Moshe Schnitzer
Encyclopedia
Moshe Schnitzer was a Romania
n immigrant to Israel who became a key player in the international diamond trade.
From 1967 to 1993 he was President of the Israel Diamond Exchange
(IDE), which became the world's largest diamond exchange.
, in 1921.
He emigrated to Israel
in 1934, and studied history and philosophy at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem
.
In 1942, pushed by his father, he entered the diamond business.
He left university to work in a diamond polishing plant only under protest.
Schnitzer learned sawing and cutting at Pickel's factory in Tel Aviv, where he became a work manager in 1944.
In 1945 he and Shlomo Vinikov founded the Society for the Development of the Diamond Industry in Palestine.
He was editor of Hayahalom (The Diamond), the diamond industry's journal. In 1946 Schnitzer and Elhanan Halperin co-authored an instruction book on Diamonds in Hebrew.
Schnitzer also fought in the Irgun
, a Zionist paramilitary group that was seeking to establish the state of Israel. The connections he made there with future leaders helped him later in his business life.
In 1947 he was one of the founders of the Israel Diamond Exchange.
Schnitzer and a partner launched the firm of Schnitzer-Greenstein in 1952.
In 1960 he opened his own firm, M. Schnitzer & Co., with his son and son-in-law.
From 1967 to 1993 Schnitzer was President of the Israel Diamond Exchange.
During his long tenure the exchange was transformed from an organization with a relatively marginal position in the international market into the largest and most modern exchange in the world.
Annual exports on polished diamonds from Israel grew from $200 million to $3.4 billion.
There were political aspects to his position.
Israeli Prime Ministers Yitzhak Rabin
and Golda Meir
both used Schnitzer to convey messages to the Soviet Union under the disguise of conducting diamond transactions.
Under Indira Ghandi, India had been highly critical of Israel's policy in Palestine, and public hostility persisted after her death in 1984. For this reason, when India applied to join the World Federation of Diamond Bourses
in July 1986, Moshe Schnitzer said Israel was against admitting India. However, the next month officials of the Israel Diamond Exchange said the application had not been rejected.
Schnitzer was also the President of the World Federation of Diamond Bourses (WFDB) from 1968 to 1972, and from 1978 to 1982.
He was responsible for the establishment in 1982 of the Schnitzer Foundation for Research on the Israeli Economy and Society at Bar-Ilan University
, to fund academic research on economic and social topics.
Schnitzer arranged to establish the Harry Oppenheimer Diamond Museum
in Ramat Gan in 1986 and was the museum's Chairman until July 2003.
in 2004, the highest civilian award given by Israel.
The award was given for "making a special contribution to the State of Israel and Israeli society".
It recognized his pivotal role in making Israel one of the main diamond manufacturing centers in the world.
He was also awarded the Order of King Leopold of Belgium for his contribution to the international diamond industry.
He was given an honorary doctorate from Bar-Ilan University.
The plaza adjacent to the diamond exchange in Ramat Gan is called the Moshe Schnitzer Plaza.
Schnitzer died in August 2007.
At his funeral, he was eulogized by former Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
, former Chief Rabbi Israel Meir Lau and other prominent men.
In May 2008, during the opening ceremony of the World Diamond Congress
in Shanghai, he posthumously received the first-ever Diamantaire of the Year award.
His son, Shmuel Schnitzer, was also a president of the IDE and the WFDB. His grandson Dan Gertler
became prominent in the diamond business in Africa.
Gertler is the first in his family to deal in rough diamonds rather than polished stones, which complements Shmuel Schnitzer's ambition for Israel to displace Antwerp, Belgium as the worlds largest diamond center.
According to WFDB president Ernest Blom, "Moshe Schnitzer was a visionary. After laying the foundation in Israel for what would grow, largely according to his plan, into one of the world’s most important diamond centers, he turned his attention to the WFDB and the international diamond trade. He realized that our strength lay in our ability to complement one another, working together as an international network of colleagues, rather than as competitors. Generations of diamantaires from all over the world considered him a mentor and a leader".
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
n immigrant to Israel who became a key player in the international diamond trade.
From 1967 to 1993 he was President of the Israel Diamond Exchange
Israel Diamond Exchange
Israel Diamond Exchange Ltd., located in Ramat Gan, near Tel Aviv, is the world's largest diamond exchange. The exchange is a private company that incorporates about 2800 diamantaires members, which are engaged in diamond trading, cutting, marketing, brokerage, import and export.The exchange...
(IDE), which became the world's largest diamond exchange.
Early years
Schnitzer was born in Chernowitz, then in RomaniaRomania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
, in 1921.
He emigrated to Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
in 1934, and studied history and philosophy at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Hebrew University of Jerusalem
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem ; ; abbreviated HUJI) is Israel's second-oldest university, after the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology. The Hebrew University has three campuses in Jerusalem and one in Rehovot. The world's largest Jewish studies library is located on its Edmond J...
.
In 1942, pushed by his father, he entered the diamond business.
He left university to work in a diamond polishing plant only under protest.
Schnitzer learned sawing and cutting at Pickel's factory in Tel Aviv, where he became a work manager in 1944.
In 1945 he and Shlomo Vinikov founded the Society for the Development of the Diamond Industry in Palestine.
He was editor of Hayahalom (The Diamond), the diamond industry's journal. In 1946 Schnitzer and Elhanan Halperin co-authored an instruction book on Diamonds in Hebrew.
