Teddy Kollek established the Jerusalem Foundation in September 1966, and he gave lovers of Jerusalem worldwide a vehicle for becoming involved in the city. Teddy served as Mayor of Jerusalem from 1965 to 1993 and was widely acclaimed as the “great builder” of modern Jerusalem. He brought creativity, determination, charm, and vision to his role as Mayor and, under his tenure, Jerusalem became a different city.
Teddy Kollek’s life is a fascinating story, starting with his birth in Hungary, his early years in Vienna, and as a pioneer in the nascent State of Israel. He served alongside the country’s founders and witnessed history firsthand. While some remember Teddy and his impact on Jerusalem and on the country as a whole, the next generation deserves the right to know him the way we do.
During World War II, he served as a liaison between the Haganah and the Allied intelligence agencies, and during Israel’s War of Independence he headed the Haganah’s clandestine operations in the US. At the same time, he forged contacts and friendships with individuals willing to support the young state of Israel, some of whom later became major contributors to Jerusalem.
In 1952, he was appointed by then Prime Minister David Ben Gurion as director-general of the Prime Minister’s Office and, in 1964, spearheaded the opening of the world-renowned Israel Museum in Jerusalem.
In 1965, at the request of Ben Gurion, he ran to be mayor of Jerusalem and won that year’s mayoral election, a position that he held for twenty-eight years. Teddy Kollek established the Jerusalem Foundation in 1966, giving lovers of Jerusalem worldwide a vehicle for becoming involved in and contributing to the city.
In 1967, Teddy Kollek became the first mayor to preside over Jerusalem after its reunification. Kollek faced the truly formidable task of uniting Jerusalem, not just on the map, but in the hearts and minds of the city’s diverse residents. He realized that a divided city could not survive.
Teddy acknowledged each person’s right to live in and be an active part of Jerusalem’s vibrant community. He spearheaded the development of new neighborhoods, built public parks and schools, and created world-class cultural institutions. He reconfirmed his conviction that every resident of Jerusalem, regardless of faith or national background, is entitled to equality of services and quality of life.
Thanks to the generous donation of Kenneth and Ann Bialkin, the Teddy Kollek Digital Archive, available online and at the Kenneth and Ann Bialkin Visitor’s Center in Teddy Park located in Mitchell Park and Gardens, will offer a glimpse into the life and times of Teddy Kollek.
Click here for a virtual tour of Teddy Park and the Visitor’s Center.
To watch a short clip about Teddy’s life, click here.