When Adam Milstein arrived at Los Angeles International Airport in 1981, he carried with him the experiences of an Israeli soldier who had served during the Yom Kippur War, the analytical training of a Technion-educated engineer, and the determination of an immigrant seeking opportunity in America. What he didn’t carry were extensive financial resources, established business connections, or detailed knowledge of American culture and commerce. Four decades later, the former Israeli soldier has built both a substantial real estate empire and what may be America’s most strategic philanthropic network dedicated to Jewish community security.
Milstein’s story represents a classic American narrative of immigrant success channeled toward community service, but it also illustrates how personal experience with Jewish vulnerability can motivate lifetime dedication to Jewish protection and empowerment. From his modest beginnings helping in his father’s construction business in Haifa to his current role managing a philanthropic foundation that supports dozens of organizations across America, his journey demonstrates both the opportunities available in American society and the responsibilities that success creates for community engagement.
The Immigrant’s Calculation
The decision to leave Israel in 1981 was not made lightly for someone whose identity had been shaped by military service defending Jewish sovereignty. Born in 1952 in Haifa to parents who were themselves immigrants—his father arriving from Argentina in 1947 to serve in Israel’s Navy during the War of Independence, his mother coming from Mexico in 1949—Milstein understood the meaning of displacement and new beginnings.
At age 22, in 1974, he married Gila Elgrably in his hometown of Haifa. After spending seven years building a life together in Israel and having their first two daughters, the couple viewed their departure as a strategic investment rather than permanent emigration. As one biographical account notes: “The plan was to stay in America for two years, but since then 40 years have passed in which he has become one of the busiest and most significant philanthropists in the Jewish community.”
Los Angeles in the early 1980s offered extraordinary opportunities for ambitious immigrants willing to work hard and think strategically. The region’s booming economy, particularly in real estate, technology, and entertainment, provided multiple pathways for entrepreneurial success. For Milstein, who combined technical training from the Technion with systematic thinking developed during military service, the environment proved ideal for rapid advancement.
The Student-Entrepreneur
While pursuing his MBA at the University of Southern California, Milstein approached American business education with the same intensity he had previously applied to his studies at the Technion, where he had graduated cum laude in 1978 with a bachelor’s degree in business and economics. He was particularly fascinated by real estate investment, which combined analytical evaluation of market conditions with strategic planning for long-term value creation.
“An already successful businessman, investor, and a real estate developer, Adam went on to earn an MBA from the University of Southern California (USC Marshall). An ambitious young man, Adam became a managing partner at Hager Pacific Properties, a private commercial real estate firm in Southern California,” according to biographical accounts.
His engineering background from the Technion proved valuable in evaluating development potential and construction costs, while his systematic approach to analysis helped him identify opportunities that more established investors might overlook. The combination of academic study and practical investment activity provided comprehensive understanding of American business practices while generating financial returns that could be reinvested in larger projects.
Building Hager Pacific Properties
In 1986, Milstein joined Liberty West, a related entity to Hager Pacific Properties, beginning what would become a highly successful real estate career. Over the next 14 years, he rose through the ranks to become president of the subsidiary and eventually a managing partner for Hager Pacific Properties in 2011.
His methodology involved comprehensive analysis of demographic trends, economic development patterns, transportation infrastructure, and regulatory environments that affected property values and development potential. This data-driven approach enabled him to identify undervalued properties in areas positioned for significant growth, often before such opportunities became obvious to other investors.
The success of Milstein’s systematic investment approach provided both significant financial returns and valuable experience in project management, relationship building, and strategic planning that would prove directly applicable to charitable giving.
More importantly for his later philanthropic career, the real estate business provided experience in coordinating multiple stakeholders, evaluating competing priorities, and maintaining long-term perspectives on value creation—skills that would later distinguish his approach to philanthropy from more traditional charitable giving.
The Philanthropic Awakening
Throughout the 1990s, as his business success grew and his financial position strengthened, Milstein began experiencing what he describes as a gradual awakening to Jewish community needs and his potential role in addressing them. The catalytic moment came around 2000 when he attended funerals for Newton Becker and Shimon Erem, two prominent supporters of Jewish causes whose eulogies focused entirely on their contributions to Jewish communities rather than their business achievements.
“Like them, I want to be remembered for my contribution to the State of Israel and the Jewish people and make a difference in my lifetime,” he explained in a Jerusalem Post interview.
This personal revelation coincided with external events that heightened his concerns about Jewish security, including the Second Intifada and what he perceived as systematically biased media coverage that blamed Israel for Palestinian violence. His unique perspective as both an Israeli veteran and American businessman provided him with insights into both the nature of threats facing Jews and the resources needed to address them effectively.
As he explained his philanthropic motivation to the Jerusalem Post: “Twenty years ago, after many accomplishments as a real estate investor, I was debating whether to diversify by entering a different kind of business or become more active in philanthropy. I was looking for more challenge and satisfaction. My mission was not to continue just making more money. I wanted to do something that would give me more satisfaction — using my knowledge, resources and experience. I chose philanthropy because I wanted to make an impact in my lifetime, make a difference, and feel good about it.”
