David Azrieli

David Azrieli
David Azrieli
Born	David Joshua Azrieli; 10 May 1922 (age 104); Maków Mazowiecki, Poland
Died	9 July 2014 (aged 92); Ivry-sur-le-Lac, Quebec, Canada
Occupation(s)	Architect, real estate entrepreneur, philanthropist
Known for	Founder of Azrieli Group; Azrieli Foundation

Adapted from the English Wikipedia article David Azrieli, available under CC BY-SA 4.0Updated 11 August 2025

David Joshua Azrieli (; 10 May 1922 – 9 July 2014) was a prominent Israeli-Canadian architect, real estate entrepreneur, and philanthropist. In March 2013, Forbes estimated his net worth at , ranking him as the ninth richest individual in Canada and placing him 401st among the wealthiest worldwide.

In 1989, he established the Azrieli Foundation, to which he entrusted the majority of his estate following his passing in 2014.

Biography

Born in Maków Mazowiecki, Poland, Azrieli hailed from an Ashkenazi Jewish background. During World War II, he escaped the German invasion and briefly resided in the Soviet Union before reaching Mandatory Palestine in 1942, arriving covertly alongside a weapons consignment intended for the Yishuv. By 1945, nearly all members of his family had fallen victim to the Holocaust.

He pursued architectural studies at the Technion in Haifa between 1943 and 1946 but did not complete his degree. Azrieli served in the Haganah's 7th Brigade during the 1948 Arab–Israeli War. In 1954, he relocated to Canada, settling in Montreal where he reunited with Holocaust-surviving relatives.

Azrieli earned a Bachelor of Arts from the Thomas More Institute in 1956 and later acquired a Master of Architecture degree from Carleton University at age 75. He married Stephanie Lefcort in 1957, and together they had four children: Rafael, Sharon, Naomi, and Danna. In his later years, he split his time between Herzliya in Israel and Westmount in Canada. He passed away at age 92 at his lakeside residence in Ivry-sur-le-Lac.

Real estate and other businesses

Azrieli launched his construction enterprise in Montreal, initially building modest duplexes before expanding into apartment complexes and retail malls. His portfolio encompasses office buildings, high-rise residential towers, commercial office spaces, and shopping centers across Canada, the United States, and Israel. His operations were conducted through two main entities: Canpro Investments Ltd., based in Montreal, and Azrieli Group Ltd., headquartered in Tel Aviv.

In 2010, he took Azrieli Group public via an initial public offering on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange, marking the largest IPO in its history. Today, it stands as Israel’s leading real estate company. Among his signature projects are Israel’s inaugural enclosed shopping mall, Canion Ayalon located in Ramat Gan, the Malha Mall in Jerusalem, and Canion ha-Negev situated in Beersheba. Additionally, he developed the renowned Azrieli Centre in Tel Aviv, composed of three skyscrapers that function as a central business district and architectural icon.

Philanthropy

Founded by David Azrieli in 1989, the Azrieli Foundation champions educational excellence across multiple disciplines. Its early initiatives included establishing the Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education and Administration at Yeshiva University in New York City and supporting academic institutions throughout Canada and Israel. Since its inception, the Foundation has allocated more than CA$450 million.

Major philanthropic endeavors include funding for the Azrieli Schools of Architecture at both Tel Aviv University and Carleton University, establishing the Azrieli Faculty of Medicine at Bar-Ilan University, as well as contributions to research centers at the Weizmann Institute of Science, Concordia University, and the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Foundation initiated an emergency relief fund in 2020, committing CA$8.6 million to support pandemic-related efforts such as food distribution programs, healthcare facilities, and assistance for vulnerable groups including Holocaust survivors, individuals with disabilities, homeless populations, and students.

Van Horne Mansion in Montreal

In 1973, Azrieli acquired the property of the historic Van Horne Mansion located in Montreal, despite resistance from preservation activists and competing developer René Lépine, who aimed to conserve the structure. Azrieli went ahead with the mansion's demolition on September 8, 1973, to enable new development on the site, which has since become home to the Sofitel Montreal. This act prompted the establishment of Save Montreal, an organization dedicated to safeguarding heritage landmarks from comparable destruction.

Contribution to Im Tirtzu NGO

The Azrieli Group made a donation of NIS 30,000 (around CAD $10,000) in 2010 to Im Tirtzu, an Israeli non-governmental organization engaged in opposing the academic boycott of Israel initiated by Palestinian groups. This financial support was not prominently publicized by the Azrieli Group, which asserts that it does not pursue any political objectives.

Awards and recognition

Appointed Member of the Order of Canada (1984)
Awarded Chevalier of the National Order of Quebec (1999)
Received honorary doctorates from Concordia University (1975), Yeshiva University (1983), Technion – Israel Institute of Technology (1985), Tel Aviv University (1996), Carleton University (2003), and Weizmann Institute of Science (2012)
Honored with the Jubilee Award by the Prime Minister of Israel (1998)
Designated Honorary Fellow of the City of Jerusalem (2001)
Recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal (2002)
Awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal (2012)

Published works

Azrieli, Danna J.: One step ahead: David J. Azrieli (Azrylewicz): memoirs 1939-1950. Published by Yad Vashem, Jerusalem, 2001.
Azrieli, David J.: Rekindling the Torch: Story of Canadian Zionism, Toronto: Key Porter Books Ltd, 2008.

External links