Tens of thousands of dollars that fueled the organizations participating in recent anti-Israel demonstrations on college campuses can be traced back to the wealth of a prominent and politically engaged Jewish family in America. This influential family includes a current U.S. congressman and a former candidate for ambassador to Jerusalem.
According to a recent report by the Institute for the Study of Global Antisemitism and Policy, a think tank with Israeli support, the Bafrayung Fund has been identified as the primary funder of pro-Palestinian activist groups engaged in campus demonstrations and related activities. This finding has gained significant attention in the media.
The Institute’s calculations seem to encompass contributions made to any organization that has ever endorsed or advocated for pro-Palestinian activities. However, our investigation at The Daily Beast has verified that the Bafrayung Fund, located in Covina, California, stands out as one of the most steadfast supporters of the Palestinian Youth Movement. This movement played a pivotal role in the series of encampments that swept across American colleges this year. Additionally, the Fund has made substantial contributions to two other allies of the Palestinian Youth Movement, namely the Arab Resource and Organizing Center, as well as Critical Resistance.
Each of these organizations has used the controversial slogan “from the river to the sea,” which critics argue is not advocating for two coexisting states between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean, but rather for the elimination of Israel as a political entity. Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) and others, however, disagree with this interpretation.
Rachel Gelman, a 33-year-old resident of the Bay Area, is the driving force behind the Bafrayung Fund. Gelman, who is part of the Levi Strauss company dynasty and a cousin to Rep. Dan Goldman (D-NY), has sourced the fund’s money from two main contributors. Firstly, Gelman herself has made significant contributions, and secondly, the Morningstar Philanthropic Foundation, a personal charity owned by her parents who are prominent Democratic Party donors. Gelman’s parents also own a chain of publications that cater to the East Coast Jewish communities and have been actively involved in organizations that promote American-Israeli relations. Interestingly, Gelman’s parents even got engaged on a kibbutz.
Rachel Gelman is connected to the congressman and the clothing empire through her mother, Susie Gelman. Susie Gelman, who President Joe Biden appointed to the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, was previously considered for the role of U.S. ambassador to Israel. Susie Gelman’s mother, Susan Goldman, is the granddaughter of Walter Haas, the businessman who transformed Levi Strauss from a small San Francisco wholesaler into a renowned global denim brand. Additionally, Susie’s father, Richard Goldman, founded a significant insurance company and was listed as a billionaire by Forbes before selling the company in 2001. Rachel’s late brother, Richard, was a federal prosecutor and is the father of the current U.S. representative.
The Daily Beast attempted to contact over a dozen members of the Gelman, Goldman, and Haas families, including the congressman, but received no response to phone calls or text messages. Rachel Gelman, who is currently on maternity leave, did not reply to repeated cellphone calls or an emailed inquiry, despite her out-of-office message.
Susie Gelman’s passion for Jewish issues began at a young age, as highlighted in a 2013 profile in the Israeli newspaper Haaretz. It was through a youth group associated with the Jewish Federations of North America that she crossed paths with her future husband, with both eventually assuming leadership positions within the organization. Together, they co-own the Mid-Atlantic Media Group, which oversees the publication of the Baltimore Jewish Times, the Philadelphia Jewish Exponent, and Washington Jewish Week.
Susie Gelman’s connection to Israel started at a young age when she visited the country for the first time in 1970, at the age of 16. During the Second Intifada in the early 2000s, a period marked by violent suicide bombings targeting Israeli civilians, Gelman felt compelled to take action. She couldn’t simply stand by while Israelis were enduring such traumatic events. As a result, Gelman volunteered at a Jerusalem hospital to provide support and assistance to those in need. This experience further deepened her commitment to the country. (Source: Haaretz)
From 2016 to 2023, Susie Gelman held the position of chairwoman at the Israel Policy Forum, an organization established in the 1990s to promote Israeli-Palestinian peace talks. During her tenure, Gelman utilized her platform to express her disapproval of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and certain factions within his right-wing coalition. Her criticisms were so significant that Haaretz, a renowned publication, suggested that her appointment as ambassador to Israel would have sent a clear message from the Biden administration to the current government.
Despite the ongoing tensions with the current leadership of the country, the Gelmans have emerged as one of the major financial contributors to the Birthright Israel Foundation. The foundation is responsible for funding free trips to Israel for Jewish young adults, and Mrs. Gelman herself has previously served as its chairperson.
The Gelmans have also been actively supporting their daughter Rachel’s charity, the Bafrayung Fund. From 2019 to 2022, they have contributed a total of $3,470,000 through Morningstar Philanthropic, the same organization that they use to support Birthright and the Israel Policy Forum.
Bafrayund has distributed funds to various left-wing causes, including those associated with pro-Palestinian and anti-Israeli activism. For instance, they have provided $60,000 to the Palestinian Youth Movement, which is allocated in annual installments through their sponsor WESPAC. Additionally, they have given $40,000 to the Arab Resource and Organizing Center.
The Palestinian Youth Movement played a significant role in the growing campus encampments this spring, with their active participation documented extensively. One of the notable protests they took part in was held at Columbia University.
The Arab Resource and Organizing Committee has been actively participating in encampments held at state schools near its home base in the Bay Area. They have been involved in encampments at UC Berkeley and, most recently, UC San Francisco.
The People’s Conference for Palestine, held in Detroit over the weekend, saw the active participation of the Palestinian Youth Movement and the Arab Resource and Organizing Committee. Both organizations were listed as convening organizations for the event. During the conference, Representative Tlaib criticized Biden, accusing him of enabling Netanyahu.
The Bafrayung Fund has also donated $298,000 to Critical Resistance, an organization that initially focused on prison abolition but has recently been involved in various pro-Palestinian events alongside the Palestinian Youth Movement and AROC. These events have included protests that caused temporary disruptions at San Francisco Airport, the Bay Bridge, and the Port of Oakland.
Rachel Gelman’s political donations diverge significantly from those of her parents, Susie and Michael Gelman, according to records from the Federal Election Commission. While her parents have been generous contributors to Democratic politicians, with over $800,000 donated to committees supporting Biden’s re-election, Rachel’s political giving takes a different course.
In April, the duo took a photo outside the White House.
In this election cycle, the Gelmans have generously bestowed significant gifts upon several prominent politicians. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Rep. Nancy Pelosi, along with their nephew, Rep. Dan Goldman, have received substantial contributions totaling $23,200 from the Gelmans.
Rachel Gelman, on the other hand, has not contributed anything to her cousin. Instead, she has generously supported two of his left-wing colleagues, namely Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-NY) and Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN), both of whom are known for their critical stance on Israel.
