HaMiffal’s special spirit is evident from the moment a visitor reaches the entrance arch.  The large garden is full of nooks with unusual works of art, a changing display.  Entering the door of the two-story, late 19^th century building reveals a vibrant, colorful space.  The past has not been remodeled, but included.  Art is everywhere, on the walls, the ceiling, in the public restroom – even the floors tell a story of the building’s uses over time.  The building’s history emanates from the partially exposed layers of paint on the walls, some of which retain older decoration and some of which have been painted by artists who use the building today.  It is a visual cacophony which creates a fascinating aesthetic, always changing, self-renewing.  Everywhere is worth looking at.

HaMiffal (the Factory) sees itself as “a production line for artists.”  HaMiffal invites the public to take an active part in its operations – through artistic programs, regular gatherings and community-led initiatives that are in constant development. The building has a variety of places to sit, talk and work including two large rooms for curated shows, a shared studio, rooms for courses – photography, drawing and ceramics – and meetings as well as a café and a shop selling works by local artists who are involved in HaMiffal. Two hundred to 250 people visit every day. It also serves as a hub for local artists, offering a prestigious residency program, work spaces and even a workshop for graduates of the Bezalel Art Academy to learn how to market their art themselves.

The historic building was built at the end of the 19^th century, the home of the Serafin-Lorenzo family, local Christian Arabs, two of whom were architects and designed the structure.  They had to abandon it in 1948, and thereafter the building housed a succession of schools until 2006.  It then stood empty for 10 years.  In 2016, the Jerusalem Municipality invited an artists’ collective to take over the empty structure, led by Neta Meisels, a cultural entrepreneur and curator based in Jerusalem. HaMiffal has since grown and expanded its outreach, under Neta’s leadership becoming a central institution in the Jerusalem art scene. “Anarchic artists meet the establishment” in the words of Co-Director and Artistic Director Doron Gallia-Kind. HaMiffal is now administered by a registered NGO that runs it professionally while maintaining its open, experimental spirit.

Says Gallia-Kind, “This building reflects the state’s story and Jerusalem’s story.  We do not erase history or deny it, but become part of it.” There is programming in Hebrew and Arabic, art classes in both languages, and Hebrew/Arabic language exchanges. HaMiffal recently created a workshop to help East Jerusalem artists develop art and culture in their own communities.

HaMiffal is dedicated to maintaining a liberal, free-spirited space in Jerusalem that encourages artists to stay in the city and grow its artistic community.  This is the essence of its mission.

הפוסט HaMiffal: A Unique Art, Culture and Community Center in Jerusalem הופיע לראשונה ב-.

The power of these gardens lies in the people who cultivate them. Neighbors grow food, plant trees, preserve local wild vegetation, and exchange ideas about sustainable living. Composting, reusing materials, and nurturing the soil have become shared values that strengthen both the environment and community ties across Jerusalem.

This project has deeply impacted Jerusalem’s diverse communities, strengthening social ties, promoting sustainability, and fostering environmentally conscious behavior. In times of crisis, during both the COVID-19 pandemic and the current war, community gardens and the Urban Sustainability Center have served as vital sanctuaries. They provide calm, inclusive spaces for connection, support, and meaningful activity. Today, sustainable living and ecological awareness are increasingly woven into everyday life across the city. As one resident of Beit Hanina shared, “The garden hasn’t only improved the view, it has really brought us together. When we convene to tend to the garden, we feel like we’re not only gardening, but rather building up our community.”

During the recent Sukkot holiday, the community gardens came alive with celebration. Families and neighbors gathered among the trees and flowers to build sukkot beneath the open sky, giving thanks for the harvest and reflecting on the harmony between people and nature. This spirit of gratitude, community, and renewal also filled the Green Inside and Out Festival, a citywide celebration of nature, sustainability, and togetherness supported by the Jerusalem Foundation, the Jerusalem Green Fund, Jerusalem Development Authority and JNF and the Sustainable Jerusalem Lobby. The festival filled dozens of locations across the city with guided nature walks, creative fairs, eco workshops, children’s activities, music, and environmental tours, highlighting the work of local organizations and grassroots initiatives that are shaping a greener and more resilient Jerusalem.

The Jerusalem Community Gardens project, a partnership between the Jerusalem Foundation and the Jerusalem Municipality’s Department of Social Sustainability, continues to nurture this transformation and inspire action across the city.

Take a glimpse into these urban oases here

הפוסט Jerusalem Community Gardens: Where People and Nature Thrive הופיע לראשונה ב-.

