World War II survivor and whistleblower donates to Leket Israel
Myron Mehlman of Maryland, a 91-year-old World War II survivor and retired toxicologist, donated $66,000 in stock to Leket Israel, Israel’s largest food rescue organization. Carol Marcus of Fair Lawn, Leket Israel’s associate director of development in its Teaneck office, accepted the gift. The January 12 meeting at Dr. Mehlman’s group home was arranged with the help of his daughter, Alison Fox.
Dr. Mehlman’s life and his commitment to helping others are a testament to resilience and generosity. He was born in Europe and survived the Holocaust by hiding in the woods. In 1945, he immigrated to the United States, where he built a career as an expert in toxicology and biochemistry. In 1997, he made headlines by filing a whistleblower case against Mobil Oil, exposing health risks from benzene exposure. He won the case, earning a $7 million settlement.
Dr. Mehlman, who now lives in Maryland, is continuing his legacy by supporting Leket Israel. This donation will help Leket rescue and redistribute surplus food weekly to feed more than 250,000 Israelis in need, including Holocaust survivors, at-risk youth, and struggling families.
Dr. Mehlman graduated from high school in Dallas. He moved to New York and enrolled in City College, graduated with a B.S. in chemistry, and then went on to earned a Ph.D. at MIT in 1964. He taught at several universities, including Rutgers, and held government positions within the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare and the NIH, before accepting a job at Mobil Oil.
When he was asked what inspired his donation to Leket Israel, Dr. Mehlman said, “I still remember the hunger I felt during the war, subsisting on whatever we could find or even steal. I also remember the huge stockpiles of fresh produce rotting in Russian warehouses while so many people were starving. I could not understand how so much food was going to waste while there were hungry people. It was important to me to do my part to help provide food to those who need it. No one should go hungry when there is plenty of food to feed everyone.”
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