Kfar Saba | Information

“The greenest city in the Sharon area.”

Slogan of Kfar Saba

Kfar Saba is known for its technology, innovation, and green initiatives. Literally “Grandfather’s Village” (officially also spelled Kefar Sava), it is a city in the Sharon area, Center District of Israel in Israel. According to the Israel Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS), at the end of 2019 the city had a total population of 110,456.

In 2020, Kfar Saba was voted as one of the best places to live in Israel.

For reference, the city of Gainesville is sixteen times the area of Kfar Saba. The city has preserved its original system of plots and grown to implement an impressive system of green areas winding through the grid. Originally most of the people that lived there were farmers.

• Population: 110,456 (2019)
• Mayor: Rafi Sa’ar, has been mayor since 2018.
• Climate: Summers are long, hot, and clear, while winters are cool and mostly clear. 
• Temperature: 48°F/9°C to 88°F/31°C

The land where the city of Kfar Saba now is was bought in 1892 by a group of Jewish Zionist settlers, who then offered the lands for sale. The acquisition turned out to be unsuccessful because the lands were located at a desolate, neglected area and were far from any other Jewish settlement. After the failure they were finally bought 1896 by Baron Edmond James de Rothschild. In 1903, the Baron sold the land to the farmers of Petah Tikva to be populated by the 2nd generation – the immediate descendants of the farmers. However, they, in turn, sold the land to others, mostly new immigrants. The Ottoman government refused to give building permits, therefore the first settlers were forced to live in huts made of clay and straw. They earned their living by growing almonds, grapes, and olives. Only in 1912 the settlers moved to permanent housing.

In World War I, Kfar Saba was on the front line between the British army and the Ottoman army and was destroyed. At the same time about a thousand residents of Tel Aviv and Jaffa came to live in the town. They had been forcibly deported from their homes by the Ottomans. Due to the pogroms of 1921 these deportees returned to their original cities. In 1922 the original residents returned and in 1924 additional settlers joined them. In this period the cultivation of citrus fruit developed. In 1937 Kfar Saba was declared a local council.

In the time of the Arab Revolt, in 1936-1939, as in the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, Kfar Saba’s population suffered from attacks by Arabs from the Arab, Saba village and other villages in the area. A short time before the Israeli declaration of independence these villages were taken in Operation Medina. In 1962 Kfar Saba was awarded city status. At the time of the Six-Day War Kfar Saba suffered attacks from the neighboring town of Qalqilya that is located just over the 1949 armistice line with Jordan.

Some Schools in Kfar Saba

Kfar Saba is known was an important settlement during the Second Temple period in ancient Judea. One of the most important places in Kfar Saba is the town hall. Another important place is the old market which is now a place for restaurants and hanging out!

• People are very social
• They enjoy concerts in the park
• People volunteer a lot – including teenagers!
• People work to make society better
• People are very caring and bring old people food
• Army service is mandatory
• It’s a very quiet city
  • Don’t want to be a big city
  • They like it quiet
• There are many options for food
• Schools look for opportunities to work together

A popular place to eat in Kfar Saba is in the market yard.

Learn More

Visit the official Kfar Saba website at https://www.kfar-saba.muni.il/