Batia Ofer
{{Short description|Israeli-Canadian patron (born 1974)}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Batia Ofer
| image = Batia Ofer.webp
| alt =
| caption =
| birth_name =
| birth_date = 1974
| birth_place = Kfar Saba, Israel
| nationality = Israeli
Canadian
| other_names =
| occupation = Art collector, patron, and philanthropist
| years_active =
| known_for =
| notable_works =
| alma_mater = University of Toronto
| spouse = Idan Ofer
}}
Batia Ofer (born 1974) is an Israeli-Canadian art collector, patron, and philanthropist.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/article/how-batia-ofer-channelled-her-grief-into-fundraising-times-luxury-wjs358vjx|title=The billionaire who channelled her grief into fundraising|first=Francisca|last=Kellett|date=September 15, 2023|via=The Times}} She is the founder of Art of Wishes and the co-founder of the Idan and Batia Ofer Family Foundation.{{Cite news|url=https://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-5025896,00.html|title=אמנות המשאלות של בתיה עופר|first=יעל|last=ולצר|newspaper=Ynet |date=October 8, 2017|via=Yedioth Ahronoth}} Ofer is the Chair of the Royal Academy of Arts Trust.{{Cite web |title=The Royal Academy Trust {{!}} Royal Academy of Arts |url=https://www.royalacademy.org.uk/page/royal-academy-trust |access-date=2024-02-20 |website=www.royalacademy.org.uk |language=en}}
Ofer is also known for her work for Make-A-Wish Foundation in Israel and the United Kingdom.{{Cite web|url=https://www.maariv.co.il/business/Lounge/Article-507388|title=הלאונג: בתיה עופר עם שירה וישי דוידי בדרך להגשמת משאלות|website=Maariv|date=28 October 2015 }}
Early life and education
Ofer was born in 1974 in Kfar Saba, Israel.{{Cite news|url=https://www.globes.co.il/news/article.aspx?did=1001213654|title="אשקר אם אומר שהביקורת על עידן עופר לא פוגעת בי"|first=נורית רובין-ווילסון|last=לונדון|date=December 7, 2017|newspaper=Globes}} On the paternal side, her ancestors are Holocaust survivors from Ukraine.{{Cite web|url=https://www.christies.com/en/stories/batia-ofer-art-of-wishes-2ebed9ef1d2646ed990d7fb867946efc |title=Collector Batia Ofer}}
At the age of 12, Ofer relocated to South Africa due to her father's professional commitment. Ofer told she was bullied in the school because of her Israeli origins. After finishing high school in South Africa, she returned to Israel to complete her two years of national service.{{Cite news |last=Kellett |first=Francisca |date=2024-01-11 |title=The billionaire who channelled her grief into fundraising |newspaper=The Times |url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/article/how-batia-ofer-channelled-her-grief-into-fundraising-times-luxury-wjs358vjx |access-date=2024-01-11 |language=en |issn=0140-0460}} She later moved to Toronto, where she earned a degree in business administration from the University of Toronto. She got married and has a daughter named Daniel. Following a separation, Ofer returned to Israel.
While working as an assistant to the CEO at SAP, Ofer met senior executive Shay Agassi and later joined his electric car venture, Better Place, where she worked as an international relations manager. In this context, she met investor Idan Ofer. They married in 2009. The couple had a son Sammy in 2011.
To develop her interest in the arts, Ofer completed a one-year course at Christie's and received private lessons from an art historian.{{Cite web|url=https://www.artnews.com/art-collectors/top-200-profiles/batia-ofer-idan-ofer/|title=Batia and Idan Ofer|first=Maximilíano|last=Durón|date=October 6, 2020}}
Ofer lives in the UK with her husband, Idan, and their children.
Career
During her career, Ofer worked as an assistant to the CEO at SAP and later worked for Shay Agassi's electric car venture, Better Place.{{Cite news |last=לונדון |first=נורית רובין-ווילסון |date=2017-12-07 |title="אשקר אם אומר שהביקורת על עידן עופר לא פוגעת בי" |work=Globes |url=https://www.globes.co.il/news/article.aspx?did=1001213654 |access-date=2022-11-10}}
Ofer is a board member of the Peres Center for Peace and the Dean's Executive Board at Harvard Kennedy School.{{Cite web|url=https://www.hks.harvard.edu/more/about/transparent-engagement-and-funding/advisory-councils/deans-executive-board|title=Dean's Executive Board|website=www.hks.harvard.edu}} She and Idan Ofer established the HKS Sammy Ofer Graduate Fellowship Fund for Israeli and Palestinian students at the Harvard Kennedy School. Ofer has expressed her support for a two-state solution for the Israeli - Palestinian conflict.{{Cite news |title=Banksy's Latest pro-Palestine Stunt Sparks Spat With Top Israeli Art Collector |url=https://www.haaretz.com/world-news/2018-11-11/ty-article/.premium/banksys-latest-pro-palestine-stunt-sparks-spat-with-top-israeli-art-collector/0000017f-e0e3-d9aa-afff-f9fb99150000 |access-date=2024-01-11 |work=Haaretz |language=en}} She also holds board, trustee, and advisory level positions at the Royal Academy of Arts, the Victoria & Albert Museum, and Sotheby's.
