Mayor Teddy Kollek and the Jerusalem Foundation: Governing the Holy City

Abstract

The Jerusalem Foundation is Mayor Teddy Kollek's device for coping with an official budget that is too small, and official procedures that are too cumbersome. Jerusalem's special features, and the personal traits of Mayor and Foundation Chairman Kollek go a long way in explaining the foundation's accomplishments. At the same time, the foundation warrants general attention. Practicing politicians and administrators have focused attention on the combined problems of resource shortages, and government bodies that commit themselves to more than they can deliver.' Among the remedies offered are non-governmental providers of public services, and private philanthropy.2 The Jerusalem Foundation is a successful case at the interface of private and public bodies. It is also distinctive in its intimate relationship with the municipality, and illustrates some problems in the use of private resources by public officials. If other executives would seek to emulate Kollek, they had best consider the risks as well as the rewards. While the positions of Teddy Kollek as head of both the Jerusalem Foundation and the municipality makes this a special case, the Jerusalem Foundation also resembles many other bodies on the Israeli landscape. The Histadrut (Labor Federation) and the Jewish Agency provide important social services from outside the governmental framework and countless other bodies send their representatives abroad, or maintain offices overseas to solicit contributions. The financial dependence on voluntary contributions from the diaspora reflects both the tenuous financial position of modern Israel, and the long tradition of charity among Jews. For centuries before there was a state, Jews in the diaspora sent money to Jewish institutions in Jerusalem and elsewhere in Israel. It is difficult to remain for long in Jerusalem without coming to recognize the emblem that signifies contributions of the foundation. There have been over 600 projects since 1966. The foundation emphasizes its support for social and cultural programs, for both Arabs and Jews, and for poor neighborhoods. It has developed playgrounds and flower gardens in virtually every neighborhood. There are theatres of tasteful design with active programs, that offer subsidized productions for school children. Community centers have gymnasiums, sports fields, rooms for youth and adult education, dance, art workshops, and theatre. Parks, walkways, and amphitheatres appear at ancient landmarks, grace-