About the Organization
Our story
The Bakehila organization was founded by Erel and Debbie Margalit and has been active since 2002. To this day, it works for children and at-risk teenagers, in over twenty neighborhoods and villages in the social and geographical periphery of Israel. The goal of the organization is to allow social mobility and equal opportunities for these kids as well as develop leadership in Israeli society. The organization operates in two influential fields: education (schools, learning and enrichment centers) and community: the neighborhood and its residents. The organizational model is based on gap year volunteers who function as the main mode of intervention and linking entities among the child’s different environments throughout the day. The goals of the organization include promoting self-confidence, creating educational continuity and coordination between the different institutions, developing personal abilities, and providing educational-social tools that help alleviate the patterns of risk in which the children are living. Concurrently building up the children facilitates work to break the cycle of poverty and strengthen the resilience of the children’s neighborhoods.
Bakehila operates dozens of gap year volunteers. They act as agents of social change who actively adopt and implement the organization’s vision through a direct connection with the children, teenagers, and the communities in which they work. Since its foundation, Bakehila has continued to develop, lead and empower educational, social, and community-based programs in a way that adapts to the rapidly changing reality of Israel. Bakehila continues to curate and refine programs to develop the future generation of social leaders in Israel, parallel to its work in neighborhoods in both Jewish and Arab sectors.
Dr. Erel Margalit
Erel Margalit, son of Itzik and Miki, was born and raised in Kibbutz Naan. At the age of 10, he and his family moved to Karmiel. As a teenager he resided in Jerusalem, graduating from Rene Cassin High School. He served his military service as a combat soldier and commander in the Golani Brigade. After his military service, he obtained his B.A in philosophy and English literature as well as an M.A. in Business Management from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Margalit obtained his Ph.D. in philosophy from Columbia University after writing his thesis, “The Leader as an Entrepreneur in the Historical Process.”
In 1993, Erel founded the JVP Foundation which was rated as one of the ten leading venture capital funds due to its consistent performance. Erel’s enterprise always placed importance on the economic development and social wellbeing of the areas in which he operates. In 2002, together with his wife Debbie, Erel founded the Bakehila organization with the goal of reducing inequalities through educational young leadership programs. In 2020, he launched “Margalit Startup City,” a socio-economic development model he initiated in order to develop regions and take cities to new levels of economic development.
Between the years 2013 and 2017 Margalit worked as a member of the Knesset on behalf of Ha’avoda (the Israeli Labor Party). As a part of his service in the Knesset, he was a member of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee as well as the Finance Committee. He served as the head of the Subcommittee for Cyber Defense in the Knesset and promoted legislation in favor of small and medium businesses. Erel is married to Debbie, a professional artist, with whom he has three girls. He currently resides in the Ein Kerem neighborhood of Jerusalem.
The organization’s vision
Reducing social inequalities among at-risk children and youth from the social and geographic periphery of Israel. Creating a reality where children can believe in themselves, and with renewed motivation create and design their own future.
The goals of the non-profit
Each participant is empowered to determine their own future based on their abilities and potential.
Participants develop feelings of self-efficacy and independence, as the program furthers their self-confidence, improves learning abilities and study skills, and fosters creativity as well as promoting new thinking patterns. By creating self-reliant motivational habits, we encourage their beliefs that their various abilities have a hand in determining their future. We provide a comprehensive toolkit for a more optimistic outlook in formulating and navigating their futures, allowing them to blossom without feeling held back by their starting point.
Developing and strengthening the community and the social circles enveloping and supporting the child
By strengthening the elements of community for the child in his corresponding local and family environments, we promote stronger ties and a sense of belonging. Reinforcing involvement with the neighborhoods in which we work propels a greater sense of commitment for the youth to the community, its residents, and the environment in which they live.
Developing leadership and social responsibility in Israeli society
Encouraging leadership qualities and ability among youth as a tool for social mobility, growth, and as a desirable direct result – evolution of Israeli society. In addition, gap year volunteers, as a secondary target audience, themselves fulfill the vision of the organization of supplying role models for youth in various at-risk neighborhoods.
