Beloved by all, Al would delight and inspire his NIF friends with recollections of his first trip to Israel — which was also the trip that led to the creation of the New Israel Fund in 1979.

An icon of philanthropy in the greater Jewish and LGBTQ communities, he served on the first NIF Board, was one of our earliest Guardian of Democracy honorees, and will always be cherished as a founding pillar of the NIF family.

We will miss his warmth and great sense of humor, and continue to be inspired by his incredible commitment to civil and human rights for all.

A couple of quotes that reflect all that NIF meant to Al, and what a treasure he was to us:

“Whoever would’ve thought back in 1979 when I went to Israel for the first time along with NIF’s founders that today we’d be celebrating this fortieth anniversary. Remarkably, many of the issues we focused on during that trip—especially equal rights for women, Arab populations, and LGBTQ people—still require NIF intervention … and probably always will. That’s the reason I’m helping to make sure NIF continues long after I’m gone.”
– A quote from Al upon joining the Founders Circle of NIF’s 40th Anniversary Legacy Giving Campaign, September 2019

“There will always be a need for the New Israel Fund in Israel because the struggles are not going to go away. I don’t know what will happen with the peace process. I don’t know what will happen to the settlements. There may be a Palestinian state, or there may not be. But I want to make sure that the forces of good are there indefinitely to fight the forces of evil. I think it’s as simple as that.”
– Al speaking about his legacy with NIF staff, December 2019

All of us at NIF send our deepest condolences to his husband Robert Holgate, a beloved NIF supporter in his own right. May Al’s memory be for a blessing.

An obituary for Al is here.

Disclaimer: New Israel Fund is not engaged in legal or tax advisory services. Please consult with your professional advisor as to which giving vehicle is right for you, and when creating bequests, seek drafting and counsel from an attorney.