The profound mental health impact of the October 7th atrocities and the subsequent long war has created an urgent and far-reaching crisis across Israel. With estimates suggesting that over 500,000 people may face psychological issues, predominantly PTSD, the need for comprehensive trauma treatment and resilience-building has never been more critical. The Jerusalem Foundation swiftly rose to this challenge, establishing a variety of innovative programs designed to support the diverse communities of Jerusalem.

A pioneering step in this effort is the Resilience Center of Jerusalem, a partnership with Shaare Zedek Medical Center. This center offers a crucial lifeline for individuals with severe PTSD who have not responded to conventional therapies. It utilizes Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP), an innovative approach where ketamine acts as an aid within a comprehensive, psychiatrist-led psychotherapeutic framework. Uniquely located within the community rather than on the hospital campus, this intentional choice helps to reduce stigma and alleviate the anxiety associated with seeking mental health treatment.

Beyond clinical intervention, the Resilience Farm at Yaelim—the Ein Yael Nature Therapy Center—offers powerful nature-based healing. Originally serving marginalized youth, Ya’elim rapidly expanded its model post-October 7th, hosting nearly 3,000 participants for healing events and officially opening the Resilience Farm in March 2024. Recognized by the Ministry of Defense, it now offers structured therapy to restore stability. Crucially, its programs include “Shavim” (Returning Home) for high-risk veterans overlooked by official systems and dedicated support groups for spouses and parents and children healing together. The Farm also incorporates therapeutic horseback riding and animal-assisted nature therapy, offering emotional recovery through connection.

The power of community and movement is harnessed in a dedicated Soccer (Football) program for veterans and trauma survivors, a collaboration between Hapoel Jerusalem and Beit HaLochem (Veteran’s Center). This initiative provides a healthy outlet and a safe, empowering space for recovery, offering weekly training, official uniforms, and community engagement opportunities. Finally, the Psik Theater is leveraging the power of drama to help veterans and survivors, utilizing performance not only to raise awareness and reduce stigma but also to encourage diagnosis and foster a resilience and rehabilitation center.

We have learned over the last 2 years that recovery is a holistic journey—bridging clinical innovation, nature, sport, and the arts.  Unfortunately, there are more and more people in need of this support, and the urgency of treatment is only increasing.   We continue to expand capacity in all of the programs described to reach as many people as we can.

הפוסט Boosting Resilience: Addressing Israel’s Trauma Crisis הופיע לראשונה ב-.

Along Jerusalem’s “Seam Line” – where East and West meet and Jewish, Muslim and Christian communities live side by side – everyday life is marked by tension, fear, and fragile coexistence. The Jerusalem Intercultural Center (JICC) is working to transform this reality through the Partnership for Seam Line Community Resilience project, an ambitious three-year initiative aimed at strengthening trust, improving personal safety and building resilience across divided neighborhoods.

The project brings together diverse partners from community councils and residents to law enforcement and municipal officials to co-create lasting systems of safety and dialogue. Each year, four community centers from ultra-Orthodox, Arab and mixed populations will develop joint initiatives that help residents respond to conflict calmly and cooperatively. Over time, 16 centers and hundreds of local leaders will become a web of resilience spanning Jerusalem’s most sensitive borders.

The project’s origins lie in the upheaval following the 2023 Judicial Overhaul protests and the violent aftermath of October 7th, which reignited deep mistrust between Jewish and Arab Jerusalem communities. JICC’s earlier pilot program, launched with support from the Savran Family and the Russell Berrie Foundations, trained neighborhood watch teams to reduce friction and foster cooperation. The results were immediate: communities that once viewed one another with suspicion began to share emergency communication systems and problem-solve together.

Now, with co-directors Mukarram Hadieh, an Arab project manager from Beit Hanina in East Jerusalem, and Tami Lavie, JICC’s Director of Community Partnerships, the initiative is scaling up. Mukarram explains:

“For years, safety here has meant police, fences, or cameras. But what people really need is to feel seen and understood by their neighbors. When we listen to each other’s fears, we discover how similar they are and that’s where resilience begins.”

In the first year, centers in Beit Hanina, Kufr Aqeb, Ramat Shlomo and French Hill are crafting twelve initiatives that focus on cooperation between residents, police and city officials. These efforts range from joint safety patrols and emergency training to cultural exchange events and youth-led dialogue groups.

By the project’s end, more than 1,000 direct participants and 300,000 Jerusalem residents are expected to feel a measurable improvement in safety and connection. In a city often seen as a barometer for Israel’s social stability, the Partnership for Seam Line Community Resilience project represents something rare: hope built not on politics, but on partnership.

“Partnership for Seam Line Community Resilience” reminds Jerusalem and the world that resilience begins when neighbors work together to keep one another safe.

הפוסט Seam Line Community Resilience Partnerships הופיע לראשונה ב-.

This month, Anination celebrated its ninth edition, a meaningful milestone that reflects both the festival’s endurance and its cultural importance in the city. In the shadow of the war and the events following October 7, the festival carried added significance, becoming a symbol of resilience and hope. Supported by the Jerusalem Foundation and a wide network of cultural partners, the festival embodied the creative spirit that continues to move Jerusalem forward.

The ninth edition highlighted the extraordinary emotional and artistic reach of animation. Films sparked laughter and tears, opened unexpected paths of thought and revealed the special ability of animation to immerse viewers in imaginative and thought-provoking worlds. These experiences unfolded before a diverse and multi-generational audience that gathered to explore culture through one of the most expressive forms of storytelling.

This year’s program showcased a remarkable range of international and Israeli works, including films recognized at Cannes, Annecy and Sundance, alongside new Israeli productions that push the boundaries of creative expression. It also featured outstanding works from Japan, the United States, the Czech Republic, Poland, Estonia and many other countries, reflecting the global richness of contemporary animation. Visitors engaged with video art, virtual reality experiences, gaming installations, creator talks and masterclasses that offered a deeper look into the craft behind the screen.

More than a film festival, the ninth edition of Anination stands as a testament to Jerusalem’s enduring creativity, a city that continues to dream, to imagine and to bring people together through culture and community.

הפוסט Anination 2025: When Animation Comes to Life in Jerusalem הופיע לראשונה ב-.

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 meet, greet and enjoy Psik Theatre evening, raising funds for inclusive arts and culture in Jerusalem. Join us for an inspiring night starting at 6:00 pm with a meet & greet 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-.