Morris Kahn

Israelis in Tel Aviv react after watching the Beresheet spacecraft fail to land safely on the moon on April 11, 2019. (Amir Levy/Getty Images)

May 13, 2019, 12:55 am

Genesis Prize Foundation grants $1 million toward Beresheet 2 spacecraft

While admitting decision deviates from traditional once-a-year-philanthropy, organization says support for second attempt at moon landing represents fund’s goal of inspiring Jews

By Marcy Oster

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, right, speaks to International Bible Quiz for Youth winner Yonatan Weisman of Jerusalem, left, on Israel's Independence Day, May 9, 2019. (Kobi Gideon/GPO)

May 9, 2019, 6:38 pm

At Independence Day contest, PM vows to put a Bible on the moon

Citing the holy book as the source of Israel’s ‘initiative, determination and daring,’ Netanyahu promises to press ahead with a second lunar mission

By TOI staff

Morris Kahn (R) announces he will contribute funding for a second Israeli moon landing attempt at the Independence Day ceremony in Jerusalem on May 8, 2019 (Screenshot/Channel 12)

May 8, 2019, 11:07 pm

Lighting torch, SpaceIL chair Morris Kahn says he’ll fund 2nd Beresheet moonshot

While being honored at Independence Day ceremony, billionaire philanthropist goes off script to announce he will again contribute to lunar mission

By TOI staff

The last shot Beresheet sent of landing before crashing onto the moon's surface, April 11, 2019. (YouTube screenshot)

April 15, 2019, 4:14 pm

SpaceIL chairman and co-founder to light Independence Day torch

Morris Kahn and Kfir Damari will receive honor during ceremony on May 8 for promoting tech education and encouraging innovation

By TOI staff

Yariv Bash, right, Yonatan Winetraub, middle, and Kfir Damari, the founders of SpaceIL, inserting a digital time capsule into the Beresheet spacecraft, December 17, 2018. (Yoav Weiss)

February 18, 2019, 4:38 pm

With sights set on the moon, Israel to launch privately funded spacecraft Friday

Beresheet set to touch down in the Sea of Tranquility on April 11; $100 million project, paid for mostly by Jewish donors, would make Israel 4th country to land a craft on the moon

By Melanie Lidman

Illustrative: A dialysis machine to treat kidney disease. (Picsfive; iStock by Getty Images)

November 20, 2018, 2:15 pm

Israeli kidney-cells startup gets backing from billionaire Kahn’s venture arm

KidneyCure Ltd., a biotech firm that uses personalized cell therapy to help improve the function of kidneys, nabs funding from investors including Morris Kahn’s Aurum Ventures

By Shoshanna Solomon

Canadian real estate mogul Sylvan Adams, right, with Morris Kahn, at Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI)’s MBT Space facility in Yehud where SpaceIL's spacecraft to the moon is being assembled (Eliran Avital)

November 19, 2018, 10:38 am

Canadian mogul Adams gives $5 million to Israel moon bid project

Sylvan Adams, who helped bring this year the Giro d’Italia cycling race to Israel, joins Israel’s effort to launch and land its first spacecraft on moon

By Shoshanna Solomon

Opher Doron, general manager of Israel Aerospace Industries' space division, speaks beside the SpaceIL lunar module, in a special "clean room" where the space craft is being developed, during a press tour of their facility near Tel Aviv, Israel, July 10, 2018. (AP Photo/Ilan Ben Zion)

October 3, 2018, 5:02 pm

NASA to help Israeli firm launch first moon mission

US space agency will provide laser reflector to guide unmanned spacecraft, which is scheduled to land in February

By TOI staff

Israeli billionaire and investor Morris Kahn (L) speaks to journalists in front of a Israeli Aerospace Industries spacecraft during a press conference to announce its launch to the moon, in Yehud, near Tel Aviv, on July 10, 2018. (AFP PHOTO / THOMAS COEX)

July 10, 2018, 1:03 pm

Israeli spacecraft aims for historic moon landing… within months

SpaceIL’s unmanned probe will blast off before year’s end; touchdown scheduled for February 13, 2019, when it will unfurl national flag, conduct experiments

By Stuart Winer and Shoshanna Solomon

Zebra's Medical Vision's scan analysis technology in action (Courtesy)

June 7, 2018, 4:51 pm

Israel’s Zebra raises $30m from billionaires Nacht, Kahn for x-ray reads

Startup uses machine learning to analyze data from scans, produces medical reports with 90% accuracy

By Shoshanna Solomon

Philanthropist Morris Kahn, left, Genesis Prize Laureate Natalie Portman, center, and Stan Polovets, co-founder and Chairman of the Genesis Prize Foundation. (Genesis Foundation)

May 28, 2018, 1:22 pm

Genesis, Morris Kahn set up $1m grant competition to boost women in Israel

Nonprofits working in the field are eligible to apply; program is in line with foundation’s 2018 theme: ‘Advancing women’s equality in all aspects of human endeavor’

By Shoshanna Solomon

Rabbi Shlomo Riskin, chancellor of Ohr Torah Stone, presents Rabbanit Shira Zimmerman with her certification as a spiritual leader and arbiter of Jewish law at a ceremony in Jerusalem, January 3, 2017. (Ohr Torah Stone via JTA)

May 1, 2018, 11:16 pm

Shlomo Riskin, Amdocs founder honored for contributions as immigrants to Israel

Nefesh B’Nefesh announces 7 winners of Bonei Zion Prize, awarded to olim from English-speaking countries who make contribution to Jewish state

By JTA

Natalie Portman arrives at the Los Angeles premiere of "Annihilation" at the Regency Village Theatre, on February 13, 2018. (Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

April 23, 2018, 10:41 pm

TV: Portman initially refused to collect Genesis prize because of Gaza violence

Email from actress’s representatives reportedly expresses concern about ‘the news from Gaza… the government’s actions and the latest escalation’

By TOI staff

Natalie Portman attends the 27th Annual EMA Awards at Barker Hangar on September 23, 2017, in Santa Monica, Calif. (Richard Shotwell/ Invision/AP)

April 21, 2018, 9:22 pm

Likud attacks ‘hypocrite’ Natalie Portman after actress snubs Netanyahu

Israeli-born Hollywood star clarifies she is not boycotting Israel, but won’t come to accept prize known as ‘Jewish Nobel’ so as not to be seen as endorsing PM

By TOI staff

Natalie Portman arrives at the Los Angeles premiere of 'Annihilation' at the Regency Village Theatre on Tuesday, February 13, 2018 (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

April 21, 2018, 4:06 am

Natalie Portman on prize snub: ‘I didn’t want to appear to endorse Netanyahu’

Actress says decision to skip Israel event has been ‘mischaracterized,’ stresses she doesn’t back BDS: ‘I can be critical of the leadership without wanting to boycott the nation’

By TOI staff