Adam Milstein is one of the most influential businessmen in Los Angeles. He was born in Haifa, and immigrated to the U.S. in 1981, along with his wife Gila and their two young daughters. Today he is an investor, venture philanthropist, and advocate for Israel.
This article will cover Adam Milstein’s early life, education career and philanthropy through his and his wife’s foundation which supports pro-Israel causes.
Adam Milstein’s Early Life and Education
Adam Milstein was born in 1952 to Eva and Hillel Milstein in Israel. Eva’s and Hillel’s parents immigrated from Eastern Europe to Mexico and Argentina prior to the Holocaust. Both parents made Aliya to Israel in their late teens and got married in 1950. The family lived very modestly but the Jewish values instilled in them by their parents drove them all to succeed at a young age. Adam went on to serve in the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) after high school.
After completing his military service, Adam studied at the Technion Institute of Technology (the Israeli MIT) where he graduated Cum Laude in 1978 with a bachelor’s in business and economics. During this time, Adam also worked to expand his family’s real estate development and construction business. In 1981, he moved to the United States and attended University of Southern California where he earned his MBA. From there, Adam worked for highly regarded real estate corporations before joining as a managing partner to Hager Pacific Properties which is now one of Southern California’s leading commercial real estate companies.
Continued Career and Beginnings in Philanthropy
During his career in business, Adam Milstein has continues to be a leader and is always looking for ways that he can better improve the world around him. His experience serving in the IDF gave him leadership skills that would benefit both his personal life as well as his professional life. He believes strongly in giving back to society which is one of the reasons why Adam co-founded Sifriyat Pijama B’America; a project that provides free monthly books in Hebrew to the American-Jewish community.
The Foundation
The Adam and Gila Milstein Family Foundation (“MFF”) was co-founded by Adam Milstein and his wife Gila in 2000.
The mission of MFF is to strengthen American values, support the U.S.-Israel alliance, and combat bigotry and hatred in all forms.
MFF also works to strengthen the Jewish people and their affinity to the State of Israel – the homeland of the Jewish people, by instilling pride in their Jewish identity and fostering the courage to stand up and combat our detractors.
MFF builds coalitions that provide Americans with facts and knowledge to advocate and take effective action against radical movements that spread hate, bigotry, and discrimination.
MFF also partners with other organizations around the world to fight antisemitism and bigotry against all people regardless of their race or religion.
Other Philanthropic Efforts
Throughout his time in business Adam has committed so much of his personal resources to helping out others including organizations like StandWithUs, AISH HaTorah , Hasbara Fellowships and the Israeli American Council. He firmly believes that if you have the ability to help, then there is always someone who needs it more than you do. It is this mindset that drives him every day. Today he continues on as a prominent leader within these institutions while also serving on several public company boards where he works hard towards making positive changes in society, especially when it comes to advocating for Israel throughout the world.
