New Spirit

a decade of jerusalem activism | 2006-2016
New Spirit In Jerusalem

Amir Elstein -
Chairman of the Board
A few weeks before the mayoral elections for the
city of Jerusalem in 2008, my friend, Nir Barakat,
invited me to lunch. I was amazed that a candidate
at the height of his campaign for mayor could find
time to meet for lunch and assumed it must be about
something important. When we sat down together, I
found out just how important this “something” was.
Nir was accompanied by two young adults, brimming
with motivation and pure love for Jerusalem, the
leaders of New Spirit.
Nir told me that if he were to be elected mayor, he
wanted to take action on behalf of young adults in
the city, and that they needed someone serious who
would take the helm and step in as chairman of the
board. I agreed almost immediately - firstly, because
I understood that Jerusalem is a national project of
utmost importance, and secondly, because I fell in
love with this platform, where young adults were
taking the lead by themselves and for themselves.
At New Spirit I found a growing circle of young adults
who took the “opposite approach” - they came to
Jerusalem to make an impact, to shape it as a capital
city in which the whole Jewish people could again
take pride, they were serious and professional
while maintaining their flexibility and pragmatism.
And most importantly, on a personal level, over the
entire course of this journey, they continue to give
me tremendous hope that there is indeed a new
generation that could lead Israeli society towards a
much better future.
In the past five years we have shifted the target
demographic of the organization from students
to young adults, with an emphasis on young
activists who are capable and willing to make
an impact on the ground in Jerusalem. We have
taken the organization’s ability to direct large and
complex projects to a whole new level, achieved a
significant increase in the organization’s budget
and the involvement of the government and the
municipality in the organization’s activities. Our
strategy for the next five years is to scale our work
still further, expanding the number of participants in
the organization’s activities and their impact on the
city, strengthening our partnerships with municipal
and governmental bodies, and marshalling many
more people from the worlds of business and
philanthropic foundations to contribute and take an
active part in the real change New Spirit is leading
in the city.
Winds of change are blowing in Jerusalem - I’m
calling you all to join in.
Mayor of Jerusalem,
Nir Barakat
To all those involved in “New Spirit,” friends and
partners on the path, many words have been written
about the beauty and the uniqueness of our city,
Jerusalem: about the clear air of the mountains with
which it is blessed, about the “smell of pine trees
carried on the twilight breeze” amidst the alleyways
of the city. From time immemorial Jerusalem has
been a foundation stone, being one of the oldest,
most fascinating, and most unique cities in the
world, yet in recent years, there’s no doubt that a
“new spirit” is emerging in the city.
Next to ancient Jerusalem, which continues to
draw millions of people from all around the world,
an exemplary modern city is blossoming - a city
of culture and industry, of social enterprise and
communitarianism. When I look through the report
before us today, at all the varied work of New Spirit, I
believe that of all the wonders with which Jerusalem
was blessed, the diamond in its crown is without a
doubt the quality of its people - the young adults
filled with energy, ability, and determination who
see Jerusalem as their home. Thanks to these people
and their work for the city over the last decade, we
are seeing positive and far-reaching changes in
various realms in the city - in culture, in education,
in immigration, even in employment.
On a personal level, every encounter with the work
and people of New Spirit is especially exciting for
me. I am proud of my part in the founding of the
organization and I see it as my privilege to be a
partner in its activities still today, as mayor. I have no
doubts that in the course of the coming decade, in
the face of the challenges and issues yet before us,
New Spirit will continue to change and impact the
reality in Jerusalem, to work for the benefit of the
city, to help advance a young, Zionist, and productive
society in Israel’s capital.
With respect and appreciation,
Nir Barakat
Mayor of Jerusalem
Amir Elstein, New Spirit, Chairman

Dedicated with great appreciation to all our partners
in this vision, dream, and work,
to all the volunteers and the donors,
and to the staff of New Spirit,
of the past, present, and future.

the numbers:
More than
founded in
2003
alumni and active
participants
5
Hundreds
of social
projects
participants in events
young communities
focus
neighborhoods
500 cultural, artistic, and community events

Who We Are
New Spirit is a movement of young adults taking responsibility and working for the benefit
of the city of Jerusalem.
The organization was founded in 2003 and ever since has worked to ensure Jerusalem’s central
place as a young, vibrant, pluralistic, and attractive city. The organization was founded during
especially hard times for Jerusalem by idealistic young adults who were living in the city and
decided to take responsibility for its future.
Today, New Spirit is the largest organization of young adults in Jerusalem, influencing the lives
of tens of thousands of the city’s residents through wide circles of influence. The organization
works in tandem with students and young activists, and in partnership with the municipality,
government offices, business owners, community leaders, artists, and other social organizations
towards the aim of changing the face of the city.
The main goals established for the organization at its founding:
• Reducing the negative migration of young adults from Jerusalem.
• Improvement of the image and atmosphere in the city, as a free, culturally rich, and
creative city in the minds of young adults living in the city and in Israel
• To bear a significant influence on decision makers and on the municipal and national
agendas

