Co-founder and former CEO of WhatsApp Jan Koum has created a ripple as he donated $200 million to Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem, the largest single donation ever made to an Israeli hospital. While Koum is known for his past philanthropic gestures for Jewish causes, this one is significant as it comes amid the conflict. “This gift reflects our confidence in a future of medical innovation and research that will benefit patients in Israel and around the world,” Koum said in a statementThe donation surpasses the $180 million donation made by Shmuel and Anat Harlap to Rabin Medical Center (Beilinson Hospital) in August 2025 to build the “Tower of Hope.”
Where will the money go?
The foundation was established by Jan Koum, the co-founder of WhatsApp. The hospital said the donation followed months of strategic discussions between Shaare Zedek’s leadership and the foundation.The hospital will be officially renamed as Koum Shaare Zedek Medical Center.The 24-story building will encompass more than 1.5 million square feet, including new surgical and emergency care facilities. The hospital said the project was in advanced planning stages and had been approved by the Israeli government and the Jerusalem Municipality.“This is truly a special moment in Shaare Zedek Medical Center’s 124-year-old history,” Shaare Zedek President ProfJonathan Halevy said. “This record donation by The Koum Family Foundation reflects remarkable confidence in our hospital, our staff, the city of Jerusalem, the nation of Israel, and a heartfelt embrace of Zionism.”This donation follows a $50 million gift by The Koum Family Foundation to Soroka Medical Center last year, after it was hit by an Iranian ballistic missile in June 2025.
American-Jewish billionaire who does not like to be called an ‘entrepreneur’
Koum was born in Kyiv in a Jewish family and moved to the US when he was 16. Koum has made donations to many Israeli causes: $600,000 to the Maccabee Task Force, $6 million to Friends of Ir David, and $175,000 to Central Fund of Israel. In 2022, he donated $2 million to AIPAC during the Democratic Party primaries. Koum has also donated to two universities: $1 million to Fordham and $41 million to Stanford. Once he said he does not like being called an entrepreneur as entrepreneurs want to make money but he wants to make useful products.
