Khedouri Zilkha

Khedouri Aboody Zilkha (1884–1956) was an Iraqi-Jewish banker.

Khedouri Zilkha
Born1884
Baghdad, Iraq
Died1956 (aged 71–72)
New York City, U.S.
NationalityIraqi
OccupationBanker
Spouse(s)Louise (Bashi) Zilkha
ChildrenEzra 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:

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 Marina Rustow and past holders Mark R. Cohen and Abraham Udovitch.[6]

References
  1. "Zilkha Family". Encyclopedia of Jews in the Islamic World. Retrieved 24 November 2015.
  2. Basri, Meer. "Prominent Iraqi Jews of recent times". dangoor. Retrieved 24 November 2015.
  3. The National Cyclopaedia of American Biography, J.T. White, 1967. p. 421
  4. Berman, Phyllis (23 February 1998). "From Baghdad to Bel Air". Forbes. Retrieved 24 November 2015.
  5. University, Issues 75-81, Princeton University, 1978, p.19.
  6. "Display Person - Department of Near Eastern Studies". princeton.edu. Retrieved 10 September 2016.
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