Jerusalem Opens Its First Public Swimming Pool in Beit Hanina

Jerusalem inaugurated its first public swimming pool in the eastern part of the city on Tuesday, opening the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Sports Center in the Beit Hanina neighborhood. Built with an investment of approximately $20 million and spanning roughly 5,000 square meters, the facility features an indoor swimming pool, a toddler pool, a training pool, fitness rooms, studio spaces, and public areas designed for children, teenagers, and local families.

The project was established through a partnership between the Jerusalem Municipality, the Ministry of Jerusalem and Jewish Tradition, the Jerusalem Foundation, the Mandel Foundation, Mifal HaPayis—which contributed over 31 million shekels—and additional donors. Local residents and representatives of the Beit Hanina community administration accompanied the project for five years, participating in its planning. The facility is expected to create dozens of local jobs in management, coaching, instruction, lifeguarding, and maintenance.

Expanding Infrastructure in East Jerusalem

This new center adds to a series of municipal investments in eastern Jerusalem in recent years, including the establishment of an educational campus in Shuafat, the 30-dunam Kidron Valley Park in Sheikh Jarrah, and a welfare center in Wadi al-Joz. The inauguration ceremony was attended by Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion, Jerusalem Foundation President Eric Garbarski, Mandel Foundation leaders Prof. Jehuda Reinharz, Steve Hoffman, and Moshe Vigdor, representatives of Mifal HaPayis, and neighborhood residents.

Addressing the crowd, Mayor Moshe Lion called it a historic day, noting that east Jerusalem residents can now enjoy a public pool and an advanced sports center close to home. Lion emphasized that the initiative fulfills his commitment to narrowing gaps across different parts of the city and investing in infrastructure for all residents. Shimon Album, director-general of the Ministry of Jerusalem and Jewish Tradition, added that the center is part of a national five-year plan aimed at building a robust local economy.