About the founding of the organization, as
told by Yakir Segev, co-founder:
We founded New Spirit as a local organization, an organization that lives in the here and
now but looks beyond, that is, to the whole State of Israel, and looks into the distance, to the
future of the whole Jewish people. We founded New Spirit to show that it is possible to bring
change, that it is possible to save the things which at the time seemed lost - our generation,
the Zionist revolution, the secular way of life.
When I came to Jerusalem, it seemed to be a lost cause:
The IDF mandated that every soldier come here at least once in the course of his/her army
service, having found out that half of its soldiers had never been here (myself included).
University students would show up with their big bags of clothes on Wednesday evenings to
catch the bus going to Tel Aviv as soon as the last class let out.
Going into the center of the city was a crazy idea.
To so many, including those who lived there and especially to those who experienced it
through television, Jerusalem seemed totally irrelevant to their lives as adults, but rather a
passing period as a student…
We decided to fight for Jerusalem, not because we grew up here- and it’s interesting that most
of us actually came from other places- but rather, because we understood that Jerusalem is
our Archimedean point, because we understood that if we could win one impossible battle,
it would give us courage and momentum for all the other battles. Jerusalem was for us like
the godforsaken beach in France with no strategic importance unto itself, but the conquest
of which swung the pendulum, returned the drive, breathed life into the troops, turned the
tides of the war, and led us to victory.
Saving Jerusalem is a worthy challenge, but not satisfying unto itself. Saving Jerusalem is
a worthy life’s mission because it touches on the essential points of our existence here; it is
a mission which doesn’t solve existential problems, but does engage them, shows the way,
and gives a sense of possibility.
Anyone who, rather than running away, is sticking around to fight for the image of the city, is
the kind of person who doesn’t run away from what this city represents:
Such a person doesn’t run away from the conflict (political, religious, social). They grapple
with it, live it.
Such a person doesn’t run away from difficulty, from poverty, from friction, from reality.
Such a person doesn’t run away from questions: of identity, from the question, what does it
mean that I’m a Jew?
I don’t run away from the other: the Haredi person, the Arab. I live by his side.
And so, what I really wanted then, and what I want still today, is to choose very carefully the
battle that can influence the war - and to win it.
Wherever we go today in Jerusalem we’ll find hope, action, and energy. The connection
between Jerusalem and young adults has already become so natural, so talked about, and
so established that it’s almost boring…but gives me a great deal of hope.

So Why Jerusalem?
• Jerusalem is the capital of the State of Israel, and as the capital city it must be a leading cultural
and economic center in Israel
• Jerusalem, due to its uniqueness and the diversity of its population, deals with many of the
challenges, and is a microcosm of Israel’ssociety at large
• Jerusalem holds a central place in the heritage of the entire Jewish people, and as such should
reflect the highest values of Israeli and Jewish society and serve as a source of inspiration for the
whole Jewish world
Jerusalem’s Challenges
Negative Migration:
Jerusalem struggles to retain its young adults.
In 2012, the negative migration from Jerusalem
numbered 8,750 residents
The migration data for young adults ages 20-34
indicated the beginning of a change in direction
in recent years, where in 2012 there were -2,100
young adults who left the city as compared
with -3,100 in 2009. Despite the beginnings of
improvement indicated by the data, there are still
more young adults leaving Jerusalem than there
are arriving.
Socio-Economics
23%
The proportion
of those in the
city with tertiary
education is 23%,
as compared to a
national average
of 29%
48%
of all people living
in Jerusalem live
below the poverty
line.
Loss of Jerusalem’s Pluralistic Zionist
Character
Of all the students registered in the education
system in Jerusalem, in the year 5774, 24% of
students were in national and national religious
schools, 37% were in Haredi schools, and 39% in
Arab schools. Here too, the data from 2012 points
to the beginning of a positive change, seen in
the rise in the number of students registered in
public secular schools after 15 years of constant
decline.
Jerusalem’s Opportunities
The Jerusalem brand is one of the strongest and
most recognized in the world.
At any given time there are 38,000 university
students studying in Jerusalem, making up 15%
of all university students in Israel.
Jerusalem is home to the most important and
central historical sites and national institutions
in Israel.
Jerusalem offers the widest selection of art
schools, chief among them the Bezalel Academy
of Arts and the Academy of Music and Dance,
as well as many other colleges and schools of
higher education for the study of theater, music,
fine arts, film, and more. Some 2,950 art students
study in Jerusalem and make up about 34% of all
art students in Israel.
Jerusalem is the center of Israel’s government
with government offices constituting one of the
principal areas of employment in the city, their
location in which is of supreme importance.
Jerusalem is home to some of the most important
and leading academic institutions, institutions of
medicine, and research institutes in Israel, led
by the Hebrew University and Hadassah Medical
Center.
The cultural diversity of the city is an opportunity
for innovative and original creativity that will
influence Israeli society as a whole.

with motivation, in the form of a broad community of students and young adults - decided to marshal all its forces
for what was called “the battle for the home front,” a campaign which contributed significantly to the election of
Nir Barakat as mayor.
After a number of years in which the organization operated in the city and successfully galvanized a slew of
young activists, other initiatives and organizations of young adults began to emerge onto the scene who were
partners in the organization’s vision and sought to leverage and expand the influence of young adults in the
city: the Secular Yeshiva, the Hitorerut movement (a movement of young adults who ran for city council), the
Yerushalmim Movement, and others. The activist core that ignited the Jerusalem’s “young revolution became”, in
the span of a few years, a vast community of organizations and initiatives possessed of a shared agenda.
After the election of Nir Barakat as mayor, and his selection of Yakir Segev, co-founder of New Spirit, to hold the
young adult portfolio in the city council, and of Roy Folkman, Yakir’s co-founder, as manager of the branch for
strategic planning in the municipality, the management of the organization decided that they had to seize on the
gathering momentum to expand the organization’s activity and impact, and directed their focus to a few central
goals:
1. Expanding the target demographic from students to “young adults”.
2. Transitioning the organization from start-up phase to scaling-phase.
3. Transitioning the organization from the political stage (the student union and semi-political
municipal activity) to developing expertise at running wide-reaching initiatives for young
adults in Jerusalem.
4. Transmitting New Spirit’s philosophy and experience to the municipality and influencing its
agenda and priorities accordingly.
5. Securing consistent funding for the organization.
In the years since 2008, New Spirit has become a central and significant pillar in the engagement of young adults
in Jerusalem, working in the target areas that it had established:
The organization developed a broad array of projects for the population of graduates of the city’s academic
institutions, young artists, hi-tech specialists, activists, and more. The organization incorporated over 500 young
adults into 40 different communities.
The organization succeeded in influencing the municipal agenda and priorities in a whole array of areas and
budgetary clauses:
The first budget allocations for the city’s young adult communities
Governmental allocations for and significant expansion of the Interns Project to the private sector
Establishment of a young adults authority responsible for the whole realm of young adults in city hall
Beginning a growing engagement in strengthening the young artists’ scene in the city
The organization significantly expanded its budget (from 1.4 million NIS in 2007 to approximately 9 million NIS
in 2015) and began receiving allocations from established funding sources: the municipality, the government
(the Jerusalem Development Authority) and Jewish Federations. In the year 2014 funds from these sources
constituted 50% of the total budget of the organization.
The coming five years are critical for the future of the city. New Spirit will be
ready with a strategic plan that will take its impact on the city’s socioeconomic
situation to a whole new level

