Morris Kahn, the South African-born billionaire businessman who co-founded Amdocs and helped finance Israel’s Beresheet lunar mission, died overnight on Thursday in Israel at the age of 96.
Kahn was widely regarded as a pillar of Israeli hi-tech and philanthropy, channeling his wealth into science education, medical research, and ocean conservation.
Morris Kahn: A public champion of Israel’s lunar ambitions
He served as chairman and principal founder of SpaceIL, the nonprofit behind Beresheet, which launched in 2019 and reached lunar orbit before a crash landing.
He remained a public champion of continuing Israel’s lunar ambitions after the setback.
The Beresheet project, developed with Israel Aerospace Industries, drew significant private donations in addition to Kahn’s support and helped galvanize STEM outreach to Israeli youth.
Kahn also co-founded Amdocs, which grew into a global leader in communications billing software. After his business successes, he increasingly focused on philanthropy, including initiatives in pediatric cardiac care and genetic research, and support for cultural and sports institutions.
His legacy includes Amdocs’s rise as a global technology company and the national pride sparked by Beresheet’s pioneering voyage.