Jack Mahfar

Family and education

Jack Mahfar, a successful Iranian businessman and a dedicated Iranian Jew was born on March 16, 1931 in a Jewish neighborhood of Esfahan called Joubareh. He was named “Zakarya” on his birth and later he changed his name to Jack. His mother, Manzal, his father, Haj Hillel Mah-Gerefteh, along with their five children were living in a house made of plaster of clay and straw, with a walking closet, and a very damp and dark basement. Joubareh, was the poorer Jewish quarter after Dardasht and Golbahar, situated in downtown of Esfahan, with narrow streets and clay and straw houses. The residents of Joubareh were always living in fear and dread due to groups of mob attacking frequently the quarter for robbing and plundering the Jews, in addition to humiliating and insulting them. The Jewish children would very often be abused by hostile non-Jewish youth on the way to the elementary schools. In those days, the Jews were deprived of public jobs and profitable businesses. As a result, the men would possess very low-income jobs such as peddlers. But little by little, the living conditions of Esfahani Jews were changed for the better and by earning more freedom they could improve their lives. For the first four years of his elementary education, Jack Mahfar studied at Behesht Aiin School which was run by the Christian missionaries. He continued his education at Etehad High School (affiliated with Alliance Israélite Universelle, which was established by the French Jewish Community) and later on at Adab General High School. The above high schools were at a relatively high educational level. At the age of 12, he joined the Israeli Pioneers Movement “Chalootz” where he became familiar with the newborn Israeli culture and the Hebrew language.

Business Experience

His first experience with the medical and pharmaceutical business started during the time that Dr. Manzourollah, a Jewish Doctor, would visit patients on his “mobile clinic” (a bicycle) in suburbs of Esfahan. Dr. Manzourollah invited Jack, through his father, to assist him during the summer vacation. He paid Jack with a small portion of chicken, eggs and other products that he would receive from the villagers in return for medical treatment. Later on, as a peddler, he started his own “business” on the streets, selling beauty supply products such as soap and hair brushes. In 1948, Jack’s father was affected by bone Tuberculosis, an almost incurable disease at the time in Iran, and after no response to treatment in Esfahan, he was transferred and hospitalized in Tehran, the capital. As a result, Jack had to put the 11th grade on hold so that he can start working to provide a living for the family and take care of his father’s treatment. In Tehran, he started working as a helper to Dr. Moussa Bral (Bar-El) a distinguished and well-known Jewish pharmacist, at his private pharmacy, Rey. Although he was being paid only 3 Toumans (the Iranian unit of currency) per 16 hours work a day, he gained lots of experience which would lead to his success later on, in the pharmaceutical business. Jack, started an independent business named Mahfar Co. and later on succeeded in to become representative of several world-renowned pharmaceutical companies, including Astra of Sweden. The expansion of the company soon involved hiring tens of doctors, marketing agents, and staff members. In the following stages, he started production of some most needed drugs with licence from European companies. At the peak of the success of his business, Jack Mahfar started his philanthropic contribution to the community. To start with, he made the majority of his staff homeowners. Per the request of the Iranian government, he initiated the building, and soon after, the presentation of ten schools to the less fortunate villages in Iran. He was involved with the establishment of a nursing home for aging seniors in Tehran and assisted in building 3 Jewish schools. In later years, he submitted his proposition for establishment of a pharmaceutical factory inside Iran. The project was ordered by the king Mohammad-Reza Shahm to Lieutenant-general Doctor Abdolkarim Ayadi, Shah’s personal physician, and at the Chief of the Army medical and pharmaceutical department. The goal was to initiate the production of most needed drugs in the country. The goal was competing with imported drugs, bringing down the price of prescription drugs for consumers inside the country, and at the same time, savings in foreign currency. This would also result in the importing of advanced technology and subsequent future progress in techniques and production. Astra, the Swedish company, was the first foreign company in Iran that welcomed this project, followed by the endorsement of companies from Switzerland, Netherland and Italy, in Iran. The Iranian Army Supplies Department, in charge of providing the Army with medical supplies, was to cooperate with the above project and export to neighboring countries as well. The sensitive and preliminary sections of the project were taken care of, and a contract was even signed with Astra, which was approved by the Shah. However, the plan was terminated due to the unstable conditions in Iran at the time, which led to the Islamic Revolution led by Khomeini on February 1979. During his living in Iran, Jack Mahfar was acquainted with several Iranian high-rank officials, especially with those active in the medical and pharmaceutical fields, including Dr. Manuchehr Eghbal, who was elected as the Prime Minister in 1957, General Dr. Ayadi the most powerful man in military medical care, Dr. Jahanshah Saleh who was the Minister of Public Health. Jack Mahfar was among the distinguished members of the Iranian Jewish community, and his contributions to the Jewish society was appreciated by Habib Elghanyan President of Jewish Committee and Chief Rabbi Yadidia Shofet the itual Leader.

