Mendel Kaplan | |
---|---|
Born |
Cape Town, South Africa | 16 June 1935
Died | 5 June 2020 | (aged 84)
Nationality | South African |
Alma mater |
University of Cape Town Columbia University |
Occupation(s) | Businessman, philanthropist |
Mendel Kaplan (1936–2009) was a South African Jewish industrialist executive in the firm Cape Gate, philanthropist and community activist. [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]