Leon Yehuda Recanati

Greek-born businessman and Jewish community leader

Leon Yehuda Recanati

ליאון רקנאטי

Born| 1890

Salonica, Ottoman Empire

Died| October 13, 1945

Tel Aviv, Mandatory Palestine

Nationality| Greek
Occupation| Businessman
Spouse| Mathilda Saporta [1]
Children| 4 Raphael Recanati (son)
Relatives| Leon Recanati (grandson) Michael Recanati (grandson)

Leon Yehuda Recanati (Hebrew: ליאון רקנאטי; 1890–1945)[2] was a Greek-born businessman and Jewish community leader who became a prominent banker and philanthropist in Mandatory Palestine.

## Biography

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Leon Yehuda Recanati was born in 1890 in Thessaloniki. He was a leader in Greece's Jewish community until he immigrated to Mandatory Palestine in 1935. In 1936, he was elected as the representative of the Greek Jewish community to the World Jewish Congress.[3] Recanti's sons, Harry,[4] Daniel, Raphael, and Jacques established the IDB Holding Corporation, one of the largest investment companies in Israel.[3] His sons donated the Leon Recanati Business School at Tel Aviv University in his honor in 1966.[3] In addition, they named the Salonika and Greece Jewry Heritage Center in his memory.[5]

## Banking and public activism

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In 1935, Recanati established the Palestine Discount Bank in Tel Aviv; the institution would later become Israel Discount Bank. In his later years, he became involved in philanthropic endeavors and served as a member of the executive committee of the Society of Friends of the Hebrew University and was the founder and chairman of Banim L'Gvulam, which encouraged the settlement of Sephardic Jews in Palestine.[6] In 1985, Recanati was honored on an Israeli commemorative postage stamp.[7]

## References

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1. ^ "Leon Recanati". www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org.
2. ^ "Leon Yehuda Recanati - Israel Philatelic Federation". israelphilately.org.il. Archived from the original on 2017-08-05.
3. ^ a b c "Leon Yehuda Recanati". Tel Aviv University/Recanati Business School. Archived from the original on 2013-04-12. Retrieved 2013-02-18.
4. ^ ראלי, מוזיאון. "Harry Recanati - The Ralli Museums". www.rallimuseums.com.
5. ^ Salonika and Greece Jewry Heritage Center http://www.salonikaheritage.com/html5/?_id=14363&did=9267&title=en|
6. ^ Jewish Virtual Library: "Leon Recanati" retrieved May 12, 2013
7. ^ "Leon Racanti". Stamps International. Archived from the original on 2013-04-19. Retrieved 2013-02-18.

Authority control databases

International|

* VIAF

National|

* Israel