Alan B. Slifka
Encyclopedia
Alan Bruce Slifka was a New York investor and philanthropist, a co-founder of the Abraham Fund and founding chairman of the Big Apple Circus
. He was a native of Manhattan
.
At the time of his death he was married to Riva Ritvo-Slifka. He had three sons, Michael, Randolph, and David.
After graduating from Yale University
in 1951, Slifka earned a Master's degree
in Business Administration at Harvard University
in 1953.
& Company, where he worked as a securities analyst for 32 years, rising to partner before leaving to start his own company, now Halcyon Asset Management.
. In 1993, he became founding chairman emeritus. In 1995, in recognition of Slifka's lead gift to a successful capital campaign, the circus's new permanent creative center center in Walden, NY was named the Slifka Family Creative Center.
Together with sociologist Eugene Wiener, Slifka was a co-founder in 1989 of The Abraham Fund Initiatives
, named for the common ancestor of Arabs and Jews, and served as chairman of the organization since its founding. This was the first nonprofit organization dedicated to furthering coexistence between Israel's Arab and Jewish citizens. The Abraham Fund works to advance a shared society of inclusion and equality between Jews and Arabs in Israel.
The Slifka Program on Intercommunal Coexistence at Brandeis University
, create by Slifka in 2001, seeks to build professional expertise and creative leadership in the field of coexistence and offers a master’s degree in coexistence and conflict. The Sylvia and Joseph Slifka Israeli Coexistence Scholarship at Brandeis, which Slifka funded in honor of his parents, is awarded each year to two citizens of Israel (one Jewish, one Arab) who are committed to fostering coexistence and harmony.
In recognition of his work with The Abraham Fund Initiatives
, Slifka was awarded the Knesset
Prize for Coexistence in 2000. Brandeis
awarded him an honorary doctorate in 2003.
and Asperger's syndrome.
Big Apple Circus
The Big Apple Circus is a circus that is based in New York City. Opened in 1977, it has become a tourist attraction as well. It has been highly influential towards the creation of Cirque du Soleil, tent-based circuses and smaller non-profit shows, such as Circus Flora.-The 1970s:The idea of...
. He was a native of Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
.
Personal life
Alan Bruce Slifka was the son of Joseph and Sylvia Slifka. His twin sister is Barbara Slifka. His father owned successful textile and real estate businesses.At the time of his death he was married to Riva Ritvo-Slifka. He had three sons, Michael, Randolph, and David.
Education
Slifka and his sister were initially home schooled by their mother. This provided an opportunity for the twins to learn the importance of moral values and the basics of coexistence. In the fourth grade, the twins began studying at the Ethical Culture Society's Fieldston School.After graduating from Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
in 1951, Slifka earned a Master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
in Business Administration at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
in 1953.
Professional background
Following his graduation from Harvard, Slifka joined the financial firm L.F. RothschildL.F. Rothschild
L.F. Rothschild was a merchant and investment banking firm based in the United States and founded in 1899. The firm collapsed following the 1987 stock market crash.-History:...
& Company, where he worked as a securities analyst for 32 years, rising to partner before leaving to start his own company, now Halcyon Asset Management.
Philanthropy
In 1977, Slifka became the founding chairman of the New York School for Circus Arts, a non-profit training school whose performing arm is the Big Apple CircusBig Apple Circus
The Big Apple Circus is a circus that is based in New York City. Opened in 1977, it has become a tourist attraction as well. It has been highly influential towards the creation of Cirque du Soleil, tent-based circuses and smaller non-profit shows, such as Circus Flora.-The 1970s:The idea of...
. In 1993, he became founding chairman emeritus. In 1995, in recognition of Slifka's lead gift to a successful capital campaign, the circus's new permanent creative center center in Walden, NY was named the Slifka Family Creative Center.
Together with sociologist Eugene Wiener, Slifka was a co-founder in 1989 of The Abraham Fund Initiatives
The Abraham Fund Initiatives
The Abraham Fund Initiatives is a non-profit organization based in Jerusalem and New York City. Named for the common ancestor of both Jews and Arabs, it is dedicated to advancing coexistence, equality and cooperation between Israel's Jewish and Arab citizens...
, named for the common ancestor of Arabs and Jews, and served as chairman of the organization since its founding. This was the first nonprofit organization dedicated to furthering coexistence between Israel's Arab and Jewish citizens. The Abraham Fund works to advance a shared society of inclusion and equality between Jews and Arabs in Israel.
The Slifka Program on Intercommunal Coexistence at Brandeis University
Brandeis University
Brandeis University is an American private research university with a liberal arts focus. It is located in the southwestern corner of Waltham, Massachusetts, nine miles west of Boston. The University has an enrollment of approximately 3,200 undergraduate and 2,100 graduate students. In 2011, it...
, create by Slifka in 2001, seeks to build professional expertise and creative leadership in the field of coexistence and offers a master’s degree in coexistence and conflict. The Sylvia and Joseph Slifka Israeli Coexistence Scholarship at Brandeis, which Slifka funded in honor of his parents, is awarded each year to two citizens of Israel (one Jewish, one Arab) who are committed to fostering coexistence and harmony.
In recognition of his work with The Abraham Fund Initiatives
The Abraham Fund Initiatives
The Abraham Fund Initiatives is a non-profit organization based in Jerusalem and New York City. Named for the common ancestor of both Jews and Arabs, it is dedicated to advancing coexistence, equality and cooperation between Israel's Jewish and Arab citizens...
, Slifka was awarded the Knesset
Knesset
The Knesset is the unicameral legislature of Israel, located in Givat Ram, Jerusalem.-Role in Israeli Government :The legislative branch of the Israeli government, the Knesset passes all laws, elects the President and Prime Minister , approves the cabinet, and supervises the work of the government...
Prize for Coexistence in 2000. Brandeis
Brandeis
Brandeis may refer to:* Louis Brandeis, U.S. Supreme Court Justice* Things named for Louis Brandeis:** Brandeis Brief, a 1908 document written by Brandeis as a litigator** Brandeis University, in Massachusetts, USA...
awarded him an honorary doctorate in 2003.
Alan B. Slifka Foundation
Established in New York in 1963, this fund had assets of $13,603,554 in 2005. Its goals include harmony not only among Jews and Arabs but also between religious and secular elements of Israeli society. In addition to fostering Jewish values and education, the foundation also promoted medical research on autismAutism
Autism is a disorder of neural development characterized by impaired social interaction and communication, and by restricted and repetitive behavior. These signs all begin before a child is three years old. Autism affects information processing in the brain by altering how nerve cells and their...
and Asperger's syndrome.