Lazar Brodsky

Lazar Izrayilevich Brodsky (Russian: Ла́зарь Изра́илевич Бро́дский, Ukrainian: Ла́зар Ізраїльович Бро́дський; September 7 [O.S. August 26] 1848 – October 2 [O.S. September 19] 1904) was a Ukrainian businessman of Jewish origin, sugar magnate, philanthropist and patron.

Lazar Brodsky was born in Zlatopol, a shtetl in Kiev Governorate of the Russian Empire, in the family of Jewish entrepreneur Israel Brodsky. Together with his brother Lev (Leon) he inherited his father's very successful sugar production business. He headed Alexandria Society of Sugar Mills, that controlled more than one fourth of the total sugar production in the Russian Empire.

He was Member of the Board of the St. Petersburg International Commercial Bank, Director of the Board of the Kiev water facilities association, Managing Director and member of the Board of the Society of the steam powered flour mills, founder and the Chairman of the Board of the Second Steamship Company on the Dnieper River, Member of the Kiev Mutual Credit Society.

Lazar Brodsky was widely known as philanthropist. He financed the Jewish hospital in Kiev and Jewish schools. He financed the construction of the biggest synagogue in Kiev, that later was named after him. The building was constructed in 1897–1898, in Brodsky's estate.

Other city institutions established with his funds were the Bacteriological Institute and the Besarabsky Market. He was the initiator and one of the sponsors of the construction of the Polytechnic Institute in Kiev.

Lazar Brodsky supported the development of the tramway communications in Kiev.

Lazar Brodsky died on September 19, 1904 from diabetes mellitus in Basel, on September 24 his body was brought to Kiev and the same day the funeral was organized at the Choral Synagogue. Brodsky was buried in a marble tomb at Lukyanovka Jewish cemetery (the tomb has not survived); best people of the city attended the ceremony, including the governor, the mayor commander, and the mayor. According to Kiev newspapers, about 150 wreaths was sent for the funeral, ten of them were made of silver.

Lazar Brodsky had four daughters but no sons. After his death his brother Leo inherited the dynasty.

Awards and regalia

Portrait of Lazar Brodsky by Mykola Pymonenko

In 1900, at the Universal Exhibition in Paris, Brodsky received the French Legion of Honor for the high quality of the goods produced at his plants.

He was also a recipient of the Order of St. Vladimir.

Selected buildings donated to Kiev city either built at L. Brodsky' funds