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Super Bowl bettor donates long-shot’s payoff

The Jewish owner of a real estate company in New York is donating his $50,000 winnings in a Super Bowl bet to charity. Jona Rechnitz, 29, of New York, had wagered $1,000 on Super Sunday at the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas that the New York Giants would score first – on a safety. With the odds at 50 to 1, Rechnitz earned a $50,000 payout.

Rechnitz, who is Orthodox, told TMZ that he would donate $5,000 to a charity chosen by New England Patriots’ quarterback Tom Brady, who was penalized for intentional grounding in the end zone, causing the safety call. Rechnitz also will give $5,000 each to the charities of choice for four Giants’ defensive linemen involved in the play. He also said he wants to take Brady out for a falafel dinner.

Rechnitz, owner of the year-old JSR Capital after having worked for Africa Israel, said he will donate the rest of his after-tax earnings to other charities.

Israel grants Bedouins first solar field license

JERUSALEM – Israel’s Public Utility Authority granted the firstever license for a solar project in the Bedouin community that is being funded by the U.S. government.

The license was granted Feb. 6, for the solar energy field, which will be built in the northwest Negev.

Through the U.S. government’s Overseas Private Investment Corp., the Obama administration has pledged to cover 80 percent of the $30 million required to build the solar field installation.

The Arava Power Company signed a contract more than a year ago with the Bedouin Tarabin family.

“It is a dream come true for the Bedouin population, as solar energy will provide fixed sources of income and economic benefit to the Bedouin in the Negev,” community leader Haj Musa Tarabin said. “I hope that there will be many more solar projects to come for our community.”