Kulna Jerusalem

Kulna Jerusalem (Hebrew: כולנא ירושלים; Arabic: كلنا مقدسيون, meaning "We are all Jerusalemites") is a Jewish-Arab non-profit association based in Jerusalem, Israel. Founded in 2016 by residents from both East and West Jerusalem, the organization works to build a shared society in the city by connecting people, communities, and ideas. Its activities span culture, sports, education, community development, and civic initiatives, with the aim of reducing social and communal gaps and empowering residents to influence their environment. The association operates on a model of shared Jewish-Arab leadership. It is co-directed by Dror Emedi and Mahmoud Shahadeh, and its chairman was Zaki Jamal, a founding member who was active until his sudden death in March 2026. The name "Kulna Jerusalem" expresses the aspiration for civic partnership between residents of East and West Jerusalem, recognizing the city's human diversity as integral to its identity. Kulna Jerusalem's main areas of activity include promoting shared spaces, leadership development and social entrepreneurship programs in East Jerusalem, and assistance to needy families in East Jerusalem. It also runs cultural, sports, and community events, learning centers for children and youth, Hebrew and Arabic language learning, legal aid and information accessibility, and guided tours of Jerusalem. Over the years, it has initiated and accompanied hundreds of events, programs, and community initiatives that have brought together thousands of residents from all parts of the city. Notable initiatives include the "Jerusalem World Cup" (2018), which turned Jaffa Gate into a symbolic football field for friendly matches between Jewish and Arab children; the "Jerusalem Double" (דאבל ירושלמי), a backgammon championship held in various neighborhoods across the city; and "Cafe on the Track" (קפה במסילה), a community cafe launched in May 2025 between the Katamonim and Beit Safafa neighborhoods. The association also supports the activities of Park HaMesila activists, who promote a shared community space along the Jerusalem railway park. Leadership and volunteer programs include "Al-Jama'a of Kulna," a group of young people from East and West Jerusalem leading social initiatives; "Medabrim MeHaShetach" (Speaking from the Field), a leadership program to encourage East Jerusalem initiatives; and "Kulna on Campus," which offers students volunteer opportunities in exchange for academic credit. The "Meduberet Yerushalmit" (Spoken Jerusalemite) community, founded in 2017 by Lior Oryan and Manar Badr, works to create a shared language as a basis for understanding, partnership, and equal opportunity. It has grown to over 3,000 women from across Jerusalem's diverse backgrounds and is now co-managed by Lior Oryan and Susan Sayad. The community received several awards, including the Yaffa London-Yaari Prize for Social Entrepreneurs (2018), the Jerusalem City Councilors Prize (2020), and the Israeli Hope Prize in the Vision of former President Reuven Rivlin (2021). It operated with the support of Kulna Jerusalem until 2026, when it began to operate independently. Kulna Jerusalem itself has received recognition, including the President's Award for Volunteerism in 2021 for its work in reducing gaps between East and West Jerusalem residents, promoting shared life, and Jewish-Arab cooperation during the COVID-19 crisis. In 2025, it received the Mayor's Award for Volunteerism for its unique activity in promoting shared life and assisting East Jerusalem residents. The association operates from a location known as "The Consulate" (הקונסוליה).

