Morris Kahn: Amdocs Co-Founder & SpaceIL Philanthropist

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Morris Kahn (March 5, 1930, Benoni, South Africa, to January 1, 2026, Israel) was the co-founder of Amdocs, the founder of the Aurec Group, and the principal backer of SpaceIL's Beresheet lunar mission, Israel's first spacecraft. He arrived in Israel in 1956 as a young Zionist immigrant, built a telephone directory business into one of the world's largest telecom software companies, channeled approximately $200 million into philanthropy, and died at 95 as one of the most consequential entrepreneur-philanthropists in Israeli history.

At a Glance

Born	March 5, 1930, Benoni, South Africa
Died	January 1, 2026, Israel (age 95)
Immigration	1956, from South Africa with wife Jacqueline and two sons
Companies	Aurec Group; Golden Pages; Amdocs (co-founded 1982); Coral World; Aurum Ventures
Net worth	~$1.1 billion (Forbes, lifetime)
SpaceIL	Chairman; >$40 million personally invested in Beresheet
Philanthropy	~$200 million lifetime; Save a Child's Heart; Morris Kahn Cancer Research (TAU)
Amdocs IPO	1998 at $2.75B valuation; Kahn sold ~$1B in shares

Kahn's Origins: Benoni to Beit Yanai

Morris Kahn was born into a Jewish family in Benoni, a mining town east of Johannesburg. His parents, Philip and Beattie Kahn, instilled Zionist values. He was active in the Habonim Zionist youth movement. In 1956, Kahn made aliyah with his wife Jacqueline (Jackie) Maloon and their two young sons, David and Benjamin. They settled in Beit Yanai on the coastal plain between Tel Aviv and Haifa. His early ventures included a bicycle factory in Beit Shemesh. The breakthrough came in 1968 when Kahn won a government tender to produce Israel's Golden Pages telephone directory.

From Golden Pages to Amdocs

The Golden Pages operation generated the insight that directory data and billing data for telephone companies were structurally similar problems. In 1982, Kahn co-founded Amdocs to develop billing and customer-management software for telecommunications companies. Amdocs grew into the global leader in telecom billing and customer experience software. In 1998, Amdocs (NYSE: DOX) went public at a valuation of $2.75 billion. Kahn and his partners sold shares worth approximately $1.9 billion total; Kahn's personal share was approximately $1 billion. Amdocs today has a market capitalization of approximately $8.85 billion.

Coral World and the Marine Conservation Legacy

In the 1970s, Kahn founded Coral World International, which established the Underwater Observatory Marine Park in Eilat. Coral World developed underwater observation centers in Australia, Hawaii, and Spain. Now run by his son Benji Kahn. Morris was an avid diver who participated in the rescue of a whale shark caught in fishermen's nets.

SpaceIL and the Beresheet Mission

When three young Israeli engineers approached Kahn with the idea of building a robotic moon lander, he gave them $100,000 with no questions asked. Over a decade, the project grew to cost approximately $100 million, of which Kahn personally contributed more than $40 million. Beresheet launched on February 22, 2019 aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. It reached lunar orbit but crash-landed on April 11, 2019. Despite the failure, the mission made Israel the seventh country to orbit the Moon and galvanized STEM education across the country. Kahn served as SpaceIL's president and chairman.

Kahn's Philanthropy

Kahn invested approximately $200 million in philanthropic causes over his lifetime. Major initiatives included Save a Child's Heart, providing life-saving cardiac surgery for children from developing countries, and the Morris Kahn Initiative for Cancer Research at Tel Aviv University (~$50 million). He supported the Big Data Maccabi project for advanced diagnostics and invested in clean-tech and life sciences through Aurum Ventures.

Why Kahn Matters to the Olam Thesis

Morris Kahn was a founding generation figure of Israeli high-tech. His arc, from South African immigrant to directory publisher to telecom software billionaire to ocean conservationist to space philanthropist, spans the entire history of the Israeli technology economy from its 1960s origins to its present-day scale. He represents the builder class that predates the venture-funded startup ecosystem. Amdocs remains one of the largest Israeli-founded technology companies by market capitalization.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who was Morris Kahn?

South African-born Israeli billionaire (1930 to 2026). Co-founder of Amdocs, founder of Aurec Group and Coral World, principal backer of SpaceIL's Beresheet lunar mission. Died January 1, 2026 at 95.

What is Amdocs?

Global leader in telecom billing and customer experience software (NYSE: DOX). Co-founded by Morris Kahn in 1982. IPO 1998 at $2.75B. Market cap ~$8.85B today. 300+ clients in 90+ countries.

What was the Beresheet mission?

Israel's first lunar spacecraft, built by SpaceIL with Israel Aerospace Industries. Launched February 22, 2019 on SpaceX Falcon 9. Reached lunar orbit but crash-landed April 11, 2019. Kahn invested >$40M personally.

How much was Morris Kahn worth?

Forbes estimated ~$1.1 billion. He sold ~$1B in Amdocs shares after the 1998 IPO and invested ~$200M in philanthropy over his lifetime.

What was Save a Child's Heart?

Israeli nonprofit providing life-saving cardiac surgery for children from developing countries. Kahn was a major supporter and funder.

When did Morris Kahn die?

January 1, 2026, in Israel, at age 95.

What is Coral World?

Founded by Kahn in the 1970s. Operates the Underwater Observatory Marine Park in Eilat and underwater centers worldwide. Run by his son Benji Kahn.

Related Olam Coverage

Primary Sources

Forbes. Calcalist, Jerusalem Post, eJewishPhilanthropy obituary (January 2026). CNN Business (SpaceIL, 2019). Wikipedia: Morris Kahn. SpaceIL. Goodreturns, Forbes Israel.

The Olam Editorial Team | The Builders / הבונים