Committed and capable leadership makes all the difference under crisis. The truth of this was witnessed under 2 unprecedented emergency situations in the past years: the Covid19 health and economic crisis, and the current, ongoing, multi-front war. Indeed, the immediate efforts of civil society organizations in the face of dire emergency situations, under young leaders who led the way, became a beacon of light and hope in the dark times.
Shai Doron z’l, a man who always saw opportunities rather than obstacles, understood the vital role of leadership in safeguarding the future of Jerusalem and guaranteeing that all the city’s communities have access to opportunities to excel. The Jerusalem Foundation seeks to honor Shai’s legacy and endeavors by reimagining Mishkenot Sha’ananim and including The Shai Doron Center for Leadership & the Humanities, a place for training and enriching dedicated future leaders who will transform the face of modern Jerusalem, alongside continued thought provoking, meaningful cultural and intellectual programming.
The Center will be a home for the flagship leadership program in Shai’s name that will identify leaders within the city’s civil society organizations and initiatives, from all communities, east Jerusalem, ultra-Orthodox and every part of Jerusalem society and help them reach their full potential and build capacity for their programs. This will become a model for other cities seeking to build local civil leaders and to create a stronger community within their cities.
We lost Shai too soon, but his vision and life’s work will continue in the Shai Doron Center for Leadership and the Humanities and there is no better place to create this center than at Mishkenot Sha’ananim. It is a place that Shai believed in as a beacon of light and hope, creativity and humanity; values that symbolize Jerusalem and his own vision for the future.
Introducing The Shai Doron Fellowship for Future Leaders of Jerusalem
As an avid believer in equal opportunities for all, the late Jerusalem Foundation President Shai Doron z’l, always returned to the promise and the power of young leadership to positively impact and guide communities in the complex and richly diverse city of Jerusalem.
It is in this spirit that the Shai Doron Fellowship for Future Leaders of Jerusalem has launched, to continue the vision Shai championed during his tenure as president starting in 2019 until his sudden passing in the summer 2024. From creative culture to communal strength, Shai was drawn to and animated by the city’s brightest trailblazers, innovators and social architects working in, and for all, the city’s neighbourhoods.
Honoring Shai Doron’s legacy of emerging leaders and supporting the third sector
In honor of Shai, who was a mainstay of Jerusalem civil society and philanthropy for decades (and a disciple of the city’s legendary former mayor, Teddy Kollek), this fellowship is designed to use the foundation’s deep roots within Jerusalem to identify and locate young leaders from every community in the city, who are already displaying exceptional leadership qualities, leading existing projects or organizations, and help take them to the next level.
In other words, the initiative strengthens the city’s third sector: building personal and organizational capacity and augmenting leadership skills and abilities.
What is the program? Structure, grants, and fellowship activities
Following the publication of an Open Call, a group of 10 fellows, between the ages of 28-42, will be selected by a steering committee of community leaders and Jerusalem Foundation professionals. Group sessions will encompass Jerusalem Studies, community leadership skills and the forming of a social and professional network. Fellows will receive an annual grant to their organizations for five years ($50,000 per year), which will allow them to build the capacity and conduct their community initiatives.
Long-term goals: Fostering shared society and a stronger Jerusalem
Through this Fellowship, the Jerusalem Foundation will create a network of promising young leaders, from all of Jerusalem’s communities, championing shared society, diversity and the city’s distinct human tapestry. This program will have a broad, long-term impact on Jerusalem and even Israeli society and make Jerusalem a better, more welcoming home for all its residents.
Elevating the leadership qualities of proven leaders will effectively strengthen Jerusalem’s civil society ecosystem and equip people in positions of power with problem-solving tools for resolving complex citywide crises in real time, influencing individuals and communities in the city. Moreover, the program will open channels of communication between leaders who are likely to hold even more senior positions in Jerusalem in the future.