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Jack Mahfar
Jack Mahfar
Jack Mahfar
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Jack Mahfar (born 1931) is a Swiss-Iranian businessman and philanthropist who works in pharmaceuticals.[2]

Key Information

Early life and education

[edit]

Mahfar was born into a Jewish family in the Jouybareh district of Isfahan, an area historically known as the centre of Jewish life in Iran. He began his education at the Ayin School, a Christian missionary institution, before he continued at the Alliance High School and then later enrolling in the School of Literature.[3] However, his studies were disrupted in 1948 when his family relocated their house to Tehran.[4]

Career

[edit]

In Tehran, Mahfar worked at Rey Pharmacy, under Dr. Moussa Bral.[5] He began his career as an apprentice in the pharmaceutical industry. He founded Mahfar Co., a firm that served as a local representative for foreign pharmaceutical entities, including Sweden-based Astra. The company produced medications under licensing agreements from European manufacturers.[4]

Mahfar later proposed establishing a domestic pharmaceutical manufacturing facility to produce essential medicines locally, with the goal of reducing reliance on imports and improving affordability. Although the initiative gained support from foreign partners, it was ultimately abandoned following the Iranian Revolution of 1979.[4]

Throughout his career, Mahfar contributed financially to the construction of schools, retirement homes, and employee housing. These philanthropic efforts were acknowledged by the Iranian Jewish representatives in parliaments and other government officials.[6][7]

After relocating to Switzerland, Mahfar remained active in philanthropy. He contributed to the construction of synagogues in Israel, supported medical centres, and funded educational projects, including the Encyclopædia Iranica.[8]

Following the revolution, his business was nationalized, prompting his move to Geneva. There, he launched a new pharmaceutical enterprise and continued his humanitarian work, including assisting in the release of imprisoned Iranian Jews in Shiraz.[8]

On January 30, 2014, he was presented with the President's Award of Distinction from the Israeli President Shimon Peres.[1] In addition, he also received various letters of appreciation, insignias, and tablets of honor. He published an autobiography called From Laborer to Entrepreneur: Memoirs of Jack Mahfar, which narrates his life from the Jouybareh district of Esfahan to life in Tehran and later Geneva, Switzerland.[9]

Sources

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "President honors eight Israelis with presidential award". The Jerusalem Post. 2014-01-30. ISSN 0792-822X. Retrieved 2025-01-12.
  2. ^ "Jack Mahfar - Iranian Jewish Culture". 2021-11-03. Retrieved 2025-08-06.
  3. ^ Mirdamadi, Seied; Arasteh, Mahfar (2010). "Hiatal hernia: An unusual presentation of dyspnea". North American Journal of Medical Sciences: 395–396. doi:10.4297/najms.2010.2395. ISSN 1947-2714.
  4. ^ a b c "Jack Mahfar - Iranian Jewish Culure". 2021-11-03. Retrieved 2025-03-30.
  5. ^ "inauthor:"Gūʼil Kuhan" - Google Search". www.google.co.ke. Retrieved 2025-10-02.
  6. ^ "Jack Mahfar - Iranian Jewish Culure". 2021-11-03. Retrieved 2025-06-15.
  7. ^ "Our Donors | ANU". Museum of the Jewish People. Retrieved 2025-09-08.
  8. ^ a b "Jack Mahfar - Iranian Jewish Culure". 2021-11-03. Retrieved 2025-01-12.
  9. ^ "Jack Mahfar - Iranian Jewish Culture". 2021-11-03. Retrieved 2025-09-08.
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Jack Mahfar

