Lazar Brodsky

Who was Lazar Brodsky?

Lazarus Izrayilovych Brodsky - Ukrainian businessman of Jewish origin, sugar magnate, philanthropist and patron. Lazar Brodsky was born in Kiev in the family of Jewish entrepreneur Israel Brodsky and together with his brother Lev inherited his father's very successful sugar production business. He also headed Alexandria Society of sugar mills, that controlled more than one fourth of the total sugar production in the Russian Empire.

Lazar Brodsky was widely known as philanthropist, he financed Jewish hospital in Kiev, and Jewish schools. Other city institutions were established with his funds - Bacteriological Institute, Besarabsky Market, Lazar Brodsky supported the development of the tramway communications in Kiev.

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' estate.

He was the initiator and one of the sponsors of the construction of Polytechnic Institute in Kiev.