Did you know that Frank Sinatra was a devoted friend to the Jewish people and a lifelong supporter of the State of Israel? Growing up in Hoboken, New Jersey, Sinatra’s Jewish neighbor, Mrs. Golden, often babysat while his mother was at work. She spoke to him in Yiddish and served him coffee cake and apples. Sinatra was deeply moved by her kindness, and for many years, he wore a mezuzah charm that she gave him.
In 1943, the iconic singer performed in Ben Hecht’s “We Will Never Die” pageant at Madison Square Garden to raise awareness of the Holocaust. He also appeared in short films about antisemitism and religious intolerance and was known for his fundraising efforts to support the State of Israel. In 1966, Sinatra made an appearance in “Cast a Giant Shadow,” a film about the events leading up to the founding of the Jewish state, starring Kirk Douglas. He performed several concerts in Israel, including for Israeli troops and at the official Independence Day event in Tel Aviv.
In 1995, Sinatra marked his 80th birthday with a trip to Israel on his private plane, accompanied by several close friends, including Lee Iacocca and Walter Matthau. Sinatra’s love for Israel and the Jewish people remained constant throughout his life. He passed away at the age of 82 on May 14, 1998, the 50th anniversary of Israel’s independence.
Photo by Government Press Office, Frank Sinatra watching the Independence Day parade in Tel Aviv, 1962.
