THE JERUSALEM OBSERVATORY
A Light Unto the Nations
In the dreams of its founders, the State of Israel was to be “a light unto the nations.” It is time to rekindle the light with The Jerusalem Observatory, a future landmark at Mount Scopus, the “eye” of Jerusalem, which has served for millennia as a strategic vantagepoint offering panoramic 360-degree views.
When completed, the Observatory will immediately become an international landmark that offers a path towards healing. While not envisioned as an October 7 memorial, the challenging reality of the post-October 7 world suggests an urgent need for a reaffirmation of Israel’s founding values, a reminder of the indefatigable spirit of the nation, a renewal of hope and purpose, an assurance of resilience. A place to see beyond uncertainty and pain, to look to the future and believe in its promise.
About the Observatory
At this location of historic significance, visitors will be reminded of the continuum of history as they journey upwards by elevator to a height of 55 meters (nearly 200 feet). As they ascend, a multi-media experience will simulate the views as seen from this very site over the millennia, culminating in the awe-inspiring moment when they step from the elevator onto the rooftop platform to take in majestic 360-degree views. A visit to the Observatory will be, quite literally, uplifting – inviting visitors to rise above so they can take in a landscape of possibility and promise.
The elevator experience will be a journey through history.
Wherever one walks in Jerusalem and Israel, you are literally treading upon history. Different eras and events are layered underfoot; excavated clay shards, metal coins, and glass fragments testify to the lives and experiences of those who came before us. The Observatory, where visitors will look out onto 3,000 years of history, could also be imagined as an archaeological tell – a layered mound at the site of human habitation – with each layer another chapter, another moment in time.
The site is currently occupied by a 55 meter (200 feet) high water tower, no longer in use, that was originally constructed in the 1970s as part of the Hebrew University campus.
The Jerusalem Observatory project reimagines this towering structure for a new era. Like a lighthouse, outfitted with lamps and lenses, it will be a beacon, both literally and metaphorically. It will be a magnet for visitors, a landmark destination atop “Mount Lookout”. Standing tall on the skyline of Jerusalem, it will become the preeminent, iconic symbol of the “City of Gold”.
The Observatory was designed by the award-winning and internationally recognized architect, Etan Kimmel (Kimmel-Eshkolot Architects) and has all the required approvals and permits to launch.
The inspiration for the Observatory began with Lyonell Fliss, known as Nelu, a Holocaust survivor who was the structural engineer and a key member of the Israeli team that constructed the original water tower in the 1970s. His unique level of access to the tower and its breathtaking views long ago convinced him of its potential to be repurposed as an observatory and for the observatory to be a means of sharing Israel's special past with the world and celebrating its future. The Jerusalem Observatory project is an initiative of the Center for Jewish Impact.
Operated by:
The Center for Jewish Impact (CJI) was established under the vision of becoming a focal point and center for excellence for innovative and impactful initiatives that deliver benefit to Israel and the Jewish world.
The Center's operating principles are pragmatic and result-oriented, forgoing bureaucratic hurdles, and prioritizing action over discussion. Using our vast network of partners, contacts, and donors, we can tailor projects to the various needs of the global diplomatic community and Jewish communities.
Robert Singer has an extensive background in education, world Jewish affairs, and diplomacy. Most notably, he served as the chief executive officer and Executive Vice President of the World Jewish Congress from May 2013 until July 2019 and was responsible for historic contributions and strategic decisions made by the international Jewish NGO. He previously served as CEO of World ORT (1999 - 2013), and later their Chairman of the Board of Trustees (2020-2023).
Sonia Gomes de Mesquita served as the Chief Programs Officer of the World Jewish Congress (WJC) from 2013-2019, and Chief Operating Officer of World ORT from 1999-2013. She served between 1992 and 1999 in the Liaison Bureau of the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office, and previously in the office of the Israeli Ambassador to Finland in Helsinki. She also served in the Israel Defense Forces and rose to the rank of Lieutenant.