Music, handmade flags and residents of all ages moving together through the streets of Jerusalem marked a hopeful day of community, culture and shared spirit on May 13 as part of Jerusalem Day 2026 celebrations.
Inspired by the need for an alternative to the Jerusalem Day Flag Parade, an event which has been accompanied by political undertones in past years, the March of Jerusalemites offered a hopeful vision of Jerusalem — one rooted in community, creativity and people who continue to imagine its future together.
The gathering was led by Matan Israeli of Muslala alongside Shai Doron Leadership Fellows Neta Meisels of HaMiffal and Mishy Harman, creator of the Israel Story and Jerusalem Story podcasts, together with dozens of local organizations, artists and community groups from across Jerusalem and with the support of the Jerusalem Foundation.
Throughout the afternoon, community events, tours and creative workshops took place in spaces like Muslala, HaMiffal, Studio of Her Own and other cultural and community centers. More than 40 organizations and initiatives took part, inviting residents from across the city to experience Jerusalem through creativity, music, culture and shared encounters.
Participants created their own “Jerusalem of Gold” flag, designed especially for the occasion as a symbol of hope and celebration for Jerusalem and its many communities. Inspired by the historic Bünting cloverleaf map, which placed Jerusalem at the center of the world in 1585, the flag accompanied participants throughout the day and later during the march itself.
In the early evening participants gathered near Jaffa Gate carrying the flags they created together. Accompanied by the joyful sounds of internationally acclaimed, Jerusalem-based jazz band Marsh Dondurma, the march continued into Teddy Park, where music, performances and activities brought residents together in a colorful community celebration.
The day concluded with an interfaith gathering led by Jewish, Christian and Muslim spiritual leaders alongside musicians from different faiths and traditions. Led by the ‘Zion Community’, the gathering offered a celebration of Jerusalem’s diversity, creativity and shared humanity.
