Khedouri Zilkha
Khedouri Aboody Zilkha (1884–1956) was an Iraqi-Jewish banker.
Khedouri Zilkha | |
---|---|
Born | 1884 Baghdad, Iraq |
Died | 1956 (aged 71–72) New York City, U.S. |
Nationality | Iraqi |
Occupation | Banker |
Spouse(s) | Louise (Bashi) Zilkha |
Children | Ezra Zilkha Selim Zilkha Maurice Zilkha Abdullah Zilkha Helene Zilkha Hanina Zilkha Bertie Zilkha |
Parent(s) | Aboudi Zilkha Hannah Shasha |
Early life
Khedouri Zilkha was born in Baghdad in 1884[1] (or 1886),[2] the only son of the textile merchant Aboudi Zilkha[1] (1862–1904).
Career
He started as a banker in Baghdad in 1902, founding Zilkha Bank, and gradually expanded to Beirut (Banque Zilkha), Damascus, Cairo, Alexandria, Geneva, New York, Paris and the Far East.[1][2]
In 1941[3] or 1942, he emigrated to New York and died there in 1956.[2]
Personal life
He married Louise (Bashi) Zilkha[3] and had four sons and three daughters:
- Ezra Zilkha
- Selim Zilkha
- Maurice Zilkha
- Abdullah Zilkha
- Helene Zilkha
- Hanina Zilkha
- Bertie Zilkha
His son Ezra was an American financier and philanthropist. His son Selim is a British entrepreneur who founded the large Mothercare chain. His son Abdullah ran an investment bank in Zurich named Ufitec. His son Maurice was an Egyptian banker.[4]
Legacy
His son Ezra established in his father's memory the Khedouri Zilkha Fund for the Study of the History of Jewish Civilization in the Near East at Princeton University.[5] The fund supports a professorship, the current holder of which is Abraham Udovitch.[6]
References
- "Zilkha Family". Encyclopedia of Jews in the Islamic World. Retrieved 24 November 2015.
- Basri, Meer. "Prominent Iraqi Jews of recent times". dangoor. Retrieved 24 November 2015.
- The National Cyclopaedia of American Biography, J.T. White, 1967. p. 421
- Berman, Phyllis (23 February 1998). "From Baghdad to Bel Air". Forbes. Retrieved 24 November 2015.
- University, Issues 75-81, Princeton University, 1978, p.19.
- "Display Person - Department of Near Eastern Studies". princeton.edu. Retrieved 10 September 2016.
External links
- "From Baghdad to Boardrooms". dangoor.com. Retrieved 10 September 2016.