Kulna Jerusalem was founded in 2016 by a group of Jerusalem activists from both East and West Jerusalem, driven by the desire to create shared spaces of mutual respect and cooperation among the city's residents. Since its establishment, the association has operated under a model of shared Jewish-Arab leadership. It is headed by Dror Emedi and Mahmoud Shahadeh, based on an egalitarian vision emphasizing mutual representation between Jews and Arabs. The chairman was Zaki Jamal, a founding member who was active until his sudden death in March 2026. The name "Kulna Jerusalem" (Arabic: كلنا مقدسيون, "We are all Jerusalemites") expresses the aspiration for civic partnership between residents of East and West Jerusalem, recognizing that the city's human diversity is an integral part of its identity. The association operates according to this vision and promotes projects aimed at strengthening ties between the city's communities. Over the years, Kulna Jerusalem has initiated and accompanied hundreds of events, programs, and community initiatives that have brought together thousands of residents from all parts of the city. Through a broad network of partners, activists, and communities, Kulna works to make Jerusalem a city where diversity is a source of resilience and familiarity leads to cooperation and influence. In 2018, the association produced the "Jerusalem World Cup," during which Jaffa Gate became a symbolic football field. Friendly football matches between Jewish and Arab children created an atmosphere of sharing and dialogue, demonstrating how popular sport can connect different communities. Another project is the "Jerusalem Double" (דאבל ירושלמי), a Jerusalem backgammon championship held in various neighborhoods across the city, from Beit Hanina in the north to Beit Safafa in the south, including unique locations such as the Davidov garage in Talpiot, Mahane Yehuda market, and the Muristan Square in the Old City. The project is considered pioneering in its field, with thousands of Arab and Jewish Jerusalemites from all parts of the city participating, and it has received institutional support and local and international media coverage. Over the years, the tournament has become an annual tradition supported by the Jerusalem Municipality, the Jerusalem Development Authority, the Natan Fund, and other partners. The association accompanies the activities of Park HaMesila activists, a group of residents from the Beit Safafa and Katamonim neighborhoods working to promote a shared community space along the Jerusalem railway park. The group initiates bilingual cultural and community meetings for various ages, such as story hours, creative activities and sports for children, joint iftars and meals, and other social events. In May 2025, "Cafe on the Track" (קפה במסילה) was launched—a community cafe between the Katamonim and Beit Safafa neighborhoods, serving as a space for meeting between these communities. It hosts a series of "pop-up cafe" events including music performances, family activities, and inviting seating areas, with support from the Jerusalem Foundation and the Jerusalem Municipality. Leadership and volunteer programs include "Al-Jama'a of Kulna," a group of young people from East and West Jerusalem leading various social initiatives across the city. Among its notable activities is "Frisbee on the Seam," a weekly meeting where not only discs but also smiles, conversations, and human connections fly. "Medabrim MeHaShetach" (Speaking from the Field) is an intimate leadership program aimed at encouraging East Jerusalem initiatives and enabling residents to lead change from the field. The program includes personal and professional development, strengthening personal narrative and public speaking skills, alongside familiarity with key Jerusalem institutions such as the Jerusalem Municipality, the Jerusalem Model, and youth centers. Participants took part in workshops with professionals from the social and public fields and produced a promotional video with the accompaniment of the 0202 organization—A Jerusalem Point of View, as part of the process of encouraging civic action and voicing personal and public opinions. "Kulna on Campus" offers students in Jerusalem a variety of volunteer opportunities in exchange for academic credit. Meetings are held on and off campuses around community and social issues, aiming to encourage familiarity, joint creation, and acquaintance with Jerusalem's unique fabric of life. The "Meduberet Yerushalmit" (Spoken Jerusalemite) community (Arabic: محادثة مقدسية, "Jerusalemite Conversation") was founded in 2017 by Lior Oryan and Manar Badr. The community works to create a shared language as a basis for understanding, partnership, and equal opportunity. What began with two friends studying Hebrew and Arabic together has grown into a variety of projects led jointly by a team of activists from both sides of the city. These include Hebrew and Arabic study and practice meetings and an employment assistance project for women from East Jerusalem. The community emphasizes language as a tool for connection and closeness, but also as a tool for independence, creating employment and higher education opportunities, and realizing rights for East Jerusalem women, about 70% of whom do not succeed in integrating into the labor market. The community currently has over 3,000 women from across Jerusalem's diverse spectrum, political and religious views, backgrounds, and ages, and is co-managed by Lior Oryan and Susan Sayad. The community continued its activities without interruption even during periods of tension and war, maintaining continuity precisely during those times. The community has won several awards for its activity, including the Yaffa London-Yaari Prize for Social Entrepreneurs (2018), the Jerusalem City Councilors Prize (2020), and the Israeli Hope Prize in the Vision of former President Reuven Rivlin (2021). Over the years, the community operated with the accompaniment and support of Kulna Jerusalem, and in 2026 it began to operate independently. Kulna Jerusalem won the Mayor's Award for Volunteerism in 2025 for its unique activity in promoting shared life and assisting East Jerusalem residents. In 2021, the association won the President's Award for Volunteerism for its activity in reducing gaps between East and West Jerusalem residents, promoting shared life, bringing hearts closer, mutual respect, and joint Jewish-Arab action for the community during the COVID-19 crisis. The association's home is known as "The Consulate" (הקונסוליה).

• 2026

  Zaki Jamal, chairman and founding member, dies suddenly; Meduberet Yerushalmit begins independent operation.

• 2025

  Cafe on the Track launched; Kulna Jerusalem receives Mayor's Award for Volunteerism.

• 2021

  Kulna Jerusalem receives President's Award for Volunteerism; Meduberet Yerushalmit receives Israeli Hope Prize.

• 2020

  Meduberet Yerushalmit wins Jerusalem City Councilors Prize.

• 2018

  Jerusalem World Cup held at Jaffa Gate; Meduberet Yerushalmit wins Yaffa London-Yaari Prize.

• 2017

  Meduberet Yerushalmit community founded by Lior Oryan and Manar Badr.

• 2016

  Kulna Jerusalem founded by residents from East and West Jerusalem.

A Jewish-Arab non-profit association promoting shared society, social equality, and community initiatives in Jerusalem.

1. 1Official websitekulna.org
2. 2Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3Hebrew Wikipediahe.wikipedia.org