Schnitzer also fought in the Irgun
Irgun
The Irgun , or Irgun Zevai Leumi to give it its full title , was a Zionist paramilitary group that operated in Mandate Palestine between 1931 and 1948. It was an offshoot of the earlier and larger Jewish paramilitary organization haHaganah...
, a Zionist paramilitary group that was seeking to establish the state of Israel. The connections he made there with future leaders helped him later in his business life.
In 1947 he was one of the founders of the Israel Diamond Exchange.
Schnitzer and a partner launched the firm of Schnitzer-Greenstein in 1952.
In 1960 he opened his own firm, M. Schnitzer & Co., with his son and son-in-law.
Israel Diamond Exchange President
During his long tenure the exchange was transformed from an organization with a relatively marginal position in the international market into the largest and most modern exchange in the world.
Annual exports on polished diamonds from Israel grew from $200 million to $3.4 billion.
There were political aspects to his position.
Israeli Prime Ministers Yitzhak Rabin
Yitzhak Rabin
' was an Israeli politician, statesman and general. He was the fifth Prime Minister of Israel, serving two terms in office, 1974–77 and 1992 until his assassination in 1995....
and Golda Meir
Golda Meir
Golda Meir ; May 3, 1898 – December 8, 1978) was a teacher, kibbutznik and politician who became the fourth Prime Minister of the State of Israel....
both used Schnitzer to convey messages to the Soviet Union under the disguise of conducting diamond transactions.
Under Indira Ghandi, India had been highly critical of Israel's policy in Palestine, and public hostility persisted after her death in 1984. For this reason, when India applied to join the World Federation of Diamond Bourses
World Federation of Diamond Bourses
The World Federation of Diamond Bourses, founded in 1947, was created to provide bourses trading in rough and polished diamonds and precious stones with a common set of trading practices. It is composed of 29 member diamond bourses. Their headquarters are in Antwerp...
in July 1986, Moshe Schnitzer said Israel was against admitting India. However, the next month officials of the Israel Diamond Exchange said the application had not been rejected.
Schnitzer was also the President of the World Federation of Diamond Bourses (WFDB) from 1968 to 1972, and from 1978 to 1982.
He was responsible for the establishment in 1982 of the Schnitzer Foundation for Research on the Israeli Economy and Society at Bar-Ilan University
Bar-Ilan University
Bar-Ilan University is a university in Ramat Gan of the Tel Aviv District, Israel.Established in 1955, Bar Ilan is now Israel's second-largest academic institution. It has nearly 26,800 students and 1,350 faculty members...
, to fund academic research on economic and social topics.
Schnitzer arranged to establish the Harry Oppenheimer Diamond Museum
Harry Oppenheimer Diamond Museum
The Harry Oppenheimer Diamond Museum is a museum located in the Diamond Exchange District of Ramat Gan, Israel. The permanent collection consists of rough and finished diamonds and gemstones and provides information on the history and industry of diamonds...
in Ramat Gan in 1986 and was the museum's Chairman until July 2003.
Honors and legacy
Moshe Schnitzer was awarded the Israel PrizeIsrael Prize
The Israel Prize is an award handed out by the State of Israel and is largely regarded as the state's highest honor. It is presented annually, on Israeli Independence Day, in a state ceremony in Jerusalem, in the presence of the President, the Prime Minister, the Knesset chairperson, and the...
in 2004, the highest civilian award given by Israel.
The award was given for "making a special contribution to the State of Israel and Israeli society".
It recognized his pivotal role in making Israel one of the main diamond manufacturing centers in the world.
He was also awarded the Order of King Leopold of Belgium for his contribution to the international diamond industry.
He was given an honorary doctorate from Bar-Ilan University.
The plaza adjacent to the diamond exchange in Ramat Gan is called the Moshe Schnitzer Plaza.
Schnitzer died in August 2007.
At his funeral, he was eulogized by former Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
Benjamin Netanyahu
Benjamin "Bibi" Netanyahu is the current Prime Minister of Israel. He serves also as the Chairman of the Likud Party, as a Knesset member, as the Health Minister of Israel, as the Pensioner Affairs Minister of Israel and as the Economic Strategy Minister of Israel.Netanyahu is the first and, to...
, former Chief Rabbi Israel Meir Lau and other prominent men.
In May 2008, during the opening ceremony of the World Diamond Congress
World Diamond Congress
The World Diamond Congress is an organization made up of representatives from the World Federation of Diamond Bourses and the International Diamond Manufacturers Association...
in Shanghai, he posthumously received the first-ever Diamantaire of the Year award.
His son, Shmuel Schnitzer, was also a president of the IDE and the WFDB. His grandson Dan Gertler
Dan Gertler
Dan Gertler is an Israeli businessman, the founder and President of the DGI Group of Companies. He has large interests in diamonds and copper mining in the Democratic Republic of the Congo .-Background:...
became prominent in the diamond business in Africa.
Gertler is the first in his family to deal in rough diamonds rather than polished stones, which complements Shmuel Schnitzer's ambition for Israel to displace Antwerp, Belgium as the worlds largest diamond center.
According to WFDB president Ernest Blom, "Moshe Schnitzer was a visionary. After laying the foundation in Israel for what would grow, largely according to his plan, into one of the world’s most important diamond centers, he turned his attention to the WFDB and the international diamond trade. He realized that our strength lay in our ability to complement one another, working together as an international network of colleagues, rather than as competitors. Generations of diamantaires from all over the world considered him a mentor and a leader".