The Mosseri Family: A Jewish Banking Dynasty from Italy to Egypt

Summary

The Mosseri family is a prominent Jewish dynasty that originated in Italy around 1750 before migrating to Egypt, where they built significant wealth through banking, finance, and industrial ventures while maintaining Italian nationality. In the early 20th century, family members like Elie (or Ezra) Mosseri, a director of the National Bank of Egypt, led investments in luxury hospitality, including founding the Palestine Hotels Company in 1921 and co-financing the King David Hotel in Jerusalem. The family's activities reflected the intersection of Egyptian Jewish elite interests with Zionist aspirations in the early 20th century.