George Blumenthal recalls the extraordinary courage of his mother, who walked to the Gestapo to plead for his father’s release from Buchenwald. It is a story of family, faith, and moral conviction under unimaginable pressure.
George reflects candidly on losing a business empire after stepping back and becoming too comfortable. He shares the painful lesson that success can create its own blind spots, and that failure can leave lasting scars.
Asked what he is most proud of, George points not to business success but to the character of his children. He reflects on morality, family, and the values he inherited from his own parents.
George challenges the idea that religious observance alone defines a moral life. He argues that the real test of faith is how we treat other people in business, family, and everyday life.
At 82, George speaks openly about aging, physical decline, memory, and the changes that come with time. His reflection is grounded in gratitude, acceptance, and a deep sense of having been blessed.
George calls on successful philanthropists to give more than money to the Jewish community. He argues that their time, talent, judgment, and leadership may be even more valuable than the checks they write.