The Foundation's Founders
History speaks for itself: No family in world Jewry has done more for Israel in terms of scope and continuity, and none has done it with more zeal and less circumspection than the Rothschild family. 

Baron Edmond Benjamin de Rothschild was a man of great vision, who played a pivotal role in the history of the Jewish people and of the State of Israel. The Baron's outlook on life changed in 1882, when he witnessed first-hand the Pogroms inflicted on the Jews of Russia. These atrocities led him to a revolutionary conclusion for his time - that Jews worldwide, who face danger on the basis of their religious affiliation, must have a place where they can live in peace. The natural place for those Jews is the land of their forefathers: the Holy Land.

What began as a gesture of help to the Russian Jews, turned into five decades of unrelenting settlement and development of the Jewish community in the Eretz Israel, as well as a life-long passion and project for the Baron.

Baron Edmond Benjamin de Rothschild's basic belief was that the Jews of Israel must become financially independent, by choosing a source of income on which they can subsist and thrive. In the early years, the only viable option semed to be the encouragement of an agricultural society. As such, in the late 19th Century and early 20th Century, the Baron purchased more of the region's land than any other person or organization ever, on which he settled new immigrants and allowed them to build their homes and cultivate the lands.

The Baron's concern for the new settlements also included meticulous interest in their agricultural efforts. In addition to the necessary funds, the Baron sent agricultural experts and new agricultural equipment, which he sought during his frequent trips to French county fairs. In later years, the Baron also assisted the budding industry of this settlement, by funding a substantial portion of the region's new industries, factories and entrepreneurs.

Being a fastidious and systematic person, he also realized that for a community to thrive, it must invest in its education, community and culture. As such, he became a staunch advocate of a strong education system, and a most excited supporter of the new settlement's first University, the Hebrew University
in Jerusalem

During his five visits to the Eretz Israel, he expressed his convictions:
1. The Land of Israel will be a safe haven for Jews, and his mission in life was to build that home for the Jewish people.

2. The Jews of Israel should choose professions that will ensure their long-term sustainability  -  agriculture, and in later years, industry.

3. The settlers must live in light of the history of the Jewish people, and must always remember to sustain the legacy and continuity of their forefathers.

4. The community must place great emphasis on education and Jewish culture, which will ensure the future success of the people and endurance of the Jewish spirit.

The new society must be built on those basic values of Judaism: "respect thy father and thy mother" and "love thy neighbor" , the sacred principles of family and community.

When the Baron passed away in 1934, he was already recognized as: the "father of the settlement "leaving a settlement which included the reclamation of nearly 500,000 dunams of land  and close to 30 settlements; the "well-known benefactor", who spent an estimated 40 million francs purchasing land and supporting the new society; and, the person who single-handedly changed the history of Eretz Israel and of the Jewish people.

Baron Edmond de Rothschild, grandson of the "well-known benefactor", managed the family's banks, wineries, art collections, and numerous other business endeavors. But he was also by far the most committed Zionist of the family. Where his grandfather made his mark in the purchase and settlement of
lands, Baron Edmond has been remembered  for his contribution to the industrialization of Israel and his generous contributions to various education and cultural institutions.

In 1962, Edmond de Rothschild established the Caesarea Foundation, which intertwines two of his personal dreams: the building of a unique and thriving community in Caesarea, on the one hand, and securing a source of philanthropic resources, on the other hand. The Caesarea Edmond Benjamin de Rothschild Development Corporation Ltd. (CDC), the executive arm of PICA which the Rothschild family incorporated ten years earlier, was entrusted with the task of developing the green Caesarea community of residential homes, industrial areas, trade centers, tourism and leisure on behalf of the Foundation. A sizeable portion of the Foundation's profits is directed to worthwhile charitable programs in Israel.