Edmond de Rothschild
A Heritage of Zionist Entrepreneurship
“I doubt that, in the entire history of the Jewish people in the Diaspora, a period of 2,000 years, one could ever find a man comparable in stature to the incredible character that was the builder of the Jewish Yishuv in our renewed homeland, Baron Edmond de Rothschild.”
David Ben-Gurion, First Prime Minister of Israel
The Rothschild Family
The contribution of the Rothschild family to the State of Israel and the Jewish people cannot be overstated. This contribution has been a crucial factor in the development of the modern Israeli state and life within it for the past 150 years:
At the end of the 19th century, groups of young Zionists arrived in the Land of Israel, aiming to revive the Jewish Yishuv within the Land of the Patriarchs.
Baron Abraham Edmond James de Rothschild was one of the only Jewish leaders in Europe who agreed to assist these groups in various essential areas, such as funding the pioneers, training and assisting them in agricultural development, and more.
The activities that had begun as emergency assistance grew over the years, expanding into land acquisition, sponsorship of the first moshavot and their economic development, and establishment of the infrastructure that would serve as the basis for the modern Israeli economy.
During his lifetime, Baron Rothschild invested more than £5 million in the Land of Israel, purchased some 50,000 hectares, and aided in the establishment and construction of around 30 villages, wineries, factories, and production plants that became the backbone of the Israeli economy.
The Rothschild family has continued its support for the State of Israel and its citizens for 150 years. Since the 1960s, this support has come through the activities of the Edmond de Rothschild Foundation. The Foundation harnesses the revenues generated by the Caesarea Development Corporation and the Caesarea Assets Corporation in order to fulfill the Foundation’s vision and advance its goals.
The Edmond de Rothschild Foundation
In the early 1960s, Baron Edmond de Rothschild, grandson of the “Well-Known Benefactor,” established the foundation that bears his name – another link in the Rothschild family’s unbreakable chain of contributions to the State of Israel and the Jewish people.
The Edmond de Rothschild Foundation represents another crucial step in the Zionist endeavor, namely the promotion of Israeli society, education, and culture.
The Foundation’s vision is to shape a just, inclusive Israeli society that celebrates the country’s many diverse communities.
It fulfills this vision by driving social change and advancing excellence and pluralism through higher education.
The Foundation’s activities include:
- Improving access to higher education among young people in rural and disadvantaged communities
- Nurturing young Israelis from diverse backgrounds, who will become the leaders of the future
- Creating an ecosystem for impact entrepreneurship in Israel
- Supporting the arts and promoting excellence in the field
- Promoting research, development, and excellence in academia and philanthropy
The Foundation dedicates all its revenues from its subsidiaries, the Caesarea Development Corporation and Caesarea Assets Corporation, to promoting the Foundation’s objectives and funding its activities.
Following the passing of Baron Edmond de Rothschild, his son Benjamin de Rothschild and Benjamin’s wife Ariane continued to lead the Foundation and its activities in Israel as part of the network of Edmond de Rothschild Foundations all over the world.
Creating a Better World
for 250 Years
Since its establishment, the Edmond de Rothschild Group has led countless forward-thinking change and development around the world and in Israel, where the Group’s contribution is evidence not only in the capital markets, but also throughout the development of industry and commerce, as the Group has pioneered R&D in the world of philanthropy and advocated for sustainability.
Baron Abraham Edmond James de Rothschild comes to the aid of the Jewish Yishuv in the Land of Israel, saving the Rishon LeZion farming village.
The “Well-Known Benefactor” arrives in the Land of Israel on his first tour of the country, joined by teams of experts in agriculture, medicine, and management.
The management of the new villages in the Land of Israel are transferred to the management of the Jewish Colonization Association (JCA), founded by Baron Hirsch, and Baron Rothschild becomes a significant partner in the JCA’s operations.
The Palestine Jewish Colonization Association (PICA) is established under the leadership of the Baron’s son, James Armand de Rothschild.
Baron Edmond de Rothschild dies.
Twenty years after his death, the Baron’s body is transported to the young State of Israel onboard a naval frigate. He is then given a state funeral and re-interred in Ramat HaNadiv. The next day, the Knesset holds a special mourning session in his memory.
The Well-Known Benefactor’s grandson, Baron Edmond de Rothschild, establishes the Edmond de Rothschild Foundation, which presents an innovative model for modern philanthropy.
The Group acquires private banking activities in Geneva and expands its operations to Switzerland.
The Edmond de Rothschild Group joins the Swiss Stock Exchange.
Following the passing of Baron Edmond de Rothschild, his son Baron Benjamin de Rothschild and Benjamin’s wife, Baroness Ariane de Rothschild, continue the family tradition by leading philanthropic activities in Israel and around the world.
The Rothschild family expands its operations in Israel through the founding of the Edmond de Rothschild Israel Group, which launches its activities with institutional investors.
The Edmond de Rothschild Group establishes a mutual fund management company and an investment portfolio management company.
The global group launches the Edmond de Rothschild Private Equity platform, which manages assets with a scope of approximately €2.5 billion.
The global group leads a worldwide consolidation process, merging its various financial entities and launching a global business line for asset management.
Provident Financial Markets Ltd. joins the group.
