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 neighborhoods.
The Shai Doron Future Leadership Program is moving forward with significant momentum as a strategic investment in civil society in Jerusalem for the next decade. The program aims to identify and empower young civil society leaders in Jerusalem, equipping them and encouraging them to expand their leadership influence in line with the inclusive and visionary legacy of Shai Doron z”l.
In February 2025, Yoav Rothschild was appointed full-time Program Director. Yoav is responsible for the overall planning, coordination and execution of the Shai Doron Future Leadership Program. Prior to this appointment, for the past eight years Yoav has served as Director and Urban Planner of the East Talpiot Community Center.
A Call for Applications was published in February and closed on March 17, 2025. We were delighted to receive 85 applications from experienced managers and professionals across Jerusalem. The applicant pool reflected impressive diversity in gender, sector and professional background, fulfilling one of the program’s core goals. Following a thorough interview process, led by the Jerusalem Foundation Management a respectable panel of professionals, 11 leaders were chosen to partake in the first Cohort of the Shai Doron Future Leadership Program.
The Shai Doron Leadership Program: Meet the 11 Chosen Leaders
Daud Alyan is a veteran social activist, who has spent the past two decades advancing social justice, human rights, and intercultural education in Jerusalem. He heads the Atta’a Center—part of the Jerusalem Intercultural Center—where he leads a wide-ranging support, counseling, and rights-access program that serves thousands of East Jerusalem residents.
Previously, Daud managed a youth-at-risk center in Issawiya, coordinated projects with marginalized communities, and facilitated bi-national Jewish-Muslim dialogue groups. Certified as a facilitator in violence and racism prevention, he frequently works at the intersection of municipal policy and grassroots community action.
Daud was selected for the program for his rare combination of cultural sensitivity, extensive hands-on experience, and deep commitment to building a shared future in Jerusalem.
Keren Apfelbaum Riff is the founder of the Public-Jewish-Community education system in Jerusalem, offering families who lead secular or masorti-traditional lifestyles alternative schools with extensive Jewish education—independent of sectarian labels.
She holds a Master’s in Jewish Education and is a graduate of the Mendel School of Educational Leadership, as well as the Kerem Institute Israeli Rabbinate Program. Keren has been a key community builder and thought leader beyond mainstream religious systems. As VP of Mabua Beit Midrash, she helped establish its community, synagogue, and Beit Midrash. She also leads the Kolot congregation in Gonenim. Keren was also of the founders of the Jonathan Sacks Elementary School in Gonenim, a modern-orthodox school priding itself in implementing an innovative educational approach. Following October 7, she became principal of the Kerem School for evacuee children, providing stability and routine during the crisis.
Keren was selected for the program in recognition of her deep commitment to Jerusalem and her leadership in creating unique educational-community spaces that bridge diverse identities and cultivate shared belonging—helping to shape a more inclusive future for the city.
Yafa Busso leads the field of Haredi women entrepreneurs at the “Temech” organization, spearheading programs in empowerment, networking, and the promotion of women-led entrepreneurship in Jerusalem. Over the years, she has initiated and led educational and community projects within the Geula Bucharim Community Center and developed leadership programs for youth in the Haredi sector.
Yafa was selected for the program for her unique ability to bridge the worlds of community, entrepreneurship, and female leadership within Jerusalem’s Haredi community.
Yehuda Cohen is the founder and director of “Juda’s Yard,” a groundbreaking Jerusalem-based initiative that provides comprehensive support for individuals who have left the ultra-Orthodox community, helping them rebuild their lives in all manners. A former member of that community himself, Yehuda has spent the past eight years building an innovative supportive framework that includes personal guidance, emotional support and psychological treatment, informal education, and bridges between different worlds. His program is unique in the emphasis it provides to mending family relations, helping foster mutually respectful relationships with their diverging lifestyles. Under his leadership, “Juda’s Yard” has become a home for hundreds of young people seeking to grow through identity challenges and rise above the challenges they face.
Yehuda was selected for the program for his unique leadership style and capability to mend social rifts, lead sensitive processes within the ultra-Orthodox community, and overall offer hope to residents of Jerusalem.
Fadi Dekaidek has worked as a paramedic for 14 years, and before that, he volunteered for six years with the Magen David Adom emergency organization. Notably, he was of the first respondents at the 2023 Neve Yaakov shooting, earning the President’s Distinguished Service Award for his courageous actions.
