Felix Posen, a Jewish-American businessman and philanthropist, has died at the age of 96. He died on Wednesday in New York City.
Born in Berlin in 1928, Posen fled Nazi Germany with his family after Kristallnacht, an experience that shaped his lifelong commitment to promoting Judaism as a culture, history and way of life, beyond just a religion. His contributions left a lasting impact on Jewish education and scholarship worldwide.
Posen supported numerous academic and educational initiatives in Israel and beyond. He played a key role in establishing the Center for the Study of Antisemitism at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem and backed the Center for Hebrew and Jewish Studies at Oxford University.
In the 1980s, he founded the Posen Foundation, which promotes pluralistic Jewish cultural education. Now led by his son, Daniel Posen, the foundation collaborates with Israel’s Education Ministry and nonprofit organizations to support schools, teacher training and projects on Jewish history and culture.
Posen’s flagship project, the Posen Library of Jewish Culture and Civilization, is a comprehensive anthology compiled by over 120 scholars worldwide. Eight of the planned 10 volumes have been published, chronicling the richness of Jewish culture across generations.
The project reflects Posen’s vision of preserving Jewish identity through education and cultural engagement. After serving in the U.S. Army during the Korean War, Posen built a successful career in international trade, co-founding a leading company in oil, metals and minerals.
In 1992, he retired from business to focus on philanthropy and cultural advocacy. The Posen Foundation said, “Felix was not just a philanthropist—he was a visionary with profound intellectual courage.
“He believed Judaism must be preserved not only in synagogues but in classrooms, schools, and daily life. This belief drove him to build a cultural legacy that will endure for generations.”