Presented by the Jerusalem Foundation, the Haggiag Family Award was established by the Haggiag family in memory of Robert Nissim Haggiag, whose contribution to the film industry left a lasting mark on European and international cinema. Since its inception, the award has become one of the Jerusalem Film Festival’s most prestigious honors.

This year’s ceremony was made even more meaningful by the presence of Simone Haggiag, who traveled to Jerusalem to meet all the filmmakers shortlisted for the award, participate in the celebratory dinner, and personally present the prize to the winning director in memory of his father.

Selected from six competing films, Where To? is set against the backdrop of Berlin’s nightlife. The film follows Hassan, a 55-year-old Palestinian Uber driver, whose chance encounter with Amir, a young Israeli navigating a complicated romance far from home, develops into a series of meetings over two years. As Hassan witnesses Amir’s attempts to salvage the relationship that brought him to Berlin, he embarks on a deeply personal journey of his own, confronting his past for the first time. Told in English, Arabic, German and Hebrew, Where To? is a poignant exploration of displacement, identity, and the unexpected connections that shape our lives.

Through the Haggiag Family Award, the Jerusalem Foundation continues to celebrate exceptional filmmaking while investing in the future of Israeli cinema.

Photo Credit: Dana Bar Siman Tov

Poster credit: Maayane Bouhnik

הפוסט Honoring Cinematic Excellence: The Haggiag Family Award הופיע לראשונה ב-.

Over five days (14-18.7.2026), in collaboration with more than 30 contemporary art galleries, leading cultural centers and hundreds of independent artists and creators, the Festival celebrates Jerusalem’s artistic scene and diverse communities. It offers dozens of new exhibitions and a variety of original events and performances created especially, alongside ‘Manofim Tours’ – guided tours of the city’s artistic venues, and live music performances.

Manofim relates through multidisciplinary art to the human, public, historical and contemporary complexity of Jerusalem, combining high art with community boosting activities and welcoming audiences from the city’s diverse populations.

The 2026 Festival’s opening has three starting points, and the program continues with a rich array of art and community events, including a bi-lingual (Hebrew & Arabic) screening of the semi-finals of the FIFA World Cup on ‘Bustana’ – the recently renovated Art Cube Rooftop; Saturday morning art programming for the whole family, providing quality family time for young families away from daily routines, and various exhibition openings, performances and explorations of the 2026 central theme – Recognition.

The Jerusalem Foundation is proud to partner with this vibrant, avant-garde production, supporting Jerusalem’s artists, art-lovers and culture ecosystem.

Photo credit: Yair Meyuhas

הפוסט Manofim at 18: Celebrating Jerusalem’s Contemporary Art Scene הופיע לראשונה ב-.

That vision came to life at the recent hackathon, where nearly 90 tenth grade pupils from 14 high schools across East Jerusalem developed solutions to real community challenges. Working in teams, they applied technology, entrepreneurship and design thinking while strengthening their English communication skills through collaboration, presentations and problem solving.

More than a traditional language program, the initiative connects English learning with hands on experiences that inspire curiosity, creativity and confidence. By encouraging pupils to think critically, communicate effectively and tackle real world challenges, it helps prepare them for success in higher education, future careers and active participation in an increasingly global society.

The event concluded with an awards ceremony recognizing the most innovative projects and celebrating the creativity, determination and potential of the participating pupils. Their ideas demonstrated that when young people are given the opportunity to learn, collaborate and lead, they gain far more than language proficiency. They build the confidence and skills to shape their own futures and make a meaningful contribution to their communities.

Photo Credit- Husam Abu Diab

הפוסט Where English Meets Innovation הופיע לראשונה ב-.

The new NGO League, an initiative of the Jerusalem Foundation in partnership with Kulna Jerusalem and supported by the Jerusalem Municipality’s Sports Department, was established with a vision that sees sport as far more than a game. Alongside promoting physical activity, the league harnesses the power of sport to foster personal growth, build self-confidence, encourage perseverance, responsibility and teamwork, and strengthen the social fabric of Jerusalem.

