05 October 2006
A synagogue in the US capital Washington has received a five million dollar gift from one of its congregants. The gift to the Adas Israel Congregation on Quebec Street Northwest comes from Donald Saltz, in honor of his late wife Mozelle, who died last year. It is the largest contribution in Adas Israel's 140-year history, and experts say it is one of the largest individual donations to a house of worship in the United States in years. Saltz's friends told the "Washington Post" that he amassed his fortune in the stock market, holding his stocks through the years. His wife worked in the offices of the Jewish organization B'nai B'rith and was among those taken hostage in 1977 by a Muslim group. The gift will be made in annual donations and added to the synagogue's US$ 10 million endowment for future programs.
