Arthur Antman’s interest in exploration was first sparked as a young boy from the Bronx, NY when he was gifted a cigar box of stamps from around the world. Today he embarks on adventure travel everywhere from Alaska to New Zealand, with an insatiable thirst for discovering new lands, people, and experiences. No matter where he goes, though, it is Israel that holds a special place in his heart. By establishing Charitable Gift Annuities (CGAs) with Jewish National Fund, Arthur is able to fuel his wanderlust and give back to the land and people of Israel while, at the same time, he receives fixed payments for life.
A spirit of adventure has long-defined Arthur’s life, back to his service in the Peace Corps from 1965-1967 in Turkey. It was during the second year of his service, in a small propeller plane, that Arthur first saw the orange groves of Israel welcoming him to his ancestral homeland. Staying with an aunt and uncle who had survived the Holocaust cemented his impression that Israel would be central to his lifelong values. Today, he has traveled to Israel 8 times and enjoyed multiple Jewish National Fund-USA missions.
The decision to open a CGA, and then additional ones later came from Arthur’s keen financial acumen. A stock market investor since the 1960s, Arthur found himself looking to increase his income in his retirement and decrease his holdings. Enjoying the income from a CGA while supporting a cause close to his heart made good financial and philanthropic sense.
As for why he chose Jewish National Fund-USA, that was a straightforward choice too. Arthur shared, “To me, it’s a no-brainer. They do incredible work in Israel.” As Arthur continues to travel the globe and take in the many opportunities the world has to offer, he enjoys knowing that his philanthropic investments are providing for his financial security, and Israel’s security as an independent Jewish nation.