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Jack Mahfar (born 1931) is a Swiss-Iranian Jewish businessman, philanthropist, and entrepreneur renowned for his contributions to the pharmaceutical industry. Born in the Joubareh district of Esfahan, Iran, he began his career as an apprentice at Rey Pharmacy in Tehran and later founded Mahfar Co. in the 1950s, which grew into a major firm representing international companies like Astra and Lactisa while supplying pharmaceuticals to hospitals, retail outlets, and the military across Iran. Following the 1979 Iranian Revolution, Mahfar left Iran and eventually relocated to Geneva, Switzerland, where he established a new pharmaceutical business, including his role as director of Chemed SA, a company involved in the import, export, and marketing of chemical and pharmaceutical products until 2017. Mahfar's professional journey, detailed in his 2013 autobiography From Laborer to Entrepreneur: Memoirs of Jack Mahfar, chronicles his rise from a young apprentice supporting his family to a successful entrepreneur navigating international trade and industry challenges. The book highlights his early experiences in and , his partnerships in pharmacies, and his establishment of Mahfar Co. with his brothers, emphasizing themes of perseverance and innovation in the face of economic and political upheavals. Beyond business, Mahfar is distinguished for his extensive philanthropy, particularly supporting Jewish communities, education, and medical initiatives in Iran, Israel, and Switzerland. His efforts included building schools in rural Iranian villages, aiding cholera prevention, funding retirement homes and synagogues, and collaborating with community leaders on social welfare projects. In recognition of these contributions, he received the French Legion of Honor from President Nicolas Sarkozy in 2011 and the Israeli President's Award of Distinction in 2014. Mahfar also founded the Jack Mahfar Foundation to support cultural publications and serves on the board of trustees for the Encyclopædia Iranica.

Early life and education

Birth and family background

Jack Mahfar was born on March 14, 1931, in the Jouybareh district of Isfahan, within the Imperial State of Iran, into a Jewish family. This district, also known as Jūbāre or al-Yahūdiyya, served as the primary Jewish quarter in Isfahan and was recognized as one of the oldest centers of Jewish life in the country, with roots tracing back to ancient times. The neighborhood featured narrow, dark alleys and closely constructed houses, reflecting the close-knit community structure typical of Jewish settlements in the region. Mahfar was the son of Haj Helel Mah-gerefteh, a pious and faithful man who initially worked as a before transitioning to due to professional constraints. Haj Helel was among the early graduates of the in , where he learned French, and he undertook a significant on foot to the ancient in Jerusalem before his marriage, traveling via donkeys and carts. The family's socio-economic context was modest, emblematic of many Jewish households in Jouybareh, where residents often engaged in trade and small-scale commerce amid the district's vibrant yet constrained urban environment. During his early childhood in , Mahfar grew up immersed in the communal life of the Jouybareh Jewish district, which fostered a strong sense of cultural and religious identity through daily interactions in , markets, and family gatherings. These experiences in a historically significant Jewish enclave shaped his initial worldview, emphasizing resilience and community solidarity within . His Jewish heritage, rooted in this environment, later informed his philanthropic endeavors supporting Jewish communities.

Education and relocation to Tehran

Jack Mahfar, born into a family in the Joubareh district of , Iran, began his formal education at the age of four at Ayin School, a in the city. This early schooling provided him with foundational knowledge in a diverse educational environment, reflecting the multicultural influences present in mid-20th-century Isfahan. Following his time at Ayin School, Mahfar proceeded to Alliance High School in and successfully passed the entrance examination for the School of Literature, gaining acceptance into the program. His studies at these institutions marked a period of intellectual growth and preparation for higher pursuits, immersing him in both and broader educational curricula influenced by international organizations like the . However, Mahfar's education was interrupted in 1948 when his family relocated from to due to his father Haj Helel Mah-gerefteh's diagnosis of , which required hospitalization and treatment in . Accompanying his father for medical care, Mahfar assumed significant family responsibilities as his father's condition rendered him unable to work, forcing Mahfar to postpone his . The family settled in the Oudlajan district of Tehran, a historic Jewish neighborhood, where they rented a modest basement apartment to establish their new life amid the challenges of urban adjustment and health concerns. This move transitioned Mahfar from the provincial setting of Isfahan to the bustling opportunities of Tehran, shaping his path toward greater independence.

