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About Jaqui E. Safra

Chairman at Encyclopaedia Britannica

Compiled from 4 entries (4 articles) / updated 1d ago / v1

Jaqui E. Safra is a prominent Geneva-based collector and philanthropist, serving as Chairman of Encyclopaedia Britannica, with a distinguished focus on rare Hebrew manuscripts and medieval Jewish texts. His contributions to scholarship are evident through permissions for reproducing his collection items in academic publications and support for cultural institutions like Lapham's Quarterly. He is renowned for owning exceptional artifacts, such as a Castilian Hebrew Bible acquired by the MET in New York.

Collector of Rare Hebrew Manuscripts

Jaqui E. Safra's collection features significant medieval Jewish artifacts, including fragments from the Cairo Genizah known as Sefer Tagin, reproduced in scholarly works with his kind permission from Geneva.[1][4] A notable item, a Castilian Hebrew Bible exemplifying transcultural influences in medieval Spain, was previously in his possession before acquisition by the Metropolitan Museum of Art.[3]

Patron of Intellectual and Cultural Publications

Safra supports highbrow literary and historical journals, listed as a contributor to Lapham's Quarterly Volume XI, No. 3 (Summer 2018: WATER), alongside other philanthropists funding explorations of historical themes.[2] As Chairman of Encyclopaedia Britannica, he oversees a key institution for knowledge dissemination.

Philanthropy in Arts and Scholarship

His ownership and lending of rare items underscore a commitment to making cultural heritage accessible to researchers, bridging private collection with public scholarship.[1][3][4]

Key themes

Rare Hebrew Manuscripts

Deep involvement in collecting and sharing medieval Jewish texts.

  • Permission to reproduce Sefer Tagin fragments from Cairo Genizah[1][4]

  • Owned Castilian Hebrew Bible bought by MET[3]

Cultural Philanthropy

Financial and material support for scholarly and literary projects.

  • Contributor to Lapham's Quarterly[2]

  • Chairman of Encyclopaedia Britannica (bio)

Preservation of Medieval Jewish Heritage

Focus on artifacts highlighting transcultural influences in Jewish history.

  • Castilian Hebrew Bible as testimony to medieval Spanish influences[3]

  • Genizah fragments in academic publications[1][4]

Sources (4)

Every entry that fed the multi-agent compile above. Inline citation markers in the wiki text (like [1], [2]) are not yet individually linked to specific sources — this is the full set of sources the compile considered.

  1. Chapter 1 Introduction in: Sefer Tagin Fragments from the Cairo ...article · 2026-04-14
  2. Lapham's Quarterly: Volume XI, No. 3: Summer, 2018:WATER [1 ed.]article · 2026-04-14
  3. El MET de Nueva York compra una Biblia hebrea castellana del ...article · 2026-04-14
  4. Chapter 1 Introduction in: Sefer Tagin Fragments from the Cairo ...article · 2026-04-14