At the heart of this effort stands ‘Learning Together’, a groundbreaking program that brings Jewish and Arab pupils and educators into meaningful, ongoing encounters throughout the school year. The program is based on a model developed in Northern Ireland, where Protestant and Catholic schools began learning together after decades of conflict. Adapting that approach to Jerusalem’s unique reality, ‘Learning Together’ pairs Jewish and Arab classes that study together on a regular basis, guided by teachers who design joint lessons and activities. The classroom becomes a space not only for academic learning but also for dialogue, discovery, and mutual respect.

Implemented within the formal education system, in collaboration with the Jerusalem Foundation, educational mentors, and academic partners, the program promotes empathy, understanding, and shared responsibility among the city’s youth.

A central pillar of this initiative is the ‘Learning Together Ambassadors Program’, which trains dedicated educators to lead this work within their schools. These ambassadors serve as bridge builders, helping embed shared learning into everyday school life and inspiring both pupils and educators.

Following the events of October 7, when fear and uncertainty deeply affected communities across the city, this work became more vital than ever. Paused last year due to the war, the program resumed this year as planned, reaffirming the belief that education can be a powerful force for healing and resilience.

As the 2025/26 school year unfolds, ‘Learning Together’ enters its fifth year, continuing to build bridges of trust, hope, and connection across Jerusalem.

הפוסט Learning Together Ambassadors Program הופיע לראשונה ב-.

On Sunday November 16, the Jerusalem Foundation of Canada is putting on an exclusive dinner and theatre evening, raising funds for inclusive arts and culture in Jerusalem. Join us for an inspiring night starting at 5:30pm with a meet & greet dinner with members of Psik Theatre, followed by premium seating for the performance. You can buy your tickets here, and a tax receipt will be issued for the charitable portion. For more information, see the poster below this article.

One of the very special programs created by Psik Theatre company is the children and teens group, which aims to foster friendships and break down stigmas about disabilities, making Jerusalem and Israel a kinder, more inclusive place. It brings together young people with disabilities and community volunteers – the theatre students from the Psik Theatre – to create public stage performances. The participants learn to use pain, frustration, aspiration, and fear —emotions that are fundamental pillars in stage creation —and turn them into tools for developing creativity. They learn the secrets of theatre in weekly meetings throughout an entire year, and at the end, they put on a play on a theatre stage in front of an audience.

In this way, this special activity creates a respectful place on stage for each participant, legitimising who they are, their abilities, and their desires despite their limitations and difficulties. The activity in the group contributes greatly to strengthening the participants’ mental resilience, improving their quality of life, and raising their self-image. The professional work method developed is unique to the P’sik Theatre and is unlike any other professional theatre.

Psik Theatre is firmly committed to promoting marginalised populations and eradicating social stigmas against people with disabilities through community theatre.

To learn more about Psik Theater community work: (2734) Psik Theater Police Sensitivity Training – YouTube

הפוסט Jerusalem’s Psik Theatre Brings Inclusive Arts to Canada הופיע לראשונה ב-.

הפוסט Jerusalem Foundation of Canada Board Member: Elliott Eisen הופיע לראשונה ב-.

A feast of green – trees, shrubs, flowers – opens before visitors’ eyes from the very moment they enter the 35-acre Jerusalem Botanical Gardens. Home to 7000 species of plants, the Gardens serve science, environment and community.

Adjacent to the Givat Ram Campus of the Hebrew University—and near the Knesset, the National Library of Israel and the Israel Museum—the previously undeveloped land was made available to the university in the 1980’s to create a botanical garden. From its early days until today, the governing body includes, along with the university, the Jerusalem Foundation, the Jerusalem Municipality, the Jewish National Fund and the family of the late Mendel Kaplan (South Africa).

In addition to being a unique park in Jerusalem, the Gardens serve a number of functions.  One is conservation of plant species.  Eighty percent of rare and endangered species from the entire Middle East are cultivated here.  Alongside collection and propagation efforts, scientific research and discoveries are shared with botanical gardens around the world. There are five major planted areas with species from the Middle East, Asia, South Africa, Australia and North America.  Jerusalem’s climate, cold in winter and hot in summer, allows them all to thrive.  Water-efficient growing techniques are required, and lessons learned are shared.

No less important is the Jerusalem Botanical Gardens’ interaction with and service to the Jerusalem community.

Entrance to the Gardens is free for Jerusalem children.  Nature-related educational programming is a central component, for schoolchildren from both West and East Jerusalem and using cultural texts as part of the educational experience.    The Gardens participate in creating community gardens in all parts of the city, many in schools, about 250 per year.  Adult education is served by 15 fully subscribed courses in a variety of subjects, whose topics are often renewed.  Art that deals with botanical subjects is seen as a way to engage people and teach about nature.

