Peace Dividend: Jack Bendheim (#58)

Jack Bendheim: 47, Fort Lee, N.J. $144,150. Party: D

By Rachel Burstein

Glance at Jack Bendheim's political contributions, and you'll find the recipients are almost all Democrats and are all pro-Israel. An Orthodox Jew with a history of activism in the world Jewish community, Bendheim is a national vice president of AIPAC (American Israel Political Action Committee) and chairman of IPF (Israel Policy Forum). Bendheim and other politically prominent American Jews (including Mother Jones 400 members #71 David Steiner and #217 Fredric Mack) serve on IPF's board and fund the group to lobby Congress and catalyze support for the Arab-Israeli peace process.

If the peace process moves forward, Bendheim stands to make millions. Bendheim is the president of Philipp Brothers Chemicals, whose subsidiary, Koffolk Vitamins and Fine Chemicals (1994 sales: $54 million), will benefit in an open Middle East market. According to Koffolk export manager Henry Weil, "The forward movement of the peace process will allow Koffolk to penetrate Arab markets heretofore closed to the company."

It's unclear whether Jack Bendheim knew his support of Israel would be so profitable. IPF Executive Direcotr Jonathan Jacoby, who describes Bendheim as a modes man and a true "mensch," says Bendheim makes political contributions because he's a pragmatist. "He knows the world doesn't get better just because we want it to; it gets better because laws are passed and issues are discussed." According to Jacoby, Bendheim is very realistic about how best to convey his point of view.