David Azrieli
Polish-born Canadian-Israeli real estate developer (1922–2014). Founder of the Azrieli Group; developed the Azrieli Center triangle, square, and circle towers in Tel Aviv. Major Israeli-Canadian philanthropist through the Azrieli Foundation. Succeeded as chair by his daughter Danna Azrieli.
David Azrieli (1922–2014) was a Polish-born Canadian-Israeli real estate developer, philanthropist, and founder of the Azrieli Group. Born in Maków Mazowiecki, Poland, he escaped the Holocaust by fleeing east through the Soviet Union and joining what would become the Israel Defense Forces in the War of Independence.
He emigrated to Montreal in the 1950s, where he built one of Canada's largest privately held shopping-center portfolios through Canpro Investments. He returned to Israeli real estate in the 1980s, developing the Azrieli Center triangle, square, and circle towers in Tel Aviv — the city's defining late-20th-century commercial landmark — and the malls and additional commercial properties that became the publicly traded Azrieli Group.
Beyond commercial activity, Azrieli was one of the most consequential Israeli-Canadian philanthropists of his generation. The Azrieli Foundation funds the architectural prize bearing his name, Holocaust survivor memoir publication, and fellowships at Israeli universities. His daughter Danna Azrieli succeeded him as chair of the Azrieli Group.
Related Olam Coverage
- David Azrieli: Tel Aviv's Skyline Builder
- Israeli Family Offices: The Ofer, Wertheimer & Azrieli Capital Map
See also: Azrieli Group · TASE · Ofer Family · Tel Aviv Trophy Index