Running from July through September 2026, the league features men’s and women’s football and basketball competitions, creating opportunities for organizations that work across the city’s diverse communities to connect in an entirely new way. Through shared sporting experiences, the initiative aims to cultivate trust, cooperation and lasting partnerships that extend well beyond the playing field. At its heart are the values of community, equality, inclusion and shared society.

Dozens of nonprofits and community organizations have joined the inaugural season. Participants represent a broad spectrum of Jerusalem’s civil life, including organizations working in education, welfare, culture, sport, rehabilitation and shared society. Among them are Tzionei Derech, Al Tawasol, Home Court, SAHI, OneFamily, Kulna Jerusalem, Hamifletzet Pub, Train Theater, Hapoel Lev Jerusalem, Roma Club Jerusalem Football School and Hapoel Katamon Jerusalem. Registration is still open and additional organizations are expected to join.

To ensure that the league’s impact reaches beyond the matches themselves, each championship-winning organization will receive a NIS 5,000 prize dedicated exclusively to advancing its own social or community programming.

As Jerusalem Foundation President Arik Grebelsky explains, “the true measure of success will not be the trophies awarded at the end of the season, but the relationships formed along the way. By bringing together the people and organizations working every day to strengthen Jerusalem, the league aims to spark new partnerships, initiatives and friendships that will continue benefiting the city long after the final whistle.”

Photo credit: Ricky Rachman

הפוסט More Than a Game: Jerusalem’s New NGO League Kicks Off הופיע לראשונה ב-.

Hosted at Mishkenot Sha’ananim and supported by the Jerusalem Foundation, the Festival created opportunities for dialogue and cultural exchange through a rich program of discussions, readings and literary encounters.

This year, the Festival welcomed international writers Nell Zink, Joseph Finder, Dara Horn, Steve J. Zipperstein, Benjamin Resnick and Marcelo Birmajer, who joined leading Israeli authors for conversations exploring identity, memory, belonging and the role of literature in a rapidly changing world. Italian writer Erri De Luca participated in a live Zoom conversation, sharing insights into his work and the contemporary literary landscape in Italy.

Many of this year’s discussions reflected on the impact of October 7 on Jewish life and identity around the world and the role of storytelling in times of uncertainty. Together, the conversations highlighted literature’s power to preserve memory, foster understanding and create meaningful dialogue across cultures and perspectives.

Now in its 18th year, the Festival remains a cornerstone of Jerusalem’s cultural life, bringing diverse voices together through the enduring power of storytelling.

Photo credit: Jerusalem International Writers Festival

הפוסט Jerusalem International Writers Festival Celebrates the Power of Storytelling הופיע לראשונה ב-.

Jerusalemite director Mihal Brezis will be in Toronto for a special screening of Dead Language at the Toronto Jewish Film Festival on Thursday, June 11 at 8:15 p.m. Following the screening, Brezis will take part in a Q&A, offering audiences a rare opportunity to hear directly from the filmmaker about her creative process, artistic collaboration, and the ideas behind the film.

Dead Language is a tender meditation on longing, connection, and chance, exploring the fragile and unexpected ways lives intersect. First premiering at the Tribeca Festival and nominated for 12 Ophir Awards, the film begins with a chance encounter at an airport: while waiting for her husband, Aya impulsively pretends to be the chauffeur assigned to pick up a visitor arriving from Denmark. Their brief encounter stirs an unexpected longing that destabilizes Aya’s carefully ordered life.

Co-written with Tom Shoval (A Letter to David) and Amital Stern, the film unfolds as a nuanced meditation on intimacy, desire, and coincidence—tracing how a single misstep can quietly unravel the boundaries of a life that once felt secure. Anchored by luminous performances from Sarah Adler (The Cakemaker) and Ulrich Thomsen (The Celebration), the film has been praised for its emotional restraint and its sensitivity to the unspoken currents between people.

Brezis, together with her creative partner Oded Binnun, has built an acclaimed body of work recognized internationally for its emotional precision and cinematic subtlety. Their Oscar-nominated short AYA, which inspired Dead Language, was widely celebrated and marked a breakthrough in bringing short-form storytelling into wider theatrical release, earning global recognition and multiple awards.

In Hebrew, Czech and English, with English subtitles.

Tickets are available with student and senior rates of $15 per ticket. Visit https://tjff.com/films/dead-language/.