Professional career

Apprenticeship and entry into pharmaceuticals

Jack Mahfar began his professional career in the pharmaceutical industry in the late 1940s, shortly after relocating to Tehran in 1948 to support his family during his father's illness. A relative assisted him in securing an apprenticeship at Rey Pharmacy, located on Istanbul Street in Tehran, one of the city's most advanced pharmacies at the time. This role marked his transition from education to work, as he paused his high school studies to contribute financially to his household, earning a modest wage of 3 toman per day. Under the mentorship of Dr. Moussa Bral, the pharmacy's administrator and a prominent university lecturer who also served as the in Iran's 16th parliament, Mahfar gained hands-on experience in pharmaceutical operations. His daily tasks as an apprentice included assisting with pharmacy duties amid the challenges of his personal circumstances, such as his father's hospitalization for . Dr. Bral recognized Mahfar's dedication and candor, providing crucial support by introducing him to influential physicians and community leaders, including Dr. Jahangir Vosooghi of Sina Hospital and Khalil Dordashti of the , to aid in his father's medical treatment and secure discounted drugs. Mahfar's apprenticeship at Rey Pharmacy lasted two years and is chronicled in his 2013 autobiography, From Laborer to Entrepreneur: Memoirs of Jack Mahfar, as the foundational "laborer" phase of his journey from modest beginnings in Tehran's to entrepreneurial success. This period not only equipped him with practical skills in the field but also highlighted his resilience, as detailed in the memoirs, where he reflects on the demanding yet formative nature of his early roles in supporting his family while navigating the Jewish community's networks in .

Founding and expansion of Mahfar Co.

Jack Mahfar founded Mahfar Co. with his brothers Siyon and Danial in , Iran, in the , establishing it as a local representative for international pharmaceutical companies to distribute and promote their products within the Iranian market. Drawing on his earlier apprenticeship experiences in the pharmaceutical sector, which honed his entrepreneurial skills, Mahfar positioned the company to bridge foreign expertise with local needs. A key partnership was formed with the -based , for which Mahfar Co. served as the official representative in Iran, facilitating the import and distribution of Astra's medications. This collaboration extended to with European and other international manufacturers, enabling Mahfar Co. to produce select medications in-house under licensed formulas, thereby reducing reliance on costly imports and improving accessibility for Iranian consumers. As the business expanded in during the , Mahfar Co. grew rapidly, achieving significant scale within less than a decade through strategic production initiatives and broader distribution networks. Mahfar proposed and pursued the development of domestic manufacturing facilities to further localize production, aiming to lower costs and enhance the affordability of essential drugs for the local population. These efforts focused on commonly used pharmaceuticals, marking a shift toward self-sufficiency in Iran's pharmaceutical industry.

Challenges during the Iranian Revolution

The 1979 Iranian Revolution brought severe disruptions to Jack Mahfar's pharmaceutical business, Mahfar Co., which had grown into one of Iran's largest and most reliable firms through partnerships with international companies like Astra. The revolutionary upheaval created widespread social and economic chaos, leading to profound uncertainty that forced Mahfar and his brothers, Siyon and Danial, to suspend key projects, including a proposed initiative for domestic drug production. In the , amid escalating political turmoil, Mahfar was compelled to hand over Mahfar Co.—along with all its accumulated achievements—to the , resulting in the of the enterprise. This act effectively ended years of dedicated effort by the Mahfar brothers, who had built the company from its founding in into a cornerstone of the local . As detailed in his autobiography From Laborer to Entrepreneur: Memoirs of Jack Mahfar (2013), Mahfar navigated these challenges through careful assessment of the volatile environment, prioritizing the preservation of his family's safety and professional integrity while grappling with the loss of their business investments. The and project abandonments represented a critical turning point, stripping Mahfar of the fruits of his entrepreneurial success and highlighting the broader impacts of on in Iran at the time. In his memoirs, Mahfar reflects on the personal toll of these events, describing the emotional and strategic difficulties of managing operations under constant threat from , without delving into speculative outcomes.

Relocation to Switzerland and new ventures

Following the of his company during the 1979 Iranian Revolution, Jack Mahfar and his family left Iran for , initially landing in , United States, before relocating to , Switzerland, as their permanent residence to continue his professional pursuits abroad. In Geneva, Mahfar established a new pharmaceutical enterprise called Chemed SA, starting from scratch and leveraging his prior experience in international trade and representation of foreign firms. This venture marked a "second chapter" in his career, allowing him to adapt his entrepreneurial skills to the Swiss business environment while maintaining a focus on the pharmaceutical sector. The company, Chemed SA, specialized in the purchase, sale, import, export, marketing, brokerage, and representation of chemical, pharmaceutical, and medical equipment products, emphasizing international markets through its global trade operations. Mahfar served as a director of Chemed SA until 2017, overseeing its activities in this domain. This relocation and establishment enabled Mahfar to sustain his contributions to the pharmaceutical industry beyond Iran, building on decades of expertise to navigate new regulatory and market landscapes in Europe.

