ABOUT US

Global Vision, Local Expertise

Be Aviv is a New York City-based investment company and fund manager. The company’s core business focuses on multi-family residential development investments and debt opportunities in the core real estate markets across the United States. Be Aviv provides innovative solutions throughout market cycles to produce risk-adjusted returns with our integrated structure of private equity, debt, and real estate assets.

OUR STORY

Be Aviv was founded in 2014 with a mission to create smart, flexible capital solutions in the U.S. real estate market. We combine institutional investment standards with a boutique approach, allowing us to move fast, partner closely with developers, and unlock opportunities others miss. We operate at the intersection of real estate development, structured lending, and credit fund management — offering investors access to stable, asset-backed returns across diversified strategies.

OUR EDGE

Bespoke Structures – We tailor every investment or loan to fit the project’s unique risk profile and capital stack.
Local Expertise – Our team is based in both Tel Aviv and New York, with on-the-ground knowledge of the markets we serve.
Trusted Partnerships – We work with proven developers, family offices, and institutional investors.
Diversification – Our platform spans multiple verticals: debt funds, development, and direct lending.

MANAGING PRINCIPALS

Ben Harlev
Ben is the Co-Founder and Principal of Be-Aviv since 2014. He co-manages the daily operations, ranging from sourcing new projects, management of the construction process and the fund’s financials. In the past Ben was the Finance and Acquisition Associate with East River Partners, a NYC real estate investment and development firm. In addition, he was a Senior accountant in Ernst & Young’s real estate department in Israel and acted as the Business Development Manager of D. Harlev Properties, a family owned holding company for real estate investment in Israel, US and Europe.

Eyal Epstein

Eyal is the Co-Founder and Principal of Be-Aviv since 2014. He co-manages the daily operations, sources new projects, and directs Be-Aviv’s work with local partners and the group’s investors. Previously, Eyal held various positions within the Budget department of the Israeli Ministry of Finance (2004-2013). He served as Senior Budget Department Deputy Director, Team leader of the Trade and Agriculture and Team leader of the Macro- economic team.

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Vision-Led.
Value-Driven.

Be Aviv is a New York City-based investment firm focused on multifamily real estate and structured debt across U.S. core markets. Founded in 2014, we blend institutional standards with a boutique approach—moving quickly, partnering closely, and uncovering value others miss. Our integrated platform spans private equity, credit, and real estate to deliver stable, risk-adjusted returns through all market cycles. We provide innovative, flexible capital solutions that adapt to the needs of both developers and investors.
BESPOKE STRUCTURES

We tailor every investment or loan to fit the project’s unique risk profile and capital stack.

LOCAL EXPERTISE

Our team is based in both Tel Aviv and New York, with on-the-ground knowledge of the markets we serve.

TRUSTED PARTNERSHIPS

We work with proven developers, family offices, and institutional investors.

DIVERSIFICATION

Our platform spans multiple verticals: debt funds, development, and direct lending.
BEN HARLEV
Ben is the Co-Founder and Principal of Be-Aviv since 2014. He co-manages the daily operations, ranging from sourcing new projects, management of the construction process and the fund’s financials. In the past Ben was the Finance and Acquisition Associate with East River Partners, a NYC real estate investment and development firm. In addition, he was a Senior accountant in Ernst & Young’s real estate department in Israel and acted as the Business Development Manager of D. Harlev Properties, a family owned holding company for real estate investment in Israel, US and Europe.

EYAL EPSTEIN
Eyal is the Co-Founder and Principal of Be-Aviv since 2014. He co-manages the daily operations, sources new projects, and directs Be-Aviv’s work with local partners and the group’s investors. Previously, Eyal held various positions within the Budget department of the Israeli Ministry of Finance (2004-2013). He served as Senior Budget Department Deputy Director, Team leader of the Trade and Agriculture and Team leader of the Macro- economic team.
DR. EHUD SHAPIRA

Chairman of Investment Committee
Ehud is the previous Chairman of Psagot Investment House LTD, Chairman of Phoenix Holdings LTD, and the Senior Deputy C.E.O. of Bank Leumi where he was also the Head of Corporate & International Banking and Chief Credit Risk Officer.

DAFNA HARLEV

Managing Partner
Dafna has been serving as the CEO of Aviv Group since 2000, and previously she was the VP of Finance of the Group for over fifteen years. She plays an essential role in structuring Be-Aviv’s transactions and brings strategic thinking, and financial insight of great value. Dafna has more than 30 years of experience, in the Israeli, European, and US real estate markets.

ELI BENZION

Member of Investment Committee
Eli has been serving as the head of Alternative Investments at Himalaya Family Office since 2022. Eli has vast experience in CRE debt and real estate equity investments. Before joining Himalaya, Eli has worked in the real estate division at Harel Insurance and Finance. In his tenure at Harel, Eli completed more than $1.5 billion worth of real estate transactions and over $2 billion of real estate credit transactions. In his last position, Eli served as the Head of Global Credit at Harel. Prior to Harel, he worked as a senior analyst at MNS Consulting.

OREN SHILONY

Member of Investment Committee
Oren is the founder and CEO of Himalaya Family Office since 2008. Managing foreign trade, investments, and his banking experience in Israel and the U.S. have been exposed him to a vast array of investment opportunities. Previously, Oren served for 15 years as Head of Foreign Securities Trading and Sales at Israel Discount Bank Ltd. (1993-2008) and as a Senior Corporate Action Analyst at Fidelity Investments, Boston, Massachusetts, USA (1990-1993).

INVESTMENT COMMITTEE

Dr. Ehud Shapira | Chairman of Investment Committee
Ehud is the previous Chairman of Psagot Investment House LTD, Chairman of Phoenix Holdings LTD, and the Senior Deputy C.E.O. of Bank Leumi where he was also the Head of Corporate & International Banking and Chief Credit Risk Officer.

Dafna Harlev | Managing Partner
Dafna has been serving as the CEO of Aviv Group since 2000, and previously she was the VP of Finance of the Group for over fifteen years. She plays an essential role in structuring Be-Aviv’s transactions and brings strategic thinking, and financial insight of great value. Dafna has more than 30 years of experience, in the Israeli, European, and US real estate markets.

Eli Benzion | Member of Investment Committee
Eli has been serving as the head of Alternative Investments at Himalaya Family Office since 2022. Eli has vast experience in CRE debt and real estate equity investments. Before joining Himalaya, Eli has worked in the real estate division at Harel Insurance and Finance. In his tenure at Harel, Eli completed more than $1.5 billion worth of real estate transactions and over $2 billion of real estate credit transactions. In his last position, Eli served as the Head of Global Credit at Harel. Prior to Harel, he worked as a senior analyst at MNS Consulting.

Oren Shilony | Member of Investment Committee
Oren is the founder and CEO of Himalaya Family Office since 2008. Managing foreign trade, investments, and his banking experience in Israel and the U.S. have been exposed him to a vast array of investment opportunities. Previously, Oren served for 15 years as Head of Foreign Securities Trading and Sales at Israel Discount Bank Ltd. (1993-2008) and as a Senior Corporate Action Analyst at Fidelity Investments, Boston, Massachusetts, USA (1990-1993).

OUR VISION

Creating Long-Term Value

At Be Aviv, we believe in long-term partnerships, transparency, and disciplined execution. Our goal is to create enduring value - for our investors, for our borrowers, and for the communities we help build.