The funeral for businessman Yuli Ofer, who died Sunday, is scheduled to take place Tuesday at 5:00 p.m. (Israel time) at the Moshav Bnei Zion cemetery located in Ramat Hasharon. Ofer died at the age of 87 in his Herzliya home, just three months after the death of his older brother Sammy. "Ofer was a senior member of both the domestic and international business communities," said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday. "Yet he made sure his business was based in Israel and contributed significantly to the state. He was more of a people person than a businessman. His generosity was known the world over." Netanhayu added, "I wish to express my condolences to his wife, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, all of whom I am sure will continue on his Zionist path." Many flocked to the Ofer home Monday to convey their sorrow over Ofer's passing. "The death took with it a visionary, a mentor, and more than anything, a good friend," said Moshe Rosenblum, CEO of the Ofer owned Melisron commercial real-estate firm. "He was a friend to everyone, and treated all of his employees the same, from the maintenance worker to the CEO." "He was a multi-faceted man," said attorney Zvi Efrat, a close family friend. "A man of action, a philanthropist who cared for the community, a person with a heart of gold and an amazing soul. Even though he was ill, he would still arrive at the office every time he was granted leave from the hospital. He was interested in everything that was happening in the state of Israel." Born Yehuda Herskovich in 1924, Yuli Ofer's family left his native Romania for Israel when he was six months old. He had two older brothers, Sammy and David. The family settled in the port city of Haifa, where the brothers would eventually start their family business. Ofer joined the Israel Defense Forces as an infantry soldier, rising to the rank of major, and took part in Israel's wars with its neighbors. Initially an agent and supplier of ships in Haifa, in the 1950's he founded a shipping company with his brother Sammy. Their shipping activities eventually branched out into other forms of investments in Israel, mainly in real estate. Over the years, Yuli and Sammy Ofer, referred to as the Ofer Brothers, became synonymous with Israeli business. Their business empire, now run by the second generation, includes several public sector companies, investment companies, cable television, and shopping malls. They were also the owners of Ofer Shipping and Ofer Holdings The Ofer Brothers left behind a massive business empire estimated to be worth over NIS 4 billion. The empire includes Israels largest holding company, Israel Corporation Ltd., which deals with shipping, high tech and other forms of investment. The younger Ofer acquiesced the company from the Eisenberg family in the 1990's. In 2002, the two brothers separated their holding companies, with Yuli overseeing real-estate dealings and Sammy running shipping activities with his son. Israel Corporation Ltd. currently possess ZIM Integrated Shipping Ltd., Israel Chemicals, the Better Place ERGO (Electric Recharge Grid Operator) Company, and Tower Semiconductor Ltd. Yuli Ofer would eventually found Melisron, a leading real-estate company whose principal assets include the upscale Ramat Aviv Mall, and which is now run by his daughter Liora Ofer. Udi Angel, Ofer's oldest grandson, operates Ofer Shipping. Shortly before their deaths Ofer and his brother were blacklisted by the U.S. State Department for allegedly engaging in business with Iran and undermining sanctions by letting ships dock at Iranian ports. However, the Ofer brothers have not been officially charged with any crime. They were also two of Israel's best-known tycoons, a focus of the recent social-justice protests in Israel for what have been described as allegedly monopolistic business practices. A highly acclaimed documentary film, "Shitat Hashashuka," focuses on controversial business practices of the late Ofer brothers. Ofer, considered one of the most successful executives in Israel, was also a leading philanthropist, donating both time and money to the less privileged, as well as to various institutions in Israel. "He was attuned to all public and private sensitivities and contributed a limitless amount to society, as well as to his friends and surroundings," his relatives said on Sunday.
The Ofer brothers were members of the exclusive club of Israelis who made it onto Forbes magazine's list of the "World's Richest People."
Netanyahu and friends eulogize late businessman Yuli Ofer
Family and friends of the late Yuli Ofer remember the former tycoon as a visionary, mentor and good friend • Netanyahu says Ofer was a people person and much more than just a businessman.
Load more...