Formalizing the Mission
In 2000, Adam and Gila established the Adam and Gila Milstein Family Foundation with a mission to strengthen American values, support the U.S.-Israel alliance, and combat hatred and bigotry in all forms. What began as traditional charitable giving would evolve into an innovative approach that applies rigorous business principles to maximize charitable impact.
The foundation’s three core principles—”Active Philanthropy,” “Strategic Force-Multiplication,” and “Philanthropic Synergy”—reflect this business-minded approach. As Milstein explained to the Jerusalem Post: “I don’t only give money to dozens of organizations who do good work in their fields, but I also invest my time, experience, vision and personal connections to support them and launch new initiatives to fill the existing gaps.”
This systematic approach meant that Milstein began dedicating increasing time to studying Jewish community challenges, meeting with organizational leaders, and developing strategic frameworks for addressing interconnected problems. He gradually transitioned from part-time philanthropic involvement to dedicating approximately 80% of his time to charitable activities while maintaining oversight of his real estate business.
The Network Strategy
Perhaps Milstein’s most significant innovation has been his focus on building collaborative networks rather than simply funding individual organizations. His approach reflects understanding gained from both business experience and military service about the importance of strategic coordination and resource sharing.
The foundation’s portfolio demonstrates this network approach through support for organizations addressing different aspects of Jewish community security: campus antisemitism through groups like StandWithUs, media bias through organizations like Palestinian Media Watch, legal advocacy through civil rights groups, interfaith relationships through Christian Zionist organizations, and political engagement through policy development groups.
In 2006, Milstein co-founded the Israeli-American Council, which became the fastest-growing Jewish organization in America during his tenure as national chairman from 2015 to 2019. As he explained in a Jerusalem Post interview: “In 2006, Milstein, together with others, founded the Israeli-American Council (IAC) with the aim of connecting the Israeli-American community to fight antisemitism, among other things.”
In 2017, he co-founded the Impact Forum in Los Angeles, which brings together Jewish philanthropists across generational and political lines to collectively support organizations working toward shared goals, according to a conversation with the Association of French Organization Users and Immigrants. The forum creates structured opportunities for collaborative giving while addressing persistent challenges in Jewish community organization.
The Strategic Investor’s Approach
Milstein’s philanthropic methodology mirrors approaches used in business investment evaluation and portfolio management. This approach involves a systematic evaluation of organizational leadership, strategic positioning, growth potential, and operational effectiveness before making funding commitments.
As he explained his approach to the Jerusalem Post: “People don’t understand why I support so many organizations, and think I’m all over the place, but I’m actually empowering a network. There is no silver bullet, and if you want to make an impact, you need to empower many organizations to work together to create synergy and force multiplication.”
The foundation also provides ongoing strategic guidance and operational support beyond financial contributions, helping organizations develop business plans, improve operational efficiency, establish performance metrics, and build sustainable funding models. This hands-on approach reflects understanding that sustainable organizational impact requires more than financial support—it requires comprehensive capacity building.
Personal Philosophy and Recognition
At 73, Milstein maintains the disciplined approach that characterized his business success while dedicating most of his time to philanthropic activities. “While I have a successful business career, it’s my philanthropic work that drives me daily,” he wrote in a Jerusalem Post article. “When we focus on what we care about, we find a deeper sense of purpose and fulfillment.”
His philanthropic work has earned international recognition. In 2016, The Jerusalem Post selected him as one of the world’s 50 most influential Jews. He was included in the Algemeiner Journal’s list of top 100 people influencing Jewish life that same year. In 2017, Richtopia named him one of the 200 Most Influential Do-Gooders alongside Elon Musk, Barack Obama, and Oprah Winfrey.
As he summarized his approach to community service in a Jerusalem Post interview: “I am doing the best I can in this fight. When people do nothing, they become frustrated and talk about what is wrong with everything. But despite the challenges, I continue to contribute to the best of my abilities, and I sleep well at night.”
Mission and Philosophy
Milstein’s current mission reflects both his Israeli origins and American experience. As he told the Jerusalem Post: “I am very focused on my mission, which is to fight antisemitism, fight the enemies of the State of Israel, support the Jewish people and the State of Israel and strengthen the US-Israel alliance.”
From his arrival in Los Angeles as an ambitious immigrant to his current role as strategic philanthropist, Adam Milstein’s journey illustrates how individual success can be channeled toward community benefit while demonstrating the ongoing relevance of Jewish values and obligations. His transformation from Israeli soldier to American businessman to Jewish advocate provides a model for how personal achievement can serve broader purposes while creating a lasting impact that extends far beyond individual financial success.
Through systematic application of business principles to philanthropic investment, organizational development, and strategic planning, he has demonstrated how commercial expertise can enhance community advocacy effectiveness while providing sustainable foundation for long-term Jewish security and prosperity.
Adam Milstein is an Israeli-American “Strategic Venture Philanthropist.” He can be reached at adam@milsteinff.org, on Twitter @AdamMilstein, and on Facebook www.facebook.com/AdamMilsteinCP.