Fadi has led an unprecedented initiative integrating hundreds of East Jerusalem youth into volunteer and professional roles with Magen David Adom (MDA)—a move that strengthens the city’s civic resilience and fosters a sense of belonging and shared opportunity in a shared Jerusalem.
Fadi was selected for the program in recognition of his pioneering efforts to uplift the East Jerusalem community and its members through MDA. His persistent leadership bridges communities, fosters trust, and drives meaningful change throughout Jerusalem.
Dr. Mishy Harman is a cultural entrepreneur and the founder of the leading podcasts Israel Story, and the accompanying event line Jerusalem Story, which have become central platforms for exploring identity, complexity, and shared humanity in Israel and beyond. Under his leadership, the podcast has evolved into powerful community tool in Jerusalem—featuring dozens of storytelling events across the city (both East and West Jerusalem), partnerships with civic organizations, and the production of content during both routine and times of crisis. Mishy holds a PhD from the Hebrew University and is a graduate of Harvard and Cambridge. He is a leading figure in the field of storytelling in Israel.
Mishy was selected for the program in recognition of his exceptional ability to build bridges between diverse Jerusalem communities and to harness the power of storytelling to shape a better future for the city.
Neta Meisels is a cultural entrepreneur, curator, and researcher based in Jerusalem. He has been a key figure in innovative urban projects focused on art and community. In 2011, he co-founded Empty House, an artist collective exploring creative spaces and communities. Since then, he has led major initiatives, including HaMiffal (Hebrew: “the Factory”), a pioneering urban renewal project founded in 2016 that transformed an abandoned building in central Jerusalem into a vibrant cultural hub and social platform uniting people from diverse backgrounds. Since 2020, Neta has served as the CEO of New Spirit, an NGO committed to cultural and social impact in Jerusalem. He is currently focused on expanding HaMiffal’s unique model into a national network of cultural platforms.
Neta was selected for the program for his deep cultural vision, his ability to connect creativity, community, and leadership, and his contribution to shaping Jerusalem’s civic spirit.
Meredith Rothbart brings almost 15 years of leadership experience with Israeli and Palestinian NGOs. She holds an MA from Hebrew University in Community Development and a BA in Politics, Philosophy and Economics from the University of Pittsburgh. Meredith has addressed the United States House Committee on Foreign Affairs, the White House, the Delegation of the European Union to Israel, the UN Security Council and continues to be a strong voice for civil society peacebuilding.
Meredith was selected for the program for her combination of a deep civic vision, proven experience in leading complex systems, and her commitment to working from Jerusalem toward a shared and inclusive future for the city.
Daniella Seltzer is a socio-ecological entrepreneur. Her upbringing, split between Jerusalem and Toronto, has cultivated a profound connection to urban landscapes and a genuine curiosity about people from all walks of life.
In 2019, Daniella co-founded and now co-directs the Jerusalem Food Rescuers, a pioneering initiative committed to fostering a more just and sustainable urban food system while working with the municipality and government to inspire institutional change. Through innovative strategies, the organization strives to catalyze social change by harnessing the power of food and connections.
Daniela was selected for the program in recognition of her role in advancing a unique urban model that builds communities, bridges sectors and transforms the food and sustainability landscape in the city of Jerusalem.
Mahmoud Thaher is an activist and leader in the field of education. He has led the activities of the “Chotam” organization in East Jerusalem for six years, developing training programs for local teachers and principals with a focus on equal opportunities and strengthening the municipal education system. He initiated the “Jerusalem Leadership” program—the only educational management training program in East Jerusalem—training dozens of educators for influential roles. Simultaneously, Mahmoud established the “Kna’an” program, facilitating training for East Jerusalem teachers to integrate Hebrew as a second language into the curriculum.
Mahmoud was selected for the program due to his deep commitment to building local educational leadership that will transform East Jerusalem’s education landscape, as well as bridge gaps between the cities Jewish and Arab communities.
Ori Zadok is the Jerusalem District Director of SAHI (Special
“Hessed” Unit), an educational organization that empowers disadvantaged youth through acts of giving, solidarity, and transformative leadership in their local communities. In this role, Ori guides young people from marginalized areas of Jerusalem, helping them grow into responsible, engaged citizens—and often, future leaders. Under his leadership, 11 youth groups have been established across Jerusalem, operating weekly with hundreds of teens and volunteers from all sectors of the city.
Ori was selected for the program for his ability to harness the values of kindness and care into inspiring educational leadership, driving deep community change from the ground up in Jerusalem.