“Tree of Life” awarded to Sylk
By Kimberly Nichols

Palm Desert resident Robert Sylk credits his family for his commitment to help others.

“Being a truly responsible part of the world we all live in was ingrained in me very young. It was a part of my life,” he says.

The Palm Desert resident’s dedication is being recognize by the Jewish National Fund, which has named Sylk this year’s winner of the prestigious “Tree of Life” tribute. He will be honored at a dinner on Oct. 18 in Beverly Hills.

The award is given to leaders within the community who support the Jewish National Fund’s dedication to promoting peace within and reclaiming the land of Israel. Past winners include Donald Trump, Christine Todd Whitman and Ted Turner.

Sylk’s family history is intertwined with the history of the state of Israel. His father, Harry Sylk, is credited with being instrumental in the formation of Israel after World War II and was one of the men responsible for purchasing the boat that was later memorialized on film in the movie “Exodus.”

“I’ll never forget being 6 or 7 years old and having Golda Meir in my kitchen talking with my father,” says Sylk.

Sylk was raised in Philadelphia and put himself through Temple University by working at his father’s company, Sun Ray Drugs.

“My dad didn’t believe in a free ride,” Sylk says. “He showed me that I needed to earn my way in life but he also wanted me to be familiar with the right way to do business. I learned that every man from the janitor to the owner was equal.”

This attitude led Sylk to later form his own string of travel agencies, where his daughter was employed.

After many years, Sylk found his way to Marina Del Rey, where he continued his work for charity by beginning the city’s chapter of City of Hope. He not only formed the chapter but also stayed on as president for the first few years. In 1997 he was awarded with City of Hope’s Man of the Year Award.

But Sylk’s support of Israel remained a central issue for him. When Israel needed water as a barter tool to get Jordan to sign a peace treaty, Sylk was an instrumental person in building one of the largest reservoirs south of the Sea of Galilee.

In 1995 at the "Price of Peace Water for Life" awards dinner in Philadelphia, Margaret Thatcher spoke of the Sylks by saying that every drop of water in Israel should be consumed while thinking of the family that had done so much for them.

"It was at that dinner," says Sylk, "where I realized just how important my passion for charity was. Israel wanted to honor my family for its contributions and my mother was too sick to travel so they came to Philadelphia, to us."

The availability of water continues to be an important issue for Israel ­ and for Sylk.

"The current drought has dried up most of the water supply. And Jordan has been OK with that. But we need to keep working on raising money," he says.

Sylk's attitude about the honor is secondary to his words on humanity in general.

"No matter what a man does, it is important that he is at least conscious for himself. I wish we would age backward so that youth is not wasted."

Sylk has been visiting friends in the desert for many years now and recently purchased a home in Palm Desert where he spends his free time on another
passion: golf. When he isn't on the greens or cruising around in his long white Cadillac, he occupies his time by running his latest business, Casino Marketing.

"I am the man that gets the people into the casinos," he says. "It is the next big business in the desert, and I plan on providing my talents here in that arena for a while."

Sylk is also busy researching the charitable institutions in the valley, and he says it won't be long before he lends a hand in some way or another to the valley.

"I will always be immersed in projects. Whenever they need me, that's where I'll be."