[1][2][3][4] The Safras were bankers and gold traders engaged in the financing of trade between Beirut, Aleppo, Istanbul and Alexandria.
[6][7][8][9] In the early 20th century, as economic conditions weakened the Ottoman Empire, many Aleppines, including Jacob Safra, fled to Beirut and beyond.
[10][11][12][13] With its base in Lebanon, the Banco Jacob E. Safra [pt] became the bank of choice for many of Syria's and Lebanon's rich Sephardic Jewish families, who trusted the Safras to manage their business and personal financial interests with care and discretion.
The bank did business with agricultural, precious metal and merchant traders, and it offered both credit and savings accounts.
[15][16] They had four sons: Elie, Edmond, Joseph, and Moise; and four daughters: Evelyn, Gabi, Arlette, and Hugette.