From Student Action to the Development of the
Creative Society Elisheva, Mazya, C.E.O.
New Spirit was established in the month of May, 2003, and formally registered as a non-profit organization in
December of the same year. A group of idealistic students, most of whom were secular and had come from all
corners of the country to be students at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, arrived brimming with motivation
for an active, principled student life, and were disappointed to encounter the great apathy that characterized the
university’s student population.
2003 was also a year in which Jerusalem suffered a series of hellish terrorist attacks towards the end of the
second intifada, which left the city center with its buzzing cafes and bars desolate and devoid of students and
young adults. They chose to hole up in their dorm rooms and apartments, and worse yet - many of them chose
to flee the city every weekend and summer vacation, and to depart the city once and for all at the end of their
studies. That same year, elections were held for mayor of Jerusalem in which, for the first time, a Haredi mayor
was elected - an event which caused the pluralistic community in the city to face the facts on the ground. The
political developments and the security situation led the residents of Jerusalem to the sense that the end of the
city as they knew it was approaching. The prevailing attitude of the general population in the city gave the sense
of “last one to leave, turn off the lights.” The extent of the negative migration of
the young adult population and general public in the city was worsening from
year to year.
Against that backdrop, New Spirit flickered onto the stage, seeking to be a point
of light in the future of the city of Jerusalem - setting itself the goal of harnessing
the city’s student population to reverse the negative trends and create hope,
and to do so by integrating students into city life through employment, culture,
and social activism. The group of students seeking to establish the organization
mobilized a number of Jerusalem business people with experience and financial
means who agreed to serve as the “responsible adults,” chief among them Nir
Barkat, who at the time held the position of leader of the opposition in the city
council, and entered as chairman of New Spirit’s board from its first day until his
election as mayor 2008.
Against that
backdrop, New
Spirit flickered onto
the stage, seeking
to be a point of light
in the future of the
city of Jerusalem
Within the span of a year and a half, the organization managed to mobilize hundreds of students to join its ranks,
participating in cultural and volunteer events that the organization put on, or in the employment market via the
Interns Project. The organization’s activity was funded by a number of private donors from Israel and abroad and
worked on an annual budget of about half a million shekels.
After about a year and a half, the organization sought to break through the glass ceiling and expand its sphere of
influence - by entering the public/political realm. In 2005 the organization ran in the elections for the head of the
student union of Hebrew University and achieved a run-away victory, where the founding core of the organization
was elected to the central roles of the organization (Chair, Vice-Chair, and C.E.O). For the first time, the organization
brought a Jerusalem-focused agenda to the union’s work and in the span of two terms (amounting to four years),
managed to insert a series of the organization’s primary concerns and projects into the union’s operational plans.
Additionally, New Spirit led a process to connect the student unions of the various other academic institutions
and tertiary art schools scattered around Jerusalem - into a joint student-run, city-wide administration.
In 2007 I entered the role of C.E.O. of New Spirit - at that time, the organization began to establish the young
communities initiative, which in our eyes was an innovative platform for the social involvement of young adults
in the city. The one-off volunteer operations that the organization started in 2003 were replaced by small,
organic, mostly secular communities who chose to settle in the weaker neighborhoods of the city and engage
in joint social action. It wasn’t an urban kibbutz - members of the communities conducted totally private lives,
but experienced a very high degree of solidarity, and we very quickly identified community development and
working in groups as one of the most effective tools for getting young adults to stay, live and be involved in
Jerusalem.
At the same time, the organization consented to the request of its partners and supporters in the “Interns
Project,” taking the lead in turning it into a national project - which was established and run by the organization
in a number of centers all over the country, executing a gradual exit as the program became “The Next Thing,” a
project run by the Rothschild - Caesarea Fund.
In November of 2008 elections were held for mayor of Jerusalem. The general Jerusalem public, which had
experienced a sense of defeat five years prior, by then had gained a young and involved leadership brimming

In New Spirit
In Jerusalem
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
Founding of New Spirit
Launch of the Interns Project; Student volunteer
events
Election to the leadership of the
Student Union
Campaign for subsidized student memberships
(growth in the amount of student memberships
from 2000-8500 in one year)
New Spirit began working with young artists
Amir Elstein takes over from Nir Barkat as
Chairman of the Board
New Spirit establishes the first group of buyers
for its affordable housing project in the Kiryat
Menachem neighborhood and enjoys an
unprecendented win of the tender from the
Israel Lands Authority. 45 Young families are
able to acquire cheaper housing in Jerusalem
Opening of the ToolBox Accelerator program
New Spirit begins to recieve substantial funding
from the Jerusalem Development Authority and
begins to receive its first donations from Jewish
Federations abroad
Led the social protests in the summer of 2011
in Jerusalem alongside the other grassroots
organizations in the city
Initiated the student community project
“Building a Neighborhood” in cooperation with
the JDA
Beginning of Artists in the Neighborhood
project; New Spirit begins to produce
shabbat cultural events - a groundbreaking
project for Jerusalem
Dedication of the first bomb shelter for young
artists in the Gonenim neighborhood
New Spirit leads the campaign to encourage
people to vote in the municipal elections
The Second Intifada; Uri Lupolianski,
Chairman of United Torah Judaism elected
as mayor
Founding of the Center for Young Adults
- a center for young adults within the
municipality led by New Spirit
Nir Barkat is elected as mayor for the
first time. Yakir Segev, among those who
established New Spirit, is chosen to
manage the Young Adults Department in
the city council.
The “Wake Up Jerusalem” party and
“Yerushalmim” are established
Establishment of the Young Adults
Authority
The student memberships project moves
to being a project run by the municipality
in partnership with all the city’s cultural
institutions; summer of 2010 - the Secular
Yeshiva opens; Founding of the Jerusalem
Mechina in Kiryat Hayovel
Founding of the Yeru-shalem Coalition to
promote a more diverse and pluralistic
Jerusalem
Nir Barkat is elected a second time as
Mayor of Jerusalem
The young adult parties (Hitorerut and
Yerushalmim) gain substantial support and
win 6 out of 31 seats in the city council
2014
2015
New Spirit begins to work in the area of
“Placemaking” - projects for creative urban
renewal in the public sphere
Professor Richard Florida, father of the
Creative Class Theory comes to Jerusalem
as part of his partnership in the strategic
plan to foster a creative class in Jerusalem

