Memorial for Safra Held in Sephardic Beit Midrash

On Monday, December 6, 1999, 27 Kislev, the Jacob E. Safra Institute for Sephardic Studies and the Sephardic Club of Yeshiva University sponsored a gathering in the Sephardic Beit Midrash in memory of Edmond J. Safra, Chairman of Republic National Bank and well-known philanthropist. Safra’s death came as a great shock to the Jewish community.

The tribute to Edmond Safra began with a Tehillim reading by students and faculty members. Rabbi Lamm, Dr. Dubrowsky, Rabbi Charlop, Dean Shmidman, Eliezer Zeytouneh, Rabbi Lieberman, and Rabbi Ben-Haim spoke about the wonderful qualities that Edmond Safra possessed.

Safra died on Friday, December 3, Erev Hanukkah, at his penthouse in Monte Carlo after his male nurse allegedly lit the house of the 67-year-old banker on fire. The nurse then informed Mr. Safra that intruders invaded the house and were after Safra. The nurse also stabbed himself repeatedly, and blamed it on intruders. Mr. Safra and his step-granddaughter’s nanny hid in a bathroom. Safra was afraid to leave the bathroom, and remained there as a haven. As a result, Safra and the nanny suffocated to death from the fumes they inhaled, but Safra’s wife and step-granddaughter were able to escape.

Edmond Safra was the chairman of Republic National Bank, and rated among the top 200 richest men in the world, according to Forbes magazine. Safra generously gave charity to many organizations, including Yeshiva University.

Safra’s philanthropy was known all over the world. Organizations in need of large sums of money would often turn to Mr. Safra for support. Some organizations would approach Safra before they would turn to other sources of income, in order to lessen their financial burden. Other organizations would approach Safra after collecting contributions from all other philanthropists, in order that he might pay off the remaining debts.

Safra donated money to many shuls around the world. Many Sephardic shuls were only able to come into existence because of the unending support of the Safra family. Safra also donated money to yeshivot, community centers, organizations providing food, shelter, and clothing to the poor, and many other institutions including Yeshiva University.

Rabbi Lamm said, "Edmond Safra will be remembered not only for the great wealth he amassed, not only for the horrible end he came to, but for what he was able to accomplish with his wealth - for the students who owe their ability to study Torah to Edmond Safra."