Discover the Ancient Wonders of the Jaffa Gate, Jerusalem
Originally published: June 2023 | Last updated: May 2025
The Jaffa Gate, one of the seven main entrances to Jerusalem’s Old City houses a few magnificent stories that span more than a millennia.
Location
The Gate's Different Names
Jaffa Gate has been known by several names, reflecting different historical and cultural perspectives. In Hebrew, it is called Sha’ar Yafo, named after the ancient port city of Jaffa, from which travelers arrived at the end of their journey to the Holy City. The road towards the west from the gate passed through Jaffa Street, the main way to Jaffa, the main port city of Israel until the early 20th century. Similarly, the Arabic name is Bab al-Khalil, meaning “Gate of the Friend,” which refers to Abraham, “the beloved of God”. Since Abraham’s burial site is traditionally in Hebron (whose Arabic name is el-Khalil), the Arabic name translates as “Hebron Gate,” as the old road leading to Hebron started at this spot. In medieval times, Arabs also called this gate Bab Mihrab Dawud, or “Gate of David’s Chamber or Sanctuary,” based on the belief that a room atop the Herodian tower stump (part of the nearby Citadel) represented King David’s prayer room. The Crusaders, who rebuilt the citadel, also built a gate behind the current location of Jaffa Gate and called it “David’s Gate”.
History of the Jaffa Gate
In the early 16th century, Jerusalem was under the rule of the Ottoman Empire. Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent, known for his ambitious architectural endeavors, sought to fortify and beautify the city. So, circa 1536, Suleiman commissioned the construction of a grand wall to encircle Jerusalem. This 4.5km wall was meant mostly to solidify the sacred status of Jerusalem in the Islamic world.
The Jaffa Gate was one of the main gates built into this wall, and it was strategically placed to serve as the western entrance to the city. Named after the port city of Jaffa, which was the traditional end of the highway leading from the coast to Jerusalem, the gate was essentially a conduit for pilgrims, merchants, and travelers coming into the city.
The design of the gate is L-shaped to force anyone who entered to make a right-angle turn, thus slowing down potential invaders.
In 1898, a significant alteration was made to accommodate the visit of German Emperor Wilhelm II. A breach was created adjacent to the original gate, allowing the emperor’s carriage to enter the city without navigating the narrow, L-shaped passage designed for defense. This modification not only facilitated the emperor’s entry but also marked the beginning of modern vehicular access to the Old City. This alteration still exists as an open plaza next to the gate. Ten years later, in 1908, an ornate clock tower (one of six clock towers in Israel and one hundred though out the Ottoman Empire) was built above the gate to celebrate the 25th year of Sultan Abdul Hamid II’s rule.
The British Mandate period brought further changes. In 1917, General Edmund Allenby entered Jerusalem through gate on foot, symbolizing a respectful approach to the city’s sanctity. Later, in 1922, the British authorities removed the Ottoman-era clock tower that once adorned the gate, aiming to restore the city’s ancient aesthetic.
Jaffa Gate also bore witness to the conflicts of the 20th century. During the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, control over the gate was contested, and it wasn’t until the Six-Day War in 1967 that Israeli forces secured it. The gate’s stones still bear the marks of these battles, with bullet fragments preserved as silent testaments to its turbulent past.
In 2010, a comprehensive restoration project led by the Israel Antiquities Authority revitalized the gate. The initiative involved cleaning the facade, repairing damaged stones, and reattaching an Arabic inscription from the gate’s original dedication in 1593. Notably, the restoration preserved the bullet marks from previous conflicts, maintaining the gate’s historical integrity.
Additional Information
- 16th Century (Beginning): The Ottoman Turks take control of Jerusalem. The city’s population and quarters remain largely unchanged.
- Mid-16th Century (Specifically 1538): Jaffa Gate is officially inaugurated as part of the rebuilding of the Old City walls by Suleiman the Magnificent.
- 1537-1541: The citadel (Tower of David) is expanded by Suleiman the Magnificent.
- 1635-1655: The Ottomans erect a minaret near the southwest corner of the citadel, which becomes commonly referred to as the “Tower of David” in the 19th century.
- Second Half of the 19th Century: Jaffa Gate becomes more active following development outside the city walls to the south and west.
