Martin Lowenstein – Mensch, Conservationist, Religious Freedom Advocate

Martin Lowenstein cares deeply about a number of causes, both Jewish and in the wider community. He and his wife, Inbar, have long supported the Federation and are particularly interested in issues that impact Israel, where she grew up. Recently, Martin agreed to help underwrite a $50,000 grant to the iRep (Israel Religious Expression Platform) Initiative, which advocates for religious freedom and civil marriage in Israel. He is also now serving as our Federation’s representative on iRep’s national board. Martin agreed to be interviewed about his professional and philanthropic work and passions, with Kate Berenson, a philanthropic advisor at the Federation:

Kate Berenson: Martin, you have a long-standing commitment to philanthropy, which has benefited many Jewish and other nonprofits, including the Federation. What prompted you to start giving and what inspires you to continue?

Martin Lowenstein: My father had a box of index cards, and on each card he had typed the name of a charity, and below it was typed a column of successive years and the amount given in each year. When he passed away in 1993, I continued his pattern of giving while making adjustments over time to reflect my own interests. I continue to give as generously as I possibly can to the Jewish community, because I believe that being born a Jew is part of a deliberate, grand design. I was given a role on this Jewish stage, and I am playing it with whatever skills and resources I have.

KB: In 2005, you and Inbar were the bride and groom in a mock wedding ceremony in Jaffa, which was staged and televised. The intent was to protest the non-recognition of civil marriage in Israel. How did this come about?

ML: Inbar and I were living in Sde Boker and were recently engaged to be married, when we were approached by the Forum for Freedom of Choice in Marriage, a consortium promoting civil marriage in Israel. They were planning a public relations event at the Gesher Theatre in Jaffa, and the centerpiece of the event was a mock wedding, in which Inbar and I were to be the bride and groom.

The mock civil wedding was held in the foyer of the Gesher Theatre in Jaffa, where the Marriage of Figaro was showing that evening. Inbar and I were outfitted in 18th century Spanish dress for our mock wedding. Immediately after the wedding, the Israeli press rushed the chuppah to interview us. Twelve years later, civil marriage is still not recognized in Israel.

KB: Your work on the board of iRep as the representative of the San Francisco-based Federation was clearly motivated by your experience then. Can you share a bit about what is being done on this important issue?

ML: The initial goal of iRep, which was launched in 2014, is to change the status quo by broadening the range of legally recognized options for marriage in Israel. Through 2016, iRep made grants of approximately $300,000 to organizations in Israel. One iRep-funded initiative was an Israeli radio campaign targeting parents and grandparents to embrace non-Rabbinate wedding ceremonies for their children.

iRep is now reviewing another round of grant applications. It is an honor for me to represent the Jewish Community Federation as a voting member of the iRep board.

KB: You grew up on the Peninsula. How did you end up operating China Camp State Park in Marin County?

ML: My two passions have always been Israel and the environment. My philanthropic giving follows suit, and I wanted my work to do the same. After living in Israel for five years, Inbar, our three children, and I returned to the United States in 2014 and settled down in Marin. My mother in San Mateo had recently passed away. With my two sisters living in San Rafael and Willits, we decided on San Rafael in order to be near family and to have a short commute to Brandeis Marin, where my children are in 5th grade, 3rd grade, and, starting next fall, in kindergarten.

My primary exercise is running in China Camp State Park. I discovered that China Camp is one of five California state parks operated by nonprofit organizations due to legislation enacted in 2012. I suggested to the board of Friends of China Camp that they should create an executive director position and fill it ASAP to help them balance their budget and keep the park open. The stars must have been aligned – they gave me the nod, and I have been the executive director of Friends of China Camp since August 2016.

KB: What are your goals for China Camp in the coming years? How can the community support these goals?

ML: My goal for China Camp is simple: make it financially self-sustainable so that it can remain open and operate smoothly. The biggest misconception among the public is that we are funded by the state. However, despite being a state park, we do not receive any state funding. Friends of China Camp’s revenue comes from our campground’s 35 camp sites, day use fees, and our membership program.

Over the next 2-3 years, we will be raising money to stabilize the wooden structures in China Camp Village, a 19th century Chinese shrimping village. Stabilizing these 150-year-old buildings will enable us to keep them open to the public. Those who want to support us can visit www.friendsofchinacamp.org to become a member, and we’ll send them an annual pass to this wonderful 1,500-acre park on the San Francisco Bay.