Philanthropic activities

Contributions in Iran

Mahfar's philanthropic efforts in were deeply intertwined with his business activities in the pharmaceutical sector, where he channeled resources from Mahfar Co. to support and . Through his company, he financed the construction of dozens of schools in poor villages across , at the request of the , as well as assisted in building three , aiming to enhance access to quality education for and local communities. These initiatives reflected his commitment to fostering long-term social progress amid Iran's economic landscape at the time. In addition to educational projects, Mahfar invested in infrastructure for the elderly and workforce stability by funding the development of a nursing home for aging seniors in and making the majority of his employees homeowners. These efforts provided secure living arrangements for retired employees of his firm and broader community members, particularly within the , during a period of rapid industrialization. His contributions extended to medical aid programs, including aiding prevention, and he donated to the construction of synagogues such as the Gisha synagogue in Tehran, improving healthcare access and cultural preservation in underserved regions. Mahfar's domestic philanthropy garnered significant recognition from , who praised his role in bolstering . These acknowledgments highlighted how his business success enabled targeted support that benefited both his employees and the wider Iranian society, particularly in the and .

International efforts abroad

After relocating to Geneva, Switzerland, following the 1979 Iranian Revolution, Jack Mahfar expanded his philanthropic reach to international initiatives, leveraging his new base to support global Jewish and cultural causes. Mahfar established the Jack Mahfar Foundation, which has funded the publication of books and facilitated their distribution across various countries to benefit , thereby promoting educational and cultural preservation on a global scale. As a member of the Board of Trustees of the Encyclopædia Iranica Foundation in 2008, Mahfar contributed to this prestigious academic project dedicated to , headquartered in and serving an international audience of scholars and researchers. In support of Jewish communities abroad, Mahfar and his wife Fereshteh have been listed as donors to Yad Vashem, the World Holocaust Remembrance Center in Israel, under the "Builders" category, reflecting their commitment to Holocaust education and remembrance initiatives.

Legacy and recognition

Awards and honors

Jack Mahfar has received several prestigious awards and honors recognizing his contributions to business and . On 27 September 2011, he was awarded the by French President for his outstanding services to humanity. On January 30, 2014, Mahfar received the President's Award of Distinction from , acknowledging his significant impact on the global Jewish community and broader . This award, one of Israel's highest , highlights recipients who have made exceptional contributions to the state or humanity through their talents and services. Throughout his career, Mahfar has also been presented with various letters of appreciation, , and tablets of honor from , as well as , in recognition of his entrepreneurial achievements and charitable initiatives. These accolades underscore the broad reach of his philanthropic efforts, which have supported education, medical projects, and Jewish communities across multiple countries.

Autobiography and publications

In 2013, Jack Mahfar published the English edition of his autobiography, titled From Laborer to Entrepreneur: Memoirs of Jack Mahfar, from Joubareh in to and , through The Mahfar Cultural Foundation in . This work serves as a personal memoir chronicling his life journey from humble beginnings as a laborer in the Jouybareh district of Esfahan to becoming a prominent entrepreneur in the pharmaceutical sector. The book details his early apprenticeship at Rey Pharmacy in Tehran, where he began his career supporting his family after pausing his education due to his father's illness. Key themes in the autobiography include Mahfar's navigation of professional challenges during the 1979 Iranian Revolution, which resulted in the loss of his business, and his subsequent relocation to , to establish new ventures. It provides unique insights into the development of Iran's pharmaceutical industry in the mid-20th century and Mahfar Co.'s growth, highlighting themes of determination, innovation, and overcoming adversity. The memoir also incorporates personal accounts, including observations on figures like Dr. ‘Abd al-Karim Ayadi, depicted as a diligent manager of medicinal purchases for the . Through this publication, Mahfar preserves his personal and professional story for future generations, offering reflective documentation of his transformation and contributions that extend beyond mere chronology to emphasize in the face of historical upheavals. The English edition follows a second edition of the original version, Az kargari ta karafarini: zindiginamah va khatirat-i Jack Mahfar, az in to and in , also published by the foundation.
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