In mid-October 2023, Batia and Idan Ofer resigned from the Dean's executive board of Harvard Kennedy school, in response to the University’s leader response to Hamas' terror attacks on Israel. Batia Ofer told in her statement that her “faith in the University's leadership has been broken” and that she “cannot in good faith continue to support Harvard and its committees".{{Cite web |last=Egan |first=Matt |date=2023-10-13 |title=Israeli billionaire blasts Harvard leadership and quits board in protest {{!}} CNN Business |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/10/13/business/harvard-idan-ofer-board/index.html |access-date=2023-10-29 |website=CNN |language=en}}
In March 2024, Batia Ofer was among the awardees of the Peres Center for Peace Medal of Distinction for Israeli women distinguished in the fields peace and innovation.{{Cite web |url=https://www.peres-center.org/foundation/news/knights2024/ |title=2024 awardees of the Peres Center Medal of Distinction |access-date=2024-03-11 |website=Peres Center for Peace & Innovation}}
Philanthropy
Ofer became first involved with the Friends of Make-A-Wish in Israel as a philanthropist after the death of her sister.{{Cite web|url=https://jewishinsider.com/2022/03/batia-ofer-combines-art-with-heart/|title=Batia Ofer combines art with heart|first=J. I.|last=Staff|date=March 1, 2022|website=Jewish Insider}} A few years later, she became an honorary president of the organization.{{Cite news|url=https://www.globes.co.il/news/article.aspx?did=1001288073|title=לפני גמר ליגת האלופות: בתיה עופר מבקשת להגשים משאלות|first=שירי|last=דובר|date=June 2, 2019|newspaper=Globes}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.globes.co.il/news/article.aspx?did=1001254976|title=היכן פגשה בתיה עופר את סמנתה קמרון?|first=שירי|last=דובר|date=October 3, 2018|newspaper=Globes}} During her tenure, she raised around $4.5 million for the organization. In 2013, she moved to the United Kingdom and became involved with Make-A-Wish Foundation UK. Since then, she supports the Make-A-Wish Foundation and started the "Art of Wishes" initiative in 2017, which has raised over £9 million since 2017.{{Cite web|url=https://wwd.com/feature/batia-ofer-kicks-off-frieze-festivities-with-3rd-art-of-wishes-gala-1203334269/|title=Batia Ofer Kicks Off Frieze Festivities With Art of Wishes Gala|first=Julia|last=Neel|date=October 3, 2019}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.ft.com/content/f6750934-72f5-4227-940a-c527083818f9|title=The Cause: the jeweller using his legacy to make a wish come true|first=Jessica|last=Beresford|date=August 11, 2022|website=Financial Times}}
With her husband, Ofer founded the Idan and Batia Ofer Family Foundation which focuses on health, technology, education, leadership, and cultural projects in the US, UK, and Israel.
In 2012, Ofer and gallery owner Alon Segev hosted an art auction in Arsof, with all proceeds going to Make-A-Wish Israel.{{Cite news|url=https://www.globes.co.il/news/article.aspx?did=1000760722|title=השיחה: בתיה עופר פותחת את ביתה בארסוף|first=מיכל|last=גלנטי|date=June 27, 2012|newspaper=Globes}}
In 2017, Ofer raised 13 million NIS for children with critical illnesses in London.
In 2023, she and her husband donated for the "25 & Under" program at the Royal Academy of Arts, subsidizing the entry tickets for young visitors to the temporary exhibitions.{{Cite web|url=https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2023/03/06/londons-royal-academy-of-arts-offers-young-visitors-half-price-entry|title=London's Royal Academy of Arts offers young visitors half price entry|date=March 6, 2023|website=The Art Newspaper}} In March 2023, the Royal Academy of Arts held an evening to honour Batia's contribution to the arts.{{Cite news|url=https://www.ynetnews.com/culture/article/rkteqkskh|title=UK-based Israeli philanthropist says she is building bridges through art|first=Emily|last=Schrader|newspaper=Ynetnews |date=July 12, 2023|via=Yedioth Ahronoth}}
Art collection
Ofer is recognized in London's art community. In December 2023, Ofer was appointed as the chair of the Royal Academy Trust. She is a trustee of the International Council for Sotheby's and has contributed to the V&A Museum.
Ofer has an interest in post-war and contemporary art, especially German art.{{Cite web|url=https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2021/10/13/collectors-eye-batia-ofer|title=Collector's eye: Batia Ofer|date=October 13, 2021|website=The Art Newspaper}} Over the years, she has collected art works from various artists, including Thomas Struth, Rudolf Stingel, Sigmar Polke, and Mandy El-Sayegh. She has also collaborated with other art collectors such as Larry Gagosian and Damian Hirst.
In 2018, Ofer accused the artist Banksy of creating antisemitic artwork.{{Cite news |last=Harman |first=Dana |date=November 11, 2018 |title=Banksy's Latest pro-Palestine Stunt Sparks Spat With Top Israeli Art Collector |language=en |work=Haaretz |url=https://www.haaretz.com/world-news/2018-11-11/ty-article/.premium/banksys-latest-pro-palestine-stunt-sparks-spat-with-top-israeli-art-collector/0000017f-e0e3-d9aa-afff-f9fb99150000 |access-date=2022-11-14}}
In 2022, the couple was listed by ARTnews magazine among the Top 200 art collectors in the world. In the same year, Ofer and her husband acquired Philip Guston's "Remorse (1969)" for $7.8 million.