The Gardens provide therapeutic experiences, of varying duration, to a number of special populations.  The Gardens provide space for therapeutic activity for veterans dealing with trauma, using the botanical experience as a component.  There are also courses for special needs children and children at risk.  In addition, older adults volunteer in the gardens and the conservatory and are invited to special lectures.

Over 250,000 people visit annually.  The numbers have grown significantly in recent years because of the dynamic programming modified to suit the times as needed, be it the Covid pandemic or war.  Visitors come for the different trails that can be followed and for cultural and family activities that change over the course of the year.  Some of these activities draw audiences of thousands of people.  Altogether the visitors represent Jerusalem’s diverse populations – religious Jews, secular Jews and Arabs – as well as international visitors.

הפוסט JERUSALEM BOTANICAL GARDENS הופיע לראשונה ב-.

Initially created to support cultural institutions, local artists, and city residents in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, SidraTarbut has since grown into a much-anticipated annual tradition—its name and reputation now extending beyond the borders of Jerusalem. A similar Series is even set to take place in Be’er Sheva this summer, explicitly following the model of this successful initiative.

Conceptually, the Series is grounded in three pillars: spotlighting local cultural institutions, fostering community, and promoting Jerusalem artists. Over the years, it has grown and its vision has sharpened. While remaining true to its foundational principles, SidraTarbut continues to evolve in response to current events, emerging trends, and the needs of its audience.

Held each year during the months of August and September, in the lead-up to the Jewish High Holidays, the Series invites the city to reflect and celebrate through a rich Series of events spread across Jerusalem, including East Jerusalem. Whether in open-air spaces, communal venues, or the city’s major institutions, and expressed in the languages and idioms that form Jerusalem’s unique cultural fabric, SidraTarbut engages families and audiences of all backgrounds—designed to activate, inspire, and connect.

The Series is made possible through the generous support of the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Foundation and the management of the Jerusalem Foundation, together bringing this vision to life. The Jerusalem Municipality demonstrates its full support of the Series, with Mayor Moshe Lion attending at least three major events every year.

SidraTarbut 2025

“SidraTarbut marks half a decade. Even in times of war, and precisely amid the rift we are experiencing as a society and as a nation, we remain here to create and cultivate culture — a diverse and unifying culture that reflects the beauty of Jerusalem, shining through its heavy, ancient stones despite everything.” (SidraTarbut website)

The 2025 SidraTarbut launched August 6th, kickstarting with a beautiful and impressive event at the Jerusalem Theater. In attendance were the Mayor of Jerusalem, Mr. Moshe Lion, and the President of the Jerusalem Foundation, Mr. Arik Grebelsky.

“Ten measures of beauty descended to the world – nine were taken by Jerusalem” (Talmud: Kiddushin 49b). The opening event of SidraTarbut 2025 went on a journey following this theme, via a 90-minute video-concert, blending iconic Jerusalem films (Legend of Destruction, Ushpizin, East Side, and more) with new musical arrangements performed by the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra and leading Jerusalem musicians. The result: a poetic tribute to the city’s fractured yet radiant mosaic, weaving together pain and humor, love and madness, cries and melodies.

Following the formal opening, the series continued over the past month with dozens of cultural events—including exhibitions, street concerts, workshops, lectures, and tours.

One notable event, among many others, was an evening performance at Machol Shalem Dance Center, featuring two contemporary dance works performed by physically disabled dancers. “The History of Movement Limitations” and “Life’s Course” both celebrate and empower physical diversity, while presenting a distinctive, alternative aesthetic of artistic expression.

The series will continue up until mid-September. For more details, check out the SidraTarbut website and social media accounts.

הפוסט SidraTarbut: 40 Days of Summer Culture Events Throughout Jerusalem הופיע לראשונה ב-.

At the heart of this initiative is a group of dedicated activists from both communities who have been meeting regularly for over two years, united by the dream of creating a café that would serve as a permanent meeting place and a source of light and positivity for the area. The initiative was originally born out of the ‘Park HaMesila Activists Forum’, established in 2022, before the war. During that time, the forum was very active in the area, organizing numerous events around Beit Safafa with a special focus on bilingual activities for families with children. From this work, the vision of a community café began to take shape.

The first ‘Coffee Under the Bridge’ event took place in May, and since then four gatherings have been held, roughly once a month. Participants have been wonderfully diverse, coming mainly from Beit Safafa, Katamon, and other nearby neighborhoods. Each event has created a vibrant atmosphere, combining excellent coffee with live music, creative workshops, games, and even a petting station with a baby goat.

