Nathan Kirsh

Nathan "Natie" Kirsh was born on 6 January 1932 to Jewish parents who immigrated to South Africa from Lithuania, and he grew up in Potchefstroom. He encountered little antisemitism in Potchefstroom: “It was a very comfortable and good environment to grow up in.” He earned a Bachelor of Commerce at the University of the Witwatersrand, in 1952. He also holds an honorary doctorate from the University of Swaziland. ==Career==

In 1952, Kirsh began assisting his mother with the operation of his father's original malt factory in Potchefstroom, then, in 1958, launched his own first venture, founding a corn milling and malt business in Eswatini. As of August 2018, Kirsh owned 75 percent of Jetro Holdings, which had about 115 Jetro Cash & Carry and Restaurant Depot stores in the United States. Kirsh Holdings Group, Kirsh's primary holding group, continues to own half of Swazi Plaza Properties. In 2009, Kirsh was a director and held a 24.2 percent stake in Magal Security, which met controversy by providing fences in Israel. In 2014, Kirsh sold his 40 percent stake in Magal to FIMI. Kirsh left South Africa in 1986, after selling much of Kirsh Industries to Sanlam, In 2006, his companies included Mira Mag and Ki Corporation. Through Kifin Limited, part of Ki Corporation, by 2008, he also held a stake in Minerva, dropping a bid for majority ownership in 2010. By early 2018, Kirsh retained retail and property interests in Britain, the United States, Australia, and Eswatini. In March 2026, Sysco contracted to acquire Jetro Restaurant Depot LLC, for $29.1 billion, including debt, with its shareholders to receive over 14 times its operating income, as $21.6 billion in cash, together with 91.5 million shares, representing about 16% of Sysco's stock. Jetro reported $2.1 billion in earnings from $16 billion in revenue in 2025, and is expected to change ownership within a year. ==Personal life==

Kirsh is married to Frances Herr, and they have three children. They reside in Ezulwini, in Eswatini, where he holds citizenship. He keeps kosher but does not consider himself religious. ==Philanthropy==

He established the Kirsh Foundation, an international charitable organization. He has contributed significantly to Eswatini, primarily through the financing of small business startups and computer education in high schools. Between 2001 and 2016, his foundation funded 14, 000 startups, with a 70% success rate. In recent years the fund has also focused on financing business startups and computer education in high schools and yeshivas in Israel. His foundation has also funded the Britain Israel Research and Academic Exchange Partnership, an initiative of the British Council and the British Embassy in Israel, together with the Pears Foundation, investing in world-leading research jointly undertaken by scientists in Britain and Israel. He also supports the Jewish People Policy Institute, a think tank with the purpose of promoting and securing the Jewish people and Israel. His foundation also spearheaded Shine A Light, an initiative to raise awareness about modern antisemitism through education, community partnerships, workplace engagement and advocacy in the United States. It is endorsed by the Anti-Defamation League. In 2020, Kirsh donated $8.8 million to his alma mater, the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg. ==See also==