David Joshua Azrieli, was an Israeli–Canadian real estate tycoon, developer, designer, architect, and philanthropist. With an estimated net worth of $US 3.1 billion, Azrieli was ranked by Forbes as the ninth wealthiest Canadian and 401st in the world. Azrieli has been compared to Donald Trump by the press, and enjoyed such comparison to Trump during his lifetime.
In Montreal, he established his building business, beginning with the construction of small duplexes and working his way up to apartment buildings and, later on, shopping malls. This business is now called Canpro Investments. Azrieli's building projects can be seen in the office buildings, high-rise residences, office towers and shopping centres he has built in Canada, the United States and Israel. His two companies are Montreal-based Canpro Investments Ltd. and Tel-Aviv-based Canit Investment, Management and Finance Ltd. Azrieli built a number of Israeli commercial centres including the Jerusalem Shopping Mall in Malha, Jerusalem, Kanion ha-Negev in Beersheba and the eponymous Azrieli Center in Tel Aviv, the largest real estate project in Israel, including three skyscrapers in the heart of Tel Aviv, which has become an architectural landmark at the core of Israel's business activities.
In 1969, the heirs of Canadian railway magnate William Cornelius Van Horne put up for sale the Van Horne Mansion in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. A buyer was not found until 1973, when developer David Azrieli bought the land. His intention to raze the mansion was met with fierce opposition from many groups opposed to the demolition spree of the Golden Square Mile, including Rene Lepine, another big-time real estate developer who owned the building next to the Van Horne Mansion and who wanted to buy it back from Azrieli to restore the mansion instead of developing the land. However, Mr. Azrieli remained committed to demolishing the historic landmark, and, during the early morning hours of September 8, 1973, under the cover of darkness, he had the mansion demolished by bulldozers. Montreal residents woke the following morning to a pile of rubble where once stood the proud home. The Sofitel Montreal now stands on the property which is the building Azrieli built. As a direct result of this action, the group Save Montreal was formed to organise resistance to future demolitions.
The Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported that "What you won’t find on either the foundation’s or company’s websites is that in 2010 the Azrieli Group apparently donated NIS 30,000 to Im Tirtzu" even though the Azrieli group "claims it has no political agenda." The donation was made specifically "to a project to stop the academic boycott of Israel." Haaretz continues saying that "in the past two years, hardly a week has gone by without the organization appearing in the headlines − often in controversial contexts."
Philanthropy
The Azrieli Foundation was established by David Azrieli in 1989 to support initiatives and develop and operate programs that promote access to education and the achievement of excellence in various fields of knowledge and activity. In addition, David Azrieli established the Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education and Administration at Yeshiva University in New York City. An endowment from David Azrieli also helped establish the at Carleton University in Ottawa in 2004.
Personal life
In 1957, he married Stephanie Lefcourt. They have four children: Rafael, Sharon, Naomi and Dana. Azrieli and his wife resided in Herzliya, Israel, for 5 months per year, and in Westmount, Quebec for the rest of the year. He died on July 9, 2014 at his cottage in Ivry-sur-le-Lac, Quebec, aged 92.
