17, 2013, _Internet Archive_, [https://web.archive.org/web/20230101182042/https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/business/2013-03-17/ty-article/.premium/how-foreign-donors-reshaped-israel/0000017f-dc9https://web.archive.org/web/20230101182042/https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/business/2013-03-17/ty-article/.premium/how-foreign-donors-reshaped-israel/0000017f-dc91-d3ff-a7ff-fdb15de90000#:~:text=in%20the%20city.-,Charles%20Bronfman,-One%20of%20the1-d3ff-a7ff-fdb15de90000#:~:text=in%20the%20city.-,Charles%20Bronfman,-One%20of%20the](https://web.archive.org/web/20230101182042/https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/business/2013-03-17/ty-article/.premium/how-foreign-donors-reshaped-israel/0000017f-dc91-d3ff-a7ff-fdb15de90000#:~:text=in%20the%20city.-,Charles%20Bronfman,-One%20of%20the). [^12]: “Andrea and Charles Bronfman Philanthropies Inc., Form 990-PF (2001),” _ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer_, [https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/display_990/133984936/2004_07_PF%2F13-3984936_990PF_200112](https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/display_990/133984936/2004_07_PF%2F13-3984936_990PF_200112). [^13]: “Andrea and Charles Bronfman Philanthropies Inc., Form 990-PF (2002),” _ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer_, [https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/display_990/133984936/2003_07_PF%2F13-3984936_990PF_200212](https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/display_990/133984936/2003_07_PF%2F13-3984936_990PF_200212). [^14]: “Andrea and Charles Bronfman Philanthropies Inc., Form 990-PF (2003),” _ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer_, [https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/display_990/133984936/2004_05_PF%2F13-3984936_990PF_200312](https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/display_990/133984936/2004_05_PF%2F13-3984936_990PF_200312). [^15]: “Andrea and Charles Bronfman Philanthropies Inc., Form 990-PF (2004),” _ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer_, [https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/display_990/133984936/2005_06_PF%2F13-3984936_990PF_200412](https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/display_990/133984936/2005_06_PF%2F13-3984936_990PF_200412). [^16]: “Andrea and Charles Bronfman Philanthropies Inc., Form 990-PF (2005),” _ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer_, [https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/display_990/133984936/2006_11_PF%2F13-3984936_990PF_200512](https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/display_990/133984936/2006_11_PF%2F13-3984936_990PF_200512). [^17]: “Andrea and Charles Bronfman Philanthropies Inc., Form 990-PF (2006),” _ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer_, [https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/display_990/133984936/2010_11_PF%2F13-3984936_990PF_200612](https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/display_990/133984936/2010_11_PF%2F13-3984936_990PF_200612). [^18]: “Andrea and Charles Bronfman Philanthropies Inc., Form 990-PF (2007),” _ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer_, [https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/display_990/133984936/2010_10_PF%2F13-3984936_990PF_200712](https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/display_990/133984936/2010_10_PF%2F13-3984936_990PF_200712). [^19]: “Andrea and Charles Bronfman Philanthropies Inc., Form 990-PF (2008),” _ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer_, [https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/display_990/133984936/2010_10_PF%2F13-3984936_990PF_200812](https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/display_990/133984936/2010_10_PF%2F13-3984936_990PF_200812). [^20]: “Andrea and Charles Bronfman Philanthropies Inc., Form 990-PF (2009),” _ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer_, [https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/display_990/133984936/2010_11_PF%2F13-3984936_990PF_200912](https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/display_990/133984936/2010_11_PF%2F13-3984936_990PF_200912). [^21]: “Andrea and Charles Bronfman Philanthropies Inc., Form 990-PF (2010),” _ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer_, [https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/display_990/133984936/2011_11_PF%2F13-3984936_990PF_201012](https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/display_990/133984936/2011_11_PF%2F13-3984936_990PF_201012). [^22]: “Andrea and Charles Bronfman Philanthropies Inc., Form 990-PF (2011),” _ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer_, [https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/display_990/133984936/2013_02_PF%2F13-3984936_990PF_201112](https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/display_990/133984936/2013_02_PF%2F13-3984936_990PF_201112). [^23]: “Andrea and Charles Bronfman Philanthropies Inc., Form 990-PF (2012),” _ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer_, [https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/display_990/133984936/2014_01_PF%2F13-3984936_990PF_201212](https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/display_990/133984936/2014_01_PF%2F13-3984936_990PF_201212). [^24]: “Andrea and Charles Bronfman Philanthropies Inc., Form 990-PF (2013),” _ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer_, [https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/133984936/201433219349101458/full](https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/133984936/201433219349101458/full). [^25]: “Andrea and Charles Bronfman Philanthropies Inc., Form 990-PF (2014),” _ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer_, [https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/133984936/201523209349101932/full](https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/133984936/201523209349101932/full). [^26]: “Andrea and Charles Bronfman Philanthropies Inc., Form 990-PF (2015),” _ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer_, [https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/133984936/201643199349102229/full](https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/133984936/201643199349102229/full). [^27]: “Andrea and Charles Bronfman Philanthropies Inc., Form 990-PF (2016),” _ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer_, [https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/133984936/201703189349102895/full](https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/133984936/201703189349102895/full). [^28]: “The Jewish Federations of North America.” _Wikipedia_. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewish_Federations_of_North_America](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewish_Federations_of_North_America). [^29]: “Jared Genser,” _The Charles Bronfman Prize_, [https://thecharlesbronfmanprize.org/recipients/jared-genser/](https://thecharlesbronfmanprize.org/recipients/jared-genser/). [^30]: “Sasha Chanoff,” _The Charles Bronfman Prize_, [https://thecharlesbronfmanprize.org/recipients/sasha-chanoff/](https://thecharlesbronfmanprize.org/recipients/sasha-chanoff/). [^31]: “Rebecca Heller,” _The Charles Bronfman Prize_, [https://thecharlesbronfmanprize.org/recipients/rebecca-heller/](https://thecharlesbronfmanprize.org/recipients/rebecca-heller/). [^32]: “Gideon Maltz,” _The Charles Bronfman Prize_, [https://thecharlesbronfmanprize.org/recipients/gideon-maltz/](https://thecharlesbronfmanprize.org/recipients/gideon-maltz/). [^33]: “Amy Bach,” _The Charles Bronfman Prize_, [https://thecharlesbronfmanprize.org/recipients/amy-bach/](https://thecharlesbronfmanprize.org/recipients/amy-bach/). [^34]: “David Lubell,” _The Charles Bronfman Prize_, [https://thecharlesbronfmanprize.org/recipients/david-lubell/](https://thecharlesbronfmanprize.org/recipients/david-lubell/).