Organizational Budget:
Foundations and Private Donors
Federations
7000000
Municipality and Government
6000000
5000000
4000000
3000000
2000000
1000000
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004

We supported the establishment of dozens of initiatives of young
communities in the various neighborhoods, amongst others the “Walta Elite”
Youth Club in Kiryat HaYovel, the pre-army mechina in Kiryat HaYovel, the
“Clubhouse” Project (for at-risk youth) in Gilo, the founding of community
gardens, and a clubhouse for students in French Hill.
We developed a unique model for the integration of artists into the city’s
neighborhoods- through equipping public shelters for the use of artists,
integrating artists into activity in the public sphere of the neighborhoods,
and establishing artist communities that lead creative projects with
neighborhood residents, amongst others.
We established “Building a Neighborhood” [a program for the establishment
of student communities], a unique and innovative program whose goal is to
encourage students to engage in activism and community life. This program
operates in total partnership and with the support of all the relevant
municipal and community bodies. More than 60% of graduates from
“Building a Neighborhood” indicated that their participation in the project
contributed significantly to their desire to remain in the city.
Changing the Atmosphere:
A central element of the organization’s activity is directed towards changing
the negative image of Jerusalem as it came to be seen by young adults.
The organization has played a central role and in creating the image of
Jerusalem as free, culturally vibrant, and creative:
From the beginning we identified culture as a critical area of interest for
young adults. Over the course of the last decade, we initiated hundreds
of events with more than 100,000 total participants. This activity led the
municipality and other organizations to begin investing major funds in a
variety of cultural events and festivals unique to Jerusalem.
We developed innovative programs to encourage young, local creativity:
the Toolbox Project (an artists’ incubator), projects for the integration of
artists into the neighborhoods, and outfitting spaces for creative work.
Graduates of the organization’s programs are leading artistic initiatives all
over the city, including The Fringe Line, new theater and dance groups, and
more.
We initiated and for five years, ran a project promoting subsidized student
memberships to cultural institutions. All in all, we increased the number
of student memberships purchased to about 8,500 per year. Today every
student can purchase a discounted membership to five major cultural
centers in Jerusalem with a subsidy from the municipality.
The organization was a pioneer in the creation of cultural activity in the
public sphere on Shabbat: in recent years the organization produced dozens
of shows and cultural events which helped expand the scope of Shabbat
programming in the city
The city’s image amongst young adults improved dramatically in recent
years. According to a survey conducted in 2015 amongst young adults who
don’t live in Jerusalem, 71% of respondents said that they felt there had
been a positive change in cultural events in Jerusalem. 50% indicated a
positive change in the area of the young arts scene. 75% of those asked
indicated that they feel that there are people like them in Jerusalem
and communities to which they could easily connect. In another survey
conducted by the Jerusalem Institute, 80% of respondents said that they
felt an increase in the scope and number of weekend activities and leisure
options.

Our Impact
In a decade of work, New Spirit has managed to make a significant mark on the
city, influencing the municipality and its decision makers, leading young adults
to social involvement, and changing the direction of the city’s image and the
negative migration of young people.
Citywide Impact
At the time the organization was founded, the issue of young adults was almost
entirely neglected, both in the municipality and in the (non-)existence of
organizations working in the field. Over the years, the organization has played
a major part in the changes that have taken place in the city:
We were the first organization in the city to work in the realm of young adults
and led the way for many other organizations working with young adults that
have arisen in the city in recent years, including Hitorerut, the Jerusalemite
Movement, the Secular Yeshiva, Tene Jerusalem, and many more.
We led civil initiatives which connected tens of different social organizations
in Jerusalem working for the city and its young adults. Among them the Yerushalem
coalition, the campaign for voting in Jerusalem municipal elections
and the social protest in Jerusalem in the summer of 2011.
We played a major role in the municipal process that led to the creation of
the „Young Adults Authority” and the center for young adults and for the
dramatic increase in municipal funding for the young population and culture.
We developed an innovative model for student internships and integrating
students into the fabric of life in the city, a model we have shared and
implemented in young adult centers throughout the country. 64% of alumni
from the Interns Project were still in Jerusalem a number of years after the
completion of their internships, in contrast with the general average of 38%
of university graduates in the city.
Dozens of the organization’s alumni and staff have integrated into key
roles in political, social, and civilian life in Jerusalem and in Israeli society
in general.
Activism and Social Change:
From its inception, New Spirit has put the topic of activism and young adult social
action at the top of its priorities. We are committed to a vision where young
adults seek what they can do for Jerusalem, not what Jerusalem can do for them:
We guided and supported the establishment of 50 communities spread over
the entire city.
The neighborhoods in which New Spirit has focused its efforts, such as Kiryat
Hayovel, Gonenim, French Hill, Gilo, have become desirable locations for
young adults and young families.
We advanced the topic of young communities to priority status in the
municipality- the Jerusalem Municipality was the first municipality in Israel
to allocate funding specifically for this cause. We took part in the “Young
Neighborhood” project which turned neighborhoods in which New Spirits
young communities were living to a focus of dramatic investment by the
municipality regarding its young people.