It promises to be a meaningful evening of film and conversation – hope to see you there!

הפוסט Calling All Toronto Cinephiles! הופיע לראשונה ב-.

The gathering in Jerusalem will take place from October 20-22, 2026, and we look forward to welcoming you all to Jerusalem.

We have been through difficult days over this past almost 3 years since October 7^th, in Israel and around the world.  We are grateful for some respite from all the challenges and turmoil and hope that these 3 days in Jerusalem, learning about and experiencing the hope and inspiration of the programs, people and activities that the Jerusalem Foundation supports, will bring you all some comfort and joy.

The October Program will focus on Past, Present and Future of the Jerusalem Foundation and how we have shaped the city through community, culture, leadership and embracing the city’s diversity.

You will meet people in the field, the young leaders, the experienced managers, all of our diverse partners and we will also celebrate the culture and arts of a creative city.  We will be welcomed by the Mayor of Jerusalem, Moshe Lion and the President of the State of Israel, Isaac Herzog.  There will be a geo-political briefing with Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari. You can find more information about the schedule here.

There will be special yoga and running options in the early morning – optional of course! And late-night networking with locals over drinks and music and some special options of late-night Jerusalem culture….

We look forward to seeing you in October!

Please take the time to Register for the Event.  Even if you previously registered for May, please fill in the new form.  Thanks in advance!

Room rates through the Jerusalem Foundation:

הפוסט Jerusalem Foundation 60th Event הופיע לראשונה ב-.

Initiated and led by the Jerusalem Foundation in cooperation with the Jerusalem Municipality and with the support of the Jack, Joseph & Morton Mandel Foundation, Bechorot is a unique arts festival bringing together students and recent graduates from Jerusalem’s leading arts institutions. Created to encourage collaboration between the city’s arts schools, the festival provides emerging artists with a professional platform to present their debut works, build creative connections, and take their first steps into Israel’s cultural landscape.

Jerusalem is home to 11 leading arts schools, where around 4,000 students’ study across all fields of the arts. This extraordinary concentration of talent and creativity, unmatched by any other city in Israel, makes Jerusalem one of the country’s most dynamic creative centers, continuously shaping new voices, ideas, and cultural perspectives.

For many of the participating artists, Bechorot is more than a festival. It is a first opportunity to share their work publicly, connect with other creators, and become part of Jerusalem’s evolving creative community, offering a glimpse into the future of the city’s cultural scene.

For 60 years, the Jerusalem Foundation has supported arts and culture across the city, helping generations of artists, institutions, and creative initiatives grow and thrive in Jerusalem

הפוסט Bechorot Student Festival: The Future of Jerusalem’s Creative Scene הופיע לראשונה ב-.

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.

הפוסט Celebrating the Diversity Spirit of Jerusalem הופיע לראשונה ב-.

Jerusalem is more than a city—it’s a living, breathing tapestry of culture, history, and community. Jerusalem is an idea and a message of hope. It serves to inspire millions of people around the world. Today, on Jerusalem Day, we celebrate our beloved city that is home to over a million residents and represents homecoming to millions more around the globe.

Jerusalem is a diverse and complex city, facing challenges, but also opportunities on a daily basis. The city is a microcosm of all elements of Israeli society that must find ways to live together and to share Israel’s capital city. The Jerusalem Foundation works to bring people together and to create opportunities for success for all of Jerusalem’s people, from all population groups and all backgrounds and faiths. That is our meaningful challenge and our hope: if it works in Jerusalem, it can work everywhere, and we know that it can. We see it every day, in every part of the city… people working together, shopping together, children playing together, and a city that functions collectively on the earthly and spiritual levels. From the light rail system across east and west Jerusalem, to the Old City and its many houses of worship, Jewish, Christian and Muslim, the green parks throughout Jerusalem where everyone is welcome, and everywhere in between.

For the Jerusalem Foundation, every day is Jerusalem Day! And we will continue to ensure that Jerusalem remains vibrant, inclusive and thriving for generations to come.

Wishing everyone Chag Samaech and Happy Jerusalem Day,

Arik Grebelsky

President

הפוסט Message for Jerusalem Day הופיע לראשונה ב-.