Mendel Kaplan (philanthropist)

Mendel Kaplan
Born(1936-06-16)16 June 1936
Cape Town, South Africa
Died19 November 2009(2009-11-19) (aged 73)
NationalitySouth African
Alma materUniversity of Cape Town
Columbia University
Occupation(s)Industrialist, philanthropist

Mendel Kaplan (16 June 1936 – 19 November 2009) was a South African Jewish industrialist and philanthropist. He was an executive in Cape Gate manufacturing company.[1]

Mendel Kaplan was born in South Africa. After graduating from Wynberg Boys' High, he received a degree in law from the University of Cape Town in 1958 and an MBA from Columbia University in 1960.[2]

Kaplan was the honorary president of Keren Hayesod and a former chairman of the Jewish Agency's Board of Governors. He financed numerous philanthropic projects in South Africa, Israel and Jewish communities around the world.[3] In 1980, he founded the Isaac and Jessie Kaplan Centre for Jewish Studies at the University of Cape Town. In 2000, he established the South African Jewish Museum.[1]

Kaplan was an Israeli citizen and owned two homes in Israel.[2]

He was a keen rugby union fan, and helped set up the South African Jewish Museum.[1]

Kaplan died of a stroke on 19 November 2009.[4]

  1. ^ a b c Jessica Elgot (20 November 2009). "Mendel Kaplan dies". The Jewish Chronicle Online. Retrieved 2 February 2014.
  2. ^ a b Linde, Steve (19 November 2009). "Philanthropist Mendel Kaplan dies, 73". The Jerusalem Post. pp. 19 November 2009. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
  3. ^ Milton Shain (22 November 2009). "Mendel Kaplan, 1936-2009/Jewish leader, philanthropist, family man". Haaretz. Retrieved 2 February 2014.
  4. ^ "Philanthropist Mendel Kaplan dies, 73". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. 19 November 2009. Retrieved 29 August 2023.