Emigration from Iran

A short time after the Islamic Revolution, the new Iranian government took over all the manufacturing and commercial companies in the country, including the company of Mr. Mahfar. He was asked to give up his pharmaceutical business to the government along with all related rights. he had no other option but to yield. Jack Mahfar, along with the Iranian Islamic officials, left for Sweden, Switzerland and other European countries, in order to arrange the transfer of all the business agencies to the Iranian Islamic authorities. Short thereafter, in July 1979, Jack Mahfar and his family left Iran, in distress, for exile. They first landed in Los Angeles, but after a short stay, they decided to move to another location. They finally chose Geneva as their permanent residence. Shortly after settling in his new place, Jack Mahfar was able to start his own pharmaceutical business, again from scratch, which turned out to be successful. He was acquainted with well-known Jewish personalities in Switzerland and started to cooperate with them in social activities. One of these well-known personalities was Moris Abrams, former US Ambassador to the European Section of the United Nations, and founder of a humanitarian group known as UN Watch.

Philanthropic Contributions

Since his adolescence, Jack started to establish a strong bond with Israel and was acquainted with Yigal Alon, the Israeli Foreign Minister at the time, and with several Israeli politicians and leaders such as Yitzhak Rabin, Ariel Sharon and Ehud Barak, who all held the position of Prime Minister later on, and General Ezer Weizman who took over the Presidency, all of whom Jack had a friendly relationship with. During this time, Jack made his philanthropic contributions by supplying the needs of several Israeli medical, educational and cultural organizations. He received many appreciation letters and certifications in recognition of his dedication and quality contribution to the well-being of the people of Israel.

Medals/ Awards

Jack Mahfar also has a very close relationship with the Jewish organizations in France. With their help, led by the Chief Rabbi of France and cooperation of the French President, he assisted the release of the thirteen Iranian Jews who had been arrested in Shiraz by the Iranian Islamic government on baseless allegations of spying for Israel. Throughout these efforts, he also reached Kofi Annan, the United Nations Secretary General at the time, for help. Jack Mahfar was nominated for and received the Legion of Honor Award from President Nicolas Sarkozy, the then President of France, in recognition of his quality philanthropic contributions. In Israel, he also initiated the building of two synagogues, and provided financial support for several medical treatment centers, and established dental clinics in the less fortunate areas of the country. In the field of cultural and educational assistance, he helped with the publication of tens of books. As a member of the Board of Trustees of the Encyclopædia Iranica, headquartered in New York, Jack Mahfar made an outstanding contribution to the Iranian culture. Following all these services, President Shimon Peres bestowed Jack Mahfar with the President’s Award of Distinction on January 30, 2014, which is the nation’s highest civilian award. Jack Mahfar was one of the six non-Israelis who received this distinguished award, along with Dr. Henry Kissinger, President Bill Clinton, President Barack Obama, and German Chancellor Angela Merkel.