“I am sick and tired of American Jews telling Israel what to do. The Israelis are smarter, more sophisticated, and have real skin in the game; they and only they have a right to determine how this issue is managed.”
The Interviewee – Mark N. Schwartz (Born 1956), Chief Investment Officer. Born in New York, Grew up in Los Angeles. College at Claremont McKenna College, MBA from Harvard Business School; Wall Street investment banking, entreprenuership, board of directors.
Mark Schwartz is an experienced public and private company, CEO, CFO, and board member. He is an active growth equity investor. Mark assisted Starbucks Coffee in raising their first round of institutional financing and was a member of their board of directors for two years. He served as the chair of Harvard Business School Alumni Angels of Southern California, an angel investment group. He also serves on a non-profit board of directors, which recognized his work by awarding him the Humanitarian of the Year Award in 2014.
In your opinion, what importance, if any, does the existence of a Jewish state have to you personally and to Jewish people in general?
“Extremely important. There must always be a strong, vibrant, Democratic Jewish State in Israel that is the envy of the world. It must be a leader in science, technology, research, medicine, arts, culture, and governance. It is the living example of a light onto the nations.“
Do you feel committed in some way to defend the future existence of Israel?
“Absolutely, I am a committed Zionist and steadfast supporter, politically and financially, in Israel.”
Do you affiliate yourself with a specific denomination in Judaism? What is your view regarding the dominance of the Orthodox denomination in Israel religious establishment?
“I am an active Reform Jew. For secular Israelis, the dominance of the Ultra Orthodox and the Chief Rabbi is very problematic, to the point were many Israeli’s are turned off by the term Jewish or Yihudit (Hebrew). There needs to be more tolerance for other denominations and greater access for women to pray, wear tallit at The Wall.“
Do you feel morally responsible for Israel’s actions (such as its management of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict)?
“No; absolutely not. The management of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is the right, obligation and responsibility of the people of Israel who serve in the IDF, vote in Israeli elections, and hold Israeli passports. I am sick and tired of American Jews telling Israel what to do. The Israelis are smarter, more sophisticated, and have real skin in the game; they and only they have a right to determine how this issue is managed.”
In your opinion, what is the main thing Israelis fail to understand about the reality of being Jewish outside of Israel?
“You can be religious, pray and be Jewish without having to be ultra Orthodox.”
How would you describe Israel’s policy (formally and in practice) regarding its relationship with the Diaspora?
“Excellent. At every level of Israeli life: political, military, scientific, technological, business, commerce, arts, culture and fashion there are tremendous bridges between Israel and the Diaspora that are based on those disciplines.”
In your opinion, does Israel have an obligation to defend and help Jewish communities in need?
“Yes, Israel is the last place Jews can go when the world is inhospitable to them. So yes, Israel has an obligation to rescue Jews from Europe, Africa, Syria, Iran, Iraq and wherever they may be persecuted.”
Have you ever been to Israel? if you have, can you summarize your impression from the Israeli reality?
“Five trips beginning in 1970. Each trip is inspiring and impressive.”
What was your best experience of Israeli culture in the past year (book, music, TV, movie, theater etc.)?
“The FX television series ‘Dig’, Seth Siegel’s book ‘Let There Be Water’.”
Can you tell us a bit about the Jewish community in your hometown?
“Los Angeles is a thriving Jewish community, religiously, culturally, philanthropically.”