- 1860: Jaffa Gate is the first gate in Jerusalem to be opened specially at night, due to pressure from Russians building nearby and wanting constant access for pilgrims.
- 1889: The New Gate, north of Jaffa Gate, opens, further increasing movement in the area around Jaffa Gate.
- 1896: The Jerusalem municipality relocates to a new building, making the area near Jaffa Gate a center of urban activity.
- 1898: A breach is made in the city wall between Jaffa Gate and the citadel by Ottoman authorities to allow German Emperor Wilhelm II and his retinue to enter Jerusalem in carriages. A portion of the citadel moat is filled in.
- Early 1900s: Mercantile emporia and stores belonging to various ethnic groups open near Jaffa Gate, creating a “European Market.”
- 1905: The Jerusalem municipality plants trees along Jaffa Road and installs the first public lighting network and garbage cans.
- 1908: An ornate clock tower is built on top of the historical Jaffa Gate tower in celebration of the 25th year of rule of Sultan Abdul Hamid II. The clock mechanism is delivered by the Dent company of London. Seven such clock towers are erected in what is now Israel and the Palestinian Territories, highlighting Jaffa Gate’s importance.
- 1912: The Bezalel Pavilion, a wooden structure housing a shop and exhibition hall for Bezalel art, is erected near Jaffa Gate.
- December 1917: British General Edmund Allenby enters Jerusalem on foot through Jaffa Gate, symbolizing the British capture of the city during World War I.
- 1922: The Ottoman clock tower on Jaffa Gate is dismantled by the British authorities for aesthetic reasons. The clock is re-erected on a new tower near the British Post Office and Town Hall.
- Mid-1940s: Houses and shops built adjacent to Jaffa Gate and the city wall on the outside are removed by the British to expose the wall.
- During the British Mandate: A marker outside Jaffa Gate serves as the Kilometre Zero for distances to and from Jerusalem. The area near Jaffa Gate serves as a central station for transportation to Jaffa, Bethlehem, and Hebron.
- July 1944: Demolition work is carried out at Jaffa Gate to clear the city wall.
- 1948: During the War of Independence, Jaffa Gate is blocked by a damaged armored vehicle and remains closed during the division of Jerusalem.
- 1948-1967: Jerusalem remains a divided city, with the Old City under Jordanian control. Israelis are not allowed to enter the Old City.
- 1967: Following the Six-Day War, Jaffa Gate is reopened, reconnecting the Old City with the New City. The street leading from Jaffa Gate to the Western Wall is initially named “Rehov Habira” (Capital City Street) and later changed to David Street.
- 1971: Ultra-Orthodox Jews are photographed walking in the interior plaza of Jaffa Gate.
- 1975: Jaffa Gate appears on an Israeli 10 Lirot banknote. It later appears on a 1 Shekel banknote.
- As part of the Mamilla Project: Mamilla Street is rebuilt as a pedestrian mall leading to Jaffa Gate, serving as an access route from central Jerusalem to the Old City.
- 2010: Jaffa Gate is reopened after a two-month renovation. An 1,800-year-old high-level aqueduct is exposed near Jaffa Gate during archaeological work.
Sites Near by
- Tower of David: Also known as the Jerusalem Citadel, the Tower of David is an ancient citadel located at the entrance to the Old City. The citadel dates back to the Crusader, Mamluk and Ottoman periods.
- The Jewish Quarter: The Jewish Quarter is a treasure trove of history and culture. This area is home to several ancient synagogues, and historical buildings, and the Broad Wall erected by King Hezekiah in the 8th century BC.
- Christ Church: This is the oldest Protestant church in the Middle East, was inaugurated in 1849.
- The Armenian Quarter: Home to a tight-knit Armenian community. Rich in history, it houses the St. James Cathedral, a place of ornate beauty, and offers a unique blend of Middle Eastern and Armenian culture through its narrow streets, ancient buildings, and traditional craft shops.
- St. James Cathedral: This cathedral is part of the Armenian Patriarchate. The cathedral is dedicated to two Saints named James – St. James the Greater, one of Jesus’ twelve apostles, and St. James the Just, who was the brother of Jesus.
