Belz Family Gifts $20 Million to Yeshiva University’s Rise Up Campaign

On January 31, the President of Yeshiva University Rabbi Dr. Ari Berman announced a $20 million gift from the Belz family of Memphis, Tennessee. 

The donation is for the university’s recently launched Rise Up: The Campaign for 613, which was established to fund scholarships and faculty as well as renovate and modernize facilities.

“We have always recognized and admired Yeshiva University and its national and international reputation as the flagship Jewish university.” – Jack Belz

“We have always recognized and admired Yeshiva University and its national and international reputation as the flagship Jewish university,” said Jack Belz in a statement released by YU. 

The Belz family’s gift will be used to spearhead a comprehensive update of YU’s cornerstone academic building (Furst Hall) on the Wilf Campus in Washington Heights, New York. The large multi-storied building, located at the southeast intersection of W. 185th St. and Amsterdam Ave, will be renamed the Belz Building. With the support of the Furst family and the Sol and Hilda Furst Foundation, a permanent memorial to Sol and Hilda Furst will be established in the lobby.

This gift includes much of Jack and Marilyn z”l Belzs’ lifetime collection of Judaica and artwork, valued at $6 million. This breadth of art forms, focusing on elements of Jewish life from religious ceremonial rituals to culture to biblical stories, will be on permanent display as the Belz Collections and Galleries, located at the main entrance to the building and open to the public.  

“[YU] provides a remarkable multi-faceted education for its men and women students in their pursuit of excellence in both Jewish education and general education as they pursue such varied careers as Rabbinical, Law, Medicine, Psychology, Science, Finance and other areas,” Belz said.

Founded in 1886, YU combines the ancient traditions of Jewish law and life and the heritage of Western civilization. More than 7,400 undergraduate and graduate students study at YU’s four New York City campuses: the Wilf Campus, Israel Henry Beren Campus, Brookdale Center and Jack and Pearl Resnick Campus. Ranked among the nation’s leading academic research institutions, YU aims to honor the five core Torah values: Truth (Torat Emet), Life (Torat Chaim), Infinite Human Worth (Torat Adam), Compassion (Torat Chesed) and Redemption (Torat Tzyion).

According to Belz, his family has been involved with YU for decades. His father was an active member of the Board of Trustees beginning in the ‘60s, and he has followed the same path. His parents established and endowed the Belz School of Jewish Music at YU. 

“My wife, Marilyn, of blessed memory, and I have continued annually to provide support for the School of Jewish Music, along with Yeshiva University in general, the Sy Syms School of Business and other affiliates of YU,” he said. 

The Belz family has also been recognized as builders of the city of Memphis, as well as philanthropists committed to the arts and Jewish causes. Jack Belz is chairman and CEO of Belz Enterprises, a privately-owned commercial and industrial real estate development company based in Memphis that his father founded in the 1940s. He has been a trustee of YU since 1986. 

 “Jack and his beloved wife Marilyn of blessed memory have long stood as exemplars of our Torah values and pillars of our Yeshiva University community,” said Berman. “Their lifelong dedication to educating our students, the leaders of tomorrow, reflects the multi-generational partnership between the Belz family and Yeshiva University. I am deeply grateful for our personal friendship and for this extraordinary gift which will profoundly elevate and enhance the YU experience for our students, faculty and entire community.” 

YU’s Rise Up campaign, which launched on December 5, plans to raise $613 million over the next five years to ensure student success in a changing world. 

“The Torah teaches 613 ways to honor God, show respect for others and build an ethical, flourishing society,” Berman said in a December 6 release from the university. “Raising $613 million for scholarships, faculty and facilities reflects our core Torah values and meets our needs for the future.”