Safra Square

Safra Square lends Jerusalem’s City Hall an expansive, cosmopolitan feel, owing mostly to its sheer size. The Square is situated at the beginning of Jaffa Road, practically overlooking east Jerusalem – a symbol of the city’s efforts to serve all its residents, east and west, equally. It is part of the new Municipal Complex project, completed in the 1990s, that revamped City Hall and integrated it with several existing and new buildings, some from the adjacent Russian Compound. You could say that what ties it all together is the sober, palm-tree-lined expanse of Safra Square. The Municipality makes full use of the Square, offering various activities throughout the year including concerts and an annual 3x3 basketball tournament. Safra Square is also the place where jubilant Jerusalem sports fans flock to en masse to celebrate when one of the city’s soccer or basketball clubs wins a title. The Square was built with the help of Jewish philanthropist Edmond Safra and named in honor of his parents, Jacob and Esther.