Dear Friends, 

I am a resident of Jerusalem; I love the city and believe in it. Over 15 years ago I founded JVP venture capital which runs international business from the heart of Jerusalem. Unlike similar businesses that have relocated to the Tel Aviv area, we choose to stay in Jerusalem. The decision to stay in the city clarified for me a very important notion: we do not act in an empty space but are part of the human fabric of the city and as such are obligated to contribute to its future and to the quality of life of its residents.

With amazing people and tremendous energies, Jerusalem, like the whole of Israeli society, is in the midst of difficult times. The constant security threat and the social difficulties, stress between the secular and religious populations and between Jews and Arabs,  the lack of a clear economic direction for the city and the great difficulty to maintain a creative existence in the city – all these and more arouse in us the need to join other good people and act.

Working together with social and economic entrepreneurs, society people, creative folks and thinkers from all parts of the city, we would like to formulate, exemplify and demonstrate a vision for the city that will enlist opposite forces and turn them to one big creative force. Through joint venture in the neighborhoods in the realms of education and community and a general economic vision for the city by supporting the creative forces in the arts we hope to join the many people already active in the city and demonstrate to ourselves that the city of Jerusalem can change.

When I founded the non-profit in 2002, I saw before my eyes the need to try and affect the place where we live. I believe that change will develop from within the communities and from cooperation between the residents, groups involved in the communities and the establishment. 

I would like to thank all of our partners in this initiative and all those that are taking part in social responsibility with the aim to promote the city and its activities.

All the best,

Erel Margalit

Chairman