What our
partners say
Ofer Berkowitz,
Chairman of “Wake-
Up Jerusalem” and
Deputy Mayor of
Jerusalem
“New Spirit is one of the
most important organizations
contributing to young adults
staying in Jerusalem and to
Jerusalem’s return to being a
city relevant to the pluralistic
populace. As the chairman of
the Hitorerut movement and
Vice-Mayor, I see New Spirit
as a strategic partner in the
advancement of Jerusalem,
in the catalyzing of its
urban renaissance, the
strengthening of its culture
and young artists, and its
transformation into a vibrant
and interesting city.”
Ariel Levinson,
Educator and Cultural
Entrepreneur, The
Secular Yeshiva of
Jerusalem
“In the last decade New
Spirit and I grew together. As
an activist in the first core
group in New Spirit’s days
as a triumphant student
movement, I took part in
the production of a series of
large cultural events called
“Wander-lust,” whose goal
was to connect the student
community to the center of
the city. Since then, as a social
and cultural activist in the
Secular Yeshiva of Jerusalem,
I have observed from the side
the way in which New Spirit
is leading the work of young
adults in Jerusalem: with
devotion, as a central anchor,
as a guide. The organization
has matured, and with it its
work - more precise and
oriented toward our future in
this city. New Spirit is a young
adult organization with an
innovative model of action
that every city needs, and
here too Jerusalem is leading
the way. With New Spirit, the
joint vision of civil society
organizations in Jerusalem is
coming into being. And even
as we mature with it, the
Spirit keeps us young.”
Charlene Seidle, the
Leichtag Foundation,
the Leichtag Foundation
“New Spirit is a premiere
partner for us as we seek to
renew and uplift the city of
Jerusalem and make it the
most compelling and vibrant
city for young people who
want to make a difference
in the world. New Spirit’s
broad spectrum of programs
reach out and appeal to so
many diverse individuals and
groups, and the organization’s
innovative approach is truly
inspiring. We are so proud
to support and partner with
New Spirit!”

So what have we done here?
The Need
We believe that in order to improve the city’s situation, it’s necessary to
mobilize a great number of young adults to action. Young activists have a
significant ability to impact the city and bring droves of other young people
in their wake.
Social
Entrepreneurship
and Activism
The Vision
New Spirit has made its goal to mobilize young adults to social action, to
help establish communities of young people in Jerusalem, and to network
between different communities and social activists in the city.
By growing the number of communities and social activists and by connecting
them to the wider Jerusalem civic community we will create a vibrant civil
society working for the betterment of the city.
The organization’s work is focused mainly on the neighborhoods that have
been defined as strategic targets by the municipality: Kiryat HaYovel, Kiryat
Menachem, Gonenim, Gilo, French Hill, Musrara, Nachlaot, Talpiyot, and the
city center.
What Have We Done?
Guiding communities and helping implement social projects: many communities, mainly at the beginning of
their path, encounter numerous difficulties that often cause them to fall apart. New Spirit accompanies every one
of its communities from its inception through to its establishment and independence. The organization helps
community members and social entrepreneurs bring their projects to fruition through support in fundraising,
project mentorship, publicity, and connecting community members to municipal parties. Dozens of social
enterprises that were started in Jerusalem in the last decade were accompanied and supported by New Spirit
along their way.
In the last decade, the organization took part in the establishment of 50 communities with some 600 members.
Volunteer activities for students: in its first years, the organization started dozens of volunteer events and
established the field of social action in the Student Union.
Student Communities - 2010 marked the beginning of the “Building a Neighborhood” project, an innovative
model of community development. The project runs over three years, during which students gain tools for social
enterprise, leadership, mentorship, and community building, and work as a group in the neighborhood in which
they live. The goal of the program is to encourage young people to stay active in Jerusalem in a group setting even
upon completing their studies.
Now What?
New Spirit intends to take the great deal of successful experience it has accumulated in community development
and significantly scale its efforts: in the coming five years the organization will lead development of large
creative communities and neighborhood networks of activists (150-200 people per community) based on shared
professional fields, neighborhoods of residence, and areas of shared interest in order to create a city-wide network
of some 5,000 young adults connected to each other and to Jerusalem.
Community Members share their stories
Ayala Vaitzner, member of the
Lom community, shares: After my
eldest son was born, I understood
the full significance of the
community for me. My neighbors
are also my friends, and beyond
being companions in forging
our path together in all areas of
life, partners for action and for
turning the neighborhood I live
in into home, they are partners
in fashioning a meaningful way
of life. I now have partners who’ll
be there for me in the good times
and the tough ones, without any
expectation of receiving something
in return, a real extended family. It
was worth it to keep living by their
side in Jerusalem even for the 4
years when my partner and I worked
in Tel Aviv and spent a great many
hours of our lives in transit, because
coming back to Kiryat HaYovel was
coming home, a return to a place
that fills me with meaning and with
love for the people in it.”
Naama Katz, Director of the French
Hill Community Council: “French
Hill could have been a buzzing
student neighborhood, given its
proximity to the university.
In fact, students tend not to
live in the neighborhood after
their first year in the university.
New Spirit’s work with groups
of students who are excited to
make the neighborhood into their
home and a comfortable place to
live allows them, as well as the
other residents, to enjoy a richer
and more active public space
and a sense that “something’s
happening” in the neighborhood.”

