2025-11-05 09:55:PM <br/> Tags: #people #AmericanJewry #EarlyZionism #Finance ![[image-168.png|505x400]] # William Rosenwald (1903-1996) - William Rosenwald was a prominent Jewish financier and leader. - Rosenwald most notably founded the [[United Jewish Appeal (UJA)]] in 1939. - Rosenwald's daughter is [[Nina Rosenwald]]. #### Early Life and Professional Career - Rosenwald's father is [[Julius Rosenwald]], the owner of Sears, Roebuck & Co., the well known department store. - Rosenwald was born in Chicago. - In 1924, Rosenwald got a Science degree from MIT's Sloan School of Management. - Rosenwald also attended Harvard and the London School of Economics. - In 1928, Rosenwald joined Sears working under his father. - In 1934, Rosenwald became Sears' director. - [[Julius Rosenwald]] had died in 1932. - In 1938, Rosenwald left the Sears board. - In 1947, Rosenwald launched the American Securities Corporation, a private investment firm. - The firm primarily managed Rosenwald family investments. - American Securities Corporation has since become a large private equity firm with ~$26 billion assets under management. #### Organized Jewry - From the mid 1930s to the end of WWII in 1945, Rosenwald was personally involved in securing the resettlement to the United States of ~300 of his Jewish-European relatives. - In 1939, Rosenwald organized the National Refugee Service (NRS) to assist Jewish immigration to the United States. - In 1946, the United Service for New Americans was formed via consolidation of immigration operations at the National Refugee Service and the [[National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW)]]. - In 1949, the [[New York Association for New Americans (NYANA)]] was formed as an affiliate of the the United Service for New Americans. - In 1954, the United Service for New Americans merged with the [[Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS)]] and the [[American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC)]]'s immigration services to form the United Hias Service. - In 1939, Rosenwald, [[Jonah Wise]], and [[Abba Hillel Silver]], founded the [[United Jewish Appeal (UJA)]]. - Rosenwald served as national campaign chairman from 1942-1946. - During these critical years, Rosenwald oversaw unprecedented levels of Jewish fundraising. - Rosenwald also served as UJA chairman from 1942-1963. - The UJA was the umbrella organization for American Jewish fundraising. - In 1999, the UJA was reformed as the [[Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA)]]. - Rosenwald also held leadership positions at the: - [[American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC)]] - ~50 year executive committee member - [[American Jewish Committee (AJC)]] - long time board member - In 1961, Rosenwald was honored at a dinner hosted by the [[Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS)]]. - Hias is a far left wing refugee-resettlement and immigrant-advocate organization. - At the 1961 dinner, Rosenwald called for: "liberalized immigration legislation for our own United States." *Four years later Hart-Celler was passed.* - In 1974, Rosenwald oversaw the merger of the UJA-Greater New York and the Federation of Jewish Philanthropies of New York. - This merger, completed in 1986, formed the [[UJA-Federation of New York]]. #### Rosenwald and Israel - Rosenwald was a lifelong backer and benefactor of Israel. - Prior to Israel's statehood, Rosenwald organized massive funding campaigns for the [[Yishuv]]. - These funds were raised by the [[United Jewish Appeal (UJA)]] and funneled through the [[United Israel Appeal]] to the Israeli [[Jewish Agency]]. - In 1960, Rosenwald was gifted the Simon Bublick Award by the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. - The basis for the reward was Rosenwald's "most significant contribution to the progress and development of Israel." #### References - McKinney, Megan. “Sears Giant at Home: The Julius Rosenwald Family.” _Classic Chicago Magazine_, April 1, 2018. [https://classicchicagomagazine.com/sears-giant-at-home/](https://classicchicagomagazine.com/sears-giant-at-home/). - “American Securities LLC.” _Wikipedia_. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Securities](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Securities) - “William Rosenwald.” _Wikipedia_. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Rosenwald](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Rosenwald). - JTA. “Younger Rosenwald Joins Board of JDC.” _Jewish Telegraphic Agency_, January 25, 1935. [https://www.jta.org/archive/younger-rosenwald-joins-board-of-jdc](https://www.jta.org/archive/younger-rosenwald-joins-board-of-jdc). - JTA. “Lessing Rosenwald Dead at 88.” _Jewish Telegraphic Agency_, June 27, 1979. [https://www.jta.org/archive/lessing-rosenwald-dead-at-88](https://www.jta.org/archive/lessing-rosenwald-dead-at-88). *Covers Williams 1942-1963 UJA chairmanship.* - JTA. “$750,000 Raised for U.J.A. at United Hias Dinner; Rosenwald Honored.” _Jewish Telegraphic Agency_, June 15 1961. [https://www.jta.org/archive/750000-raised-for-u-j-a-at-united-hias-dinner-rosenwald-honored](https://www.jta.org/archive/750000-raised-for-u-j-a-at-united-hias-dinner-rosenwald-honored). - JTA. “William Rosenwald Receives 1960 Bublick Award of Hebrew University.” _Jewish Telegraphic Agency_, November 22, 1960. [https://www.jta.org/archive/william-rosenwald-receives-1960-bublick-award-of-hebrew-university](https://www.jta.org/archive/william-rosenwald-receives-1960-bublick-award-of-hebrew-university)