About the Founder
Harry Fischel (1865-1948) was described in a scholarly journal as “perhaps the richest Orthodox Jew in New York,” in his prime. Whether or not this was actually true, what is far more significant is the way he spent his money and his time, after rising to financial and social prominence. He has also been described as a visionary and a pioneer on behalf of the growth of American Judaism as we know it, as well as Judaism in Israel. He was instrumental in the creation and maintenance of more national and nationally-known Jewish institutions in general, and Orthodox Jewish institutions in particular, than virtually anyone else in history, before or since.