So what have we done here?
Employment
The Need
Employment issues are a central cause of the negative migration of educated
young adults from Jerusalem. In a survey conducted amongst students from
the Hebrew University, 90% responded that location of work was a central
consideration in their decision about where to live.
Jerusalem has many relative advantages with regard to employment -
the numerous academic institutions, important and prestigious research
institutes, and the many students who study in the city each year. These
significant resources and advantages are not being fully capitalized upon,
for which reason most university graduates depart the city at the completion
of their studies, rather than remaining in Jerusalem and benefitting the city
through their work and creativity.
What have we done?
New Spirit is working to increase the percentage of Israel’s productive, educated workforce living and working in
Jerusalem, and to integrate young people into meaningful workplaces in the city through internships, practical
trainings, assistance and guidance in establishing new businesses, and getting the city’s main employers to join
forces.
What have we done?
Established the Interns Project, the first of its kind in Israel, which has has been running now for 10 years and
provides students with employment experience and professional connections in the city over the course of their
studies, thereby increasing the chances of their remaining in the city after they complete their degree. In many
cases the internships lead to full-time employment in the city.
Over the years about 3,000 young adults have undergone internships through the project with some 200 Jerusalem
employers.
Starting in 2012, the organization has produced networking evenings with the goal of acquainting and encouraging
connections between young people working in similar fields and thereby strengthening their connection to
Jerusalem. Within this framework, we held networking evenings for the hi-tech community and the community of
government workers in the city.
Support for young entrepreneurs with the establishment of “Creative Businesses” (small businesses with a creative
orientation: graphic design businesses, new media companies, etc) through accelerator programs.
Now What?
Having established accelerator programs for the development of creative businesses in recent years as small pilot
programs, the organization intends to develop the creative industry as a significant channel through which the
creative class can influence the city. In this framework the organization will work to develop a creative community
of designers, artists and new media people.
What people are saying
Moshe Kaptovski, director of the
Academic City initiative,former
director of New Spirit’s Interns
Project “New Spirit was among
the first to understand the
importance of internships for
young students. In the wake of the
project’s success, we were asked
to expand the model to additional
locations in the country. In over 2
years, we have implemented the
project in more than 9 centers
for young adults throughout the
country which are now running
the project themselves. In time
we came to understand that
internships are important not just
for gaining employment experience
and practical tools for the working
world, but also for the connection
between the young people and the
city and its residents.”
Roie Veller, intern in the Interns
Project, today is Director of the
regional council of Gush Etzion.
“I interned with MK Dr. Yuri Shtern,
z”l, from 2005-2006. I came to the
internship because the public arena
interested me and I thought that
the Knesset was the best place to
impact society.
The fact that I took part in a number
of legislative acts and “green”
legislation that influenced the
quality of the environment and all
of our lives changed my outlook
and way of thinking. I realized that
the best place to create change
is the place where decisions are
made.
The internship contributed to
my personal connection with
Jerusalem- I have no doubt that but
for the internship, and the work in
the Knesset to which it led, at the
end of my studies in university I
would have left Jerusalem as many
of my friends did.”

So what have we done here?
Artists
The Need: Jerusalem offers the biggest array of art schools in Israel with some
34% of all art students in the country studying in the city.
Sadly, the students who come from all over the country to study the arts from
Jerusalem’s diverse and high quality options, upon completing their studies,
find it very difficult to remain in the city, and the majority of them choose to
leave and take their creativity and innovation to other cities in the country and
the world. In recent decades Jerusalem has lost its pre-eminence as center for
the arts and humanities to Tel Aviv.
The Vision:
We believe that young artists are a population of great potential contribution
to the city, a population that has the capacity to lead significant change in the
social and economic status of Jerusalem.
We believe that it is possible to strengthen Jerusalem through creativity, by developing arts and culture in the public
sphere and innovative employment solutions for artists, through a cultural revitalization of the neighborhoods,
and with the creation of a strong cadre of young artists working in and impacting the urban environment and
developing a unique Jerusalem artistry.
What Have We Done?
We encouraged artists to create in New Spirit’s focus neighborhoods - the neighborhoods on the periphery that
have been targeted for urban renewal -through the establishment of a unique program for artists working in
neighborhoods and through renovating spaces and shelters for use by groups of creatives.
We established an incubator providing tools to young innovators, with the goal of helping them turn their art into
a sustainable source of income.
We changed the priorities of the municipality regarding young artists, with an emphasis on 3 central issues: the
creation of artistic platforms for the performance of independent dance and theater in the city, subsidizing and
making municipal spaces accessible, and providing grants to support the development of creative work.
Development of a professional network of young artists that enables cross-fertilization and development of
original creative works. Over 400 young artists have participated in the organization’s different training programs
for artists and take part in the network’s activity.
Now What?
In the coming years the organization will work to increase the number of members in the community, to strengthen
the ties within New Spirit’s Jerusalem artists network, and to create meaningful channels of influence for them
upon the city with urban renewal projects and original arts events. Additionally, the organization will increase the
accelerator programming for young artists, which will help them in developing their work and finding new sources
of income. Additionally, New Spirit works to establish new workspaces for artists, such as the Alliance Building
downtown.
Community Members share their stories
Elad Shachter, social activist,
founder of the dance troupe
C.A.T.A.M.O.N and graduate
of the Toolbox program: “In
2012 I found myself seeking a
framework in which to continue
growing and developing as
a young choreographer in
Jerusalem. In the toolbox which
ultimately gave birth to the
dance group professional and
creative mentorship I received
through Toolbox directly
contributed to the founding of
the group and to my personal
development. My participation
in the program enabled me to
realize a dream, in the form of a
group of artists working together
in Jerusalem and developing a
local language with the Jerusalem
audience.”
Nufar Selah, artist, graduate of
Betzalel, and member of the
Pandora Collective active in
the Gonenim neighborhood:
“The bomb shelter is our studio,
it’s where we hold meetings,
rehearsals, and presentations,
essentially the shelter is Pandora’s
home; receiving the shelter
through New Spirit turned us
from individuals into a collective,
and connected us to the city, the
neighborhood, and its residents.”