Reducing social and socio-economic inequalities
Developing social leadership
Promoting entrepreneurship and innovation
The Executive Board
Dr . Erel Margalit
Chairman of the organization
Deborah Margalit
Board member
Rinat Ramler
Board member
Sagi Kedem
Board member
Eric Sporta
Board member
David Herman
Board member
Dr . Erel Margalit
Chairman of the organization
Deborah Margalit
Board member
Rinat Ramler
Board member
Sagi Kedem
Board member
Eric Sporta
Board member
David Herman
Board member
Our Team
Our Team
מוקדי פעילות
קריית שמונה
רובע א - שנת שירות, מלאכי נוער, יוצרים שינוי
חיפה
נווה יוסף שנת שירות, מלאכי נוער, יוצרים שינוי
כרמיאל
שכונות מגדים - שינת שירות,מלאכי נוער, יוצרים שינוי
שלומי
שלומי קבוצת מלאכי נוער
קרית אונו
קבוצת מלאכי נוער
אבו גוש
מתדבות פעילות, מרכז למידה ומלאכי נוער
ירושלים
הר חומה- שנת שירות, מלאכי נוער, יוצרים שינוי
קרית מנחם - שנת שירות, מלאכי נוער, יוצרים שינוי
פסגת זאב- שנת שירות, מלאכי נוער, יוצרים שינוי
בקעה- מלאכי נוער
בית צפאפא- קבוצת מלאכי נוער ומרכז למידה
ראשון לציון
שתי קבוצות מלאכי נוער
קרית גת
שתי קבוצות מלאכי נוער
כרמיאל
שכונות מגדים – שינת שירות,מלאכי נוער, יוצרים שינוי
חיפה
נווה יוסף שנת שירות, מלאכי נוער, יוצרים שינוי
ירושלים
הר חומה- שנת שירות, מלאכי נוער, יוצרים שינוי
קרית מנחם – שנת שירות, מלאכי נוער, יוצרים שינוי
פסגת זאב- שנת שירות, מלאכי נוער, יוצרים שינוי
בקעה- מלאכי נוער
בית צפאפא- קבוצת מלאכי נוער ומרכז למידה
קרית שמונה
רובע א- שנת שירות, מלאכי נוער, יוצרים שינוי
שלומי
קבוצת מלאכי נוער
ראשון לציון
שתי קבוצות מלאכי נוער
קריית גת
שתי קבוצות מלאכי נוער
אבו גוש
מתנדבות פעילות, מרכז למידה ומלאכי נוער
מגדל העמק
קבוצת מלאכי נוער
קרית אונו
קבוצת מלאכי נוער
Margalit Start Up City
Margalit Startup City, founded by chairman Erel Margalit, is a model for socio-economic development with the mission of developing cities and regions, leading them into a new modern era, by providing innovation centers for entrepreneurs from all over the world.
This unique model is based on the establishment of ground-breaking centers of excellence which connect technological-business innovation with social and cultural entrepreneurship.
This model has helped usher in a new social-economic reality in the cities housing centers of excellence, creating thousands of new jobs and inspiring young people to move to the cultural hubs forming in these cities. The existence of these centers has contributed to the establishment of a “startup ecosystem,” connecting local and international investors and bringing in new multinational companies, introducing new business opportunities and international partnerships, and cultivating opportunities for the next generation of technological, social and cultural entrepreneurs.
The Margalit Startup City model combines innovation and entrepreneurship not only in the high-tech and business realms, but also in cultural and social centers in their respective cities. The strategically-located centers serve an additional function as grounds to enjoy local culture, nightlife, cuisine, art, and lightning rods for creativity. These up-and-coming areas offer a plethora of opportunities, attracting successful students and graduates, and retaining the bright young minds who migrate to the region with meaningful jobs created and a vibrant cultural scene.