For many, the café has become a small symbol of what shared life in Jerusalem could look like. As Katamon resident Ilana Nelson shared: “In a reality of fear, we are creating an atmosphere of connection, and a glimpse of what Jerusalem could and should be. Coming with my young daughter to the café was a deeply meaningful experience of hope, just a short walk from home.”

With the support of the Jerusalem Foundation, Kulna will hold more events bringing people together. More than just coffee or community gatherings, ‘Coffee Under the Bridge’ is about radiating positivity, offering hope, and strengthening the foundations of shared living in Jerusalem.

הפוסט Kulna Jerusalem: Coffee Under the Bridge הופיע לראשונה ב-.

Jerusalem is Israel’s largest and most diverse city, home to a wide range of communities—Jews and Arabs, secular and religious, and people of all faiths. Each community has its own unique needs, yet all are affected by times of emergency.

The Jerusalem Foundation sees it as its responsibility to remain closely engaged with local organizations and communities, monitoring evolving needs and stepping in where support is most needed.

The Jerusalem Foundation continues to respond and adapt to urgent and emerging needs. Among the most pressing:

Jerusalem Community Centers – Community centers across the city have become vital hubs of support, providing access to public shelters, emotional and physical care, food deliveries, and enrichment activities—both online and in person—for vulnerable residents and children. Looking ahead, these centers are working to establish comprehensive, long-term support systems that address both immediate and ongoing needs. This includes emotional support and emergency assistance for families of reserve soldiers; preserving and strengthening volunteer and community leadership teams, incorporating lessons learned for improved future response; providing professional training in areas such as resilience, first aid, mediation, and conflict resolution (particularly for managing tensions around shelter access); and offering appreciation, recovery, and wellbeing activities for staff and volunteers who have carried the burden throughout the crisis. Increased funding is essential to sustain and expand these critical efforts.

Welfare, Health & Community Support – In partnership with the Municipality, local organizations are delivering food, mental health care, and shelter services, while also supporting single mothers, people with disabilities, refugees, and others without family support. These programs offer both immediate relief and a sense of stability, but continued operation depends on sustained funding.

Support for East Jerusalem – Following recent events, it is clear that emergency teams in East Jerusalem—and the training they receive—must be strengthened well in advance to ensure they are fully prepared to respond swiftly when crises arise. At the same time, community initiatives continue to address urgent needs, including the cleaning and preparation of long-neglected bomb shelters to prevent future unpreparedness. Culturally adapted mental health programs and resilience workshops in Arabic are also underway, helping communities build strength, stability, and readiness for the challenges ahead.

We continue to hope for the well-being of all Jerusalem’s residents, the safe return of the hostages, and a future of lasting peace for Israel. Your support during this time is both meaningful and deeply appreciated.

For details regarding specific programs in need of support click here

הפוסט Recovery and return to routine – July 2025 הופיע לראשונה ב-.

We are deeply saddened by the passing of Alan G. Hassenfeld z’l, former Chairman of the Jerusalem Foundation, Inc.  Alan was a renowned philanthropist and former CEO of Hasbro Inc. toy company.   His family has a long history of a deep commitment to Jerusalem and Israel.  His parents were both supporters of the early State of Israel and friends of legendary Mayor of Jerusalem, Teddy Kollek.  Alan and his mother, Sylvia, helped Teddy establish the Merrill Hassenfeld Amphitheater in Sultan’s Pool, in memory of his father, in 1981.

Alan founded the Hassenfeld Family Foundation and continued to support many Jerusalem projects as he also led the Jerusalem Foundation, Inc. in the United States as Chairman for more than 25 years.

Alan and the Hassenfeld Family established the Hassenfeld Community Center in Kiryat Yovel and the Hassenfeld Youth Center in Wadi Joz.  He personally spearheaded the establishment of Teddy Park in 2013, honoring the memory of Teddy Kollek in Mitchell Parks and Gardens, as a destination for inspiration, alongside the walls of the Old City of Jerusalem.  He created the Hassenfeld Family Fountain that brings joy to children from all over Jerusalem and beyond.

He also established the Hassenfeld Family Initiative, a nonprofit organization that focuses on women and children’s rights and safety globally.  He cared deeply about people all around the world while also caring particularly for the community of his home state of Rhode Island and the people of Jerusalem.

He will be deeply missed.

Read the obituary published in eJewishPhilanthropy

הפוסט The Jerusalem Foundation mourns the passing of Alan G. Hassenfeld z’l הופיע לראשונה ב-.