So what have we done here?
The Need:
A city as central as Jerusalem must have a vibrant arts scene, praiseworthy
cultural institutions, and a variety of cultural events and nightlife. A strong
cultural scene is a central draw for young people and makes a significant
impact on the city’s image.
Young
Cultural Scene
The Vision:
Since its inception New Spirit has made culture a central focus of its work, and
has been the city leader in this field.
What Have We Done?
We put on hundreds of different cultural events for the young adult population, including Shotetut Line - a series
of events drawing students to bars with low-priced menus and events, Fringe Line - street art exhibited throughout
the city, Chamshushlayim - a series of cultural events on Thursday nights in the winter, Shabbat b’Yam - a series of
secular cultural events and shows throughout the city offered on Shabbat, and more. All told, more than 100,000
people have participated in New Spirit’s cultural events.
We turned the traditional Student Day from a small event held at Mt. Scopus to a huge Jerusalem celebration in the
center of the city on Jerusalem Day.
We created the discounted membership project to give students access to cultural institutions.
Now What?
The organization will focus on two main kinds of cultural events:
1. Innovative cultural events that will be led by a network of artists and graduates of art schools, with the
goal of developing a unique Jerusalem cultural language
2. Neighborhood cultural events that will be led by networks of young adults and students in the neighborhoods
with the goal of strengthening the focus neighborhoods and creating regular cultural offerings for neighborhood
residents
Community Members share their stories
Francois Capris- Administration
of the Municipal Headquarters for
Foreign Delegations and External
Relations- Director of Culture,
Society, and Leisure, Municipality
of Jerusalem: “I was exposed to
the work of New Spirit in depth
through graduates of the Toolbox
program who participated in the
Days of Jerusalem Festival in
Prague. The cultivation of young
Jerusalemite artists contributes
greatly to the renewal of creativity
in the city and to the building of
a community of unique artists
who represent the multi-cultural
mosaic of Jerusalem. In short, a
blessing for the city!”
Yosi Sherabi, Director General of
the Ministry of Culture: “New Spirit
is an organization leading change
and a strategic player in turning
Jerusalem into a friendly city that
embraces and supports young
people. A wonderful partner of the
Culture and Leisure Authority in
many programs, an organization
that’s creating great value for the
city thanks to their connection
with a great many communities,
their fundraising ability, and a deep
understanding of the city and its
challenges.”

meaningful change in the city we have to impact the public space of the city. This impact will be expressed in
two central areas: “Urban Acupuncture” – Creative Urban Renewal Projects: a series of different projects which
aim to physically and culturally improve strategic sites throughout the city, while using creative strategies and
means. Already in 2015 we have included these groups of creatives, designers, and students successfully led
innovative projects throughout the city and in the coming years we plan to expand the model. Our goal is to
renovate and develop 30 such creative sites throughout the city. Creative Hubs- One of the important initiatives
we are implementing in order to improve the visibility and influence of the creative class over Jerusalem is the
creation of shared work spaces for artists, creatives and designers. Work space provides a much needed solution
for employment and community aspects. In 2016 we will open New Spirit’s flagship project in the Alliance House
which once was a school for artists. The Alliance House joins another 4 spaces that have already been repurposed
for the use of artists in addition to the work space for designers in Hansen House. Our goal is to reach 20 creative
spaces located throughout the city by 2020.
3. DEVELOPMENT OF THE CREATIVE INDUSTRY: New Spirit has initiated Accelerator programs which aim to
help graduates of Jerusalem’s design, media, film and performance programs to open creative businesses that
will become a viable source of income for them in Jerusalem. The programs will combine the guided personal
development of initiatives of the participants as well as create a work environment which will answer the needs of
the young creative society, as well as significant funds for the starting of a creative business. Establishing multiple
new creative businesses will turn Jerusalem into a magnet for creatives and young designers, graduates of the
art schools and academies across the country, with the large companies and employers to follow. Each year 50
young adults with high potential will participate in the program. The goal we have set is the development of 50
creative businesses by 2020.
We at New Spirit believe strongly in the future of Jerusalem and are confident that the way
to positive change lies in the connection of thousands creative and activist young adults
who, alongside New Spirit will lead the city to where we all believe it can be, Jerusalem
the heart of the state of Israel and the Jewish people.

So What’s Next?
A change of spirit
Over the past ten years we have succeeded in creating significant change in the city of Jerusalem, changing
the image of the city in the minds of young people, imbuing our approach in the modus operandi of the
Jerusalem Municipality in far-reaching ways, and mobilizing thousands of young adults to committed work
for the future of the city. We believe that the coming five years are critical for the future of Jerusalem, for
which reason the organization must scale its efforts, both in quality and quantity.
In the framework of the five year plan for the economic development of the city, the organization lead -
alongside the Mayor and the Jerusalem Development Authority - a process of significant planning for the
development and strengthening of Jerusalem’s “Creative Class,” based on the innovative theory developed
by Professor Richard Florida. In his book, The Rise of the Creative Class, Florida draws a direct connection
between the economic success of a city and the size and influence of its creative class, including artists,
musicians, writers, designers, entrepreneurs, hi-tech people, government workers, independent professionals,
and social activists. According to Florida, a city that succeeds in attracting the creative class will be attractive to
innovative industries and services. Florida goes on to say that today, the majority of meaningful competition
in the modern economy is competition over creative human capital. Management of this area, therefore, is
the most critical challenge for cities in the 21st century.
The plan for the development of the creative class in Jerusalem includes a number of “classic” elements like
incentives to attract large companies to the city, alongside a new central element that focuses on creative
human capital. New Spirit is a dominant partner in the implementation of the plan, by bringing its knowledge
and experience as a young organization working on the ground, and as a leader in the development of
Jerusalem’s young civil society.
New Spirit’s Strategic Goals
for the Coming Five Years:
DEVELOPING CREATIVE COMMUNITIES IN JERUSALEM IN THE FIELDS OF ART, DESIGN, GOVERNANCE AND SOCIAL
INNOVATION WHICH WILL TRANSFORM JERUSALEM INTO A CREATIVE CITY THROUGH FOSTERING CULTURAL,
SOCIAL AND BUSINESS INITIATIVES.
1. BUILDING CREATIVE COMMUNITIES: Based on its significant and successful experience developing small
young communities in a whole variety of models, the organization is rigorously working to develop the capacities
for building large communities - of 150 to 200 people. The communities will divide into three main categories of
creative people: Core-Creatives -artists, filmmakers, designers, doctorate students and people in new media. The
Government sector- young lawyers, young government leaders, and the medical community.
Social Innovators - networks of young adults and students in a number of central neighborhoods, a teachers
community, and members of the activist Ultra-Orthodox community. Belonging to a community creates a sense of
meaning and commitment for the individual, engendering a strong connection to the city, which we believe is a
decisive factor in the decision to remain in Jerusalem. We have set ourselves the challenging goal of 5,000 young
and influential members of the creative society connected through professional and activist communities by
the year 2020. We’ve also set ourselves the goal of integrating people from different backgrounds in Jerusalem
communities, including young adults from Haredi and Arab communities. The connection amongst creative young
people from different sectors of society will turn Jerusalem’s cultural diversity from a challenge to being an asset.
The connection between members of the communities will happen through networking meet-ups, professional
conferences, events providing significant exposure, and creating workspaces and places for members of the
communities to meet and collaborate on projects for the benefit of the city. The impact of the community members
over the city: the main way the young community members influence the city is through the cultural and social
initiatives that they lead. New Spirit guides each initiative and helps bring them to fruition with the help of its
“wish fund” which provides initial seed money for the young innovators. New Spirit has defined a goal of 500
initiatives implemented by community members by the year 2020.
2. JERUSALEM’S PUBLIC SPACES – A central aspect of the impact the “creative society” has over Jerusalem
is its influence on the city’s public spaces and making them more creative and engaging. In order to effect this

