Three unforgettable days, six decades of shared achievements and one city that brings us all together. The Jerusalem Foundation’s 60th Anniversary Conference was a celebration of everything we have built together and the people, friendships and partnerships that make it all possible. From October 20 to 22, over 100 friends, partners and supporters from around the world gathered in Jerusalem to celebrate 60 years of dedication to the city we love and look ahead to its future with hope and excitement.
The first day took participants on a journey through some of the city’s most beloved landmarks and institutions, beginning at Mishkenot Sha’ananim and continuing to the Jerusalem Botanical Gardens, where guests traveled the Gardens by train and viewed the new Margulies Entrance Pavillion. At Ein Yael, participants visited the Roman villa and archaeological site and learned about the vital nature therapy program in the Yaelim Center and its vital work supporting people coping with trauma and PTSD, highlighting the importance of resilience, healing and recovery in Jerusalem today. Later, at the Train Theater in the Davidson Theatre Complex, a conversation with the Directors of the Museum on the Seam, The Tisch Zoological Gardens and the Bloomfield Science Museum celebrated the city’s vibrant creative spirit and discussed challenges facing Jerusalem and Israel’s cooperation internationally.
The day concluded with a festive evening at the Jerusalem Theater, featuring a special performance by the Silent Conductor and a keynote address by former IDF Spokesperson Daniel Hagari.
The second day of the Jerusalem Foundation’s 60th Anniversary Conference celebrated the people whose courage, dedication and vision are shaping Jerusalem today. The morning began at Mishkenot Sha’ananim with Mayor Moshe Lion addressing the participants and then a moving conversation with Sarit Zussman, mother of the late Ben Zussman, who shared her stories about her son and her commitment to finding a way forward following his death. Participants then divided into 3 groups for in-depth discussions with the Shai Doron Leadership Fellows, who shared their personal stories and how the program has had an impact on them personally and professionally.
Over lunch in Yael’s Garden at Mishkenot, the participants received a briefing on the upcoming Israeli elections and the current landscape of political parties, thresholds and possible coalition outcomes. We then boarded buses and drove across town to visit the new Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Community Sports Center in Beit Hanina. There, they met members of the East Jerusalem Women’s Leadership Forum for a conversation about local challenges and opportunities, followed by an interactive Arabic lesson.
The day concluded with a colorful art fair at HaMiffal, one of Jerusalem’s most distinctive creative spaces. Guests met local artists, discovered their work and experienced firsthand how HaMiffal nurtures emerging talent and helps young creatives build their future in Jerusalem.
The third and final day of the Jerusalem Foundation’s 60th Anniversary Conference looked toward the future, highlighting the ideas, partnerships and shared vision that will shape Jerusalem for generations to come.
The morning began at the Jerusalem Cinematheque with an interactive showcase of organizations and initiatives supported by the Jerusalem Foundation. Participants were able to wander through a projects fair of 40 programs which receive support from the Jerusalem Foundation. Meeting the people behind projects who are making a difference across the city.
After a beautiful lunch under the Old City Walls, the conversations continued at the Bloomfield Science Museum with a tour of the exhibits and then a conversation, “Manifest Future Jerusalem,” moderated by a facilitator and with Arik Grebelskey expressing his hope and vision for the future of the Foundation.
The three-day celebration concluded with a festive gala dinner at the Tower of David Museum, featuring greetings from President Isaac Herzog and Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion, followed by a musical performance by the Jerusalem East West Orchestra under the direction of Maestro Matan Yona.
After 60 years of shaping Jerusalem together, we look ahead with renewed hope, gratitude and a shared belief that Jerusalem’s most beautiful chapter is the one we’re writing now.
Day one photos: click here
Day two photos: click here
Day three photos: click here
Festive gala dinner photos: click here
Photo and Video Credit: Noam Chojnowski