The Azrieli Group conducted the largest initial public offering on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange in 2010. Founded by David Azrieli, the company manages commercial centers and skyscrapers across Israel. A migrant who survived the Second World War, Azrieli built a multibillion-dollar real estate empire while concurrently pursuing architecture and active philanthropic support for educational institutions.
Early Life and Migration
Born in 1922 in Maków Mazowiecki, David Azrieli fled Poland during the German-led invasion at the outbreak of World War II. He sought refuge in the Soviet Union before reaching the British Mandate for Palestine by late 1942. By 1945, he had lost most of his family in the Holocaust. He attended the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology from 1943 to 1946 but did not finish his degree. He relocated to Canada in 1954, settling in Montreal.
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In Montreal, Azrieli began his professional career developing small duplexes, later expanding into apartment buildings and shopping malls. His portfolio grew to include significant office towers and residential high-rises across Canada, the United States, and Israel. Among his notable projects is the Azrieli Centre in Tel Aviv, a landmark complex featuring three skyscrapers. He established Canpro Investments Ltd. in Montreal to oversee his interests.
Academic and Philanthropic Pursuits
Azrieli completed a Bachelor of Arts at the Thomas More Institute in 1956 and earned a Master of Architecture from Carleton University at the age of 75. In 1989, he founded the Azrieli Foundation, which has since disbursed over CA$450 million. The foundation supports schools of architecture at Tel Aviv University and Carleton University, along with medical and biological research institutes. Upon his death in 2014, he bequeathed the bulk of his estate to the foundation.
Recognition and Public Service
Throughout his career, Azrieli held the role of chief executive officer and served as the National President of the Canadian Zionist Federation during the 1980s. He received numerous honors, including the Member of the Order of Canada in 1984 and the Knight of the National Order of Quebec in 1999. He also held honorary doctorates from several institutions, including Concordia University, Yeshiva University, and the Weizmann Institute of Science.
Fast facts
- Born: 1922, Maków Mazowiecki
- Died: 2014, Montreal
- Net Worth: US$3.1 billion (March 2013 estimate)
- Spouse: Stephanie Lefcort
- Notable Award: Member of the Order of Canada (1984)
- Burial Site: Mount of Olives Jewish Cemetery
Questions readers ask
What was David Azrieli’s primary professional focus?
He was a real estate developer and architect who built extensive residential and commercial projects, including shopping malls and skyscrapers.
How did he support education?
He established the Azrieli Foundation in 1989, which has provided over CA$450 million in funding to schools of architecture, medical faculties, and research institutes.
Achievements
- Member of the Order of Canada — 1984
- Knight of the National Order of Quebec — 1999
- Educated at Technion – Israel Institute of Technology and Carleton University