Aknowledgements:
We would like to express our deepest thanks to tens of investors and supporters of New Spirit throughout the
years, those who helped us dream, and realize the renaissance of Jerusalem:
GOVERNMENT AND
MUNICIPAL BODIES:
The Jerusalem Development Authority
The Jerusalem Municipality
The Office of the Prime Minister
The Office of Jerusalem Affairs
Joint-Israel
The Jewish Agency
The World Zionist Organization
The National Lottery
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs
PRIVATE DONORS
Harvey Kruger
Amir Elstein
Idan Ofer
Pini Lazowick
Ken Stein
Jay and Hutti Pomerenze
Silins Family
Elie Wurtman
JEWISH FEDERATIONS
The Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta
Federation Combined Jewish Appeal – Montreal
Jewish Federation of Greater Metrowest NJ
Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles
UJA- Federation of New York
Jewish Community Federation of San
Francisco, the Peninsula, Marin and Sonoma
Counties
Jewish Federation of St. Louis
Jewish Community Foundation Los Angeles
Gertzman Fund – The Jewish Federation of
Metropolitan Detroit
FOUNDATIONS
The Leichtag Foundation
The Jacobson Foundation
Poalim Bank
Matan Investing in the Community
Galinson Foundation
Gandyr Foundation
Nadav Foundation
Steinhardt Family Foundation
The Thomas Speigel Family Foundation
The Pratt Foundation
The Russell Berrie Foundation
The Rothschild-Caesaria Foundation
The Shusterman Foundation – Israel
The Shachaf Foundation
New Spirit’s website and Facebook page:
http://new-spirit.org.il/en/
https://www.facebook.com/NewSp1r1t
To contact or for further enquiries:
077-321-5076
elisheva@new-spirit.org.il

Who We Are:
Executive Board
AMIR ELSTEIN - CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD, Chairman of Tower Semiconductor Ltd. and member
of the Board of Directors of Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, Ltd. Mr. Elstein also serves as Chairman of the Board of
the Israel Democracy Institute and Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Jerusalem College of Engineering. He
has accumulated decades of experience with elite technology companies and in global industry and business. In
recent years he served as Chairman of the Board of Israel Corp., and before that in leadership positions at Intel and
Teva. Mr. Elstein also serves as chairman or board member for a number of other academic, scientific, educational,
social, and cultural institutions. Mr. Elstein received a B.Sc. in physics and mathematics, an M.Sc. in solid state
physics and a diploma of Senior Business Management, all from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
JOSH SCHWARCZ has served as Secretary General of the Jewish Agency since 2001. Over the course of his
career with the Jewish Agency, he has served in various roles including Deputy Director General for Government
Relations & Special Tasks, director of the office for the Agency’s subsidiaries, and as advisor to the agency’s
chairman, Mr. Sallai Meridor. Mr Schwartz was born in Canada and made aliyah at age 20. He serves as an officer in
the IDF reserves spokesperson unit.
BOAZ ARAD, Esq, a graduate of the Hebrew Reali School in Haifa (1976) and has lived in Jerusalem since
1983, received a degree of law from the Hebrew University, is a father of four, grandfather to Daniela, and active in
various public campaigns in Jerusalem.
NAVA BEN TZVI is Professor Emeritus at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, past president of Hadassah
College of Jerusalem, and serves as chairwoman of various national boards in the field of education.
ELI WURTMAN is a serial entrepreneur, venture capital investor, and director of a technology company. He
has played an active role in a number of start-up companies. At present he serves as director of the management
of NJOY, the leader in the US in the market of electric cigarettes. He is also active in a number of
social initiatives, including PICO- an innovative co-working space, is an angel investor in start-up companies, and
plays an active role in supporting Regavim, a high shcool that integrates education and agriculture.
PINI LOZOWICK is a serial entrepreneur and investor with close to 30 years of experience in the hi-tech
industry. Pini served as an officer in the Golani Brigade and is a graduate in engineering from the Technion. Today
he divides his time between two companies - he is a partner at OurCrowd, an innovative platform for crowdfunding
start-ups, and is the founder and chairman of Verisense, a Jerualem hi-tech company. He also sits on the boards of
a number of other start-ups. Pini has been a member of the board of directors since the founding of New Spirit. He
is also a member of the board of Siftech, an accelerator for hi-tech start-ups, and active in MadeinJLM.
YAKIR SEGEV is Vice-President of the General Assembly and co-founder of New-Spirit. He served as a city
councilman of Jerusalem and is currently a private businessman.
LIOR SHILAT served as senior advisor to Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and head of the Prime Minister’s division
for Coordination, Follow-up, and Control. Co-founder of the MASA program, he is a member of the Board of
Governors of the Jewish Agency.
SHLOMO LEVI He received a B.A. in economics and philosophy, and an M.A. in law, served as C.E.O. of New
Spirit for two years, as chairman of the Hebrew University’s Student Union, and as advisor on special projects to the
Jerusalem Development Authority. For the past four years he has served as director of the urban center for young
adults and as head of the Musrara neighborhood council.
Elisheva Mazya - CEO of New Spirit since 2007. A Jerusalem civil activist, of the founders of the Yeru-
Shalem Coalition for a pluralistic Jerusalem, graduate of the Maoz Leadership Program. Graduate of a BA and MA
with honors from the Hebrew University.