As 2025 drew to a close, community leaders from across Jerusalem gathered for the final Community Safety Conference of the year, a meeting that marked not only reflection, but renewed commitment.
Representatives from four community centers: Beit Hanina and Kafr Aqab in East Jerusalem, and Ma’aleh Ramot and French Hill in West Jerusalem came together with municipal officials, community police officers, fire and welfare representatives, and the Jerusalem Municipality’s North District leadership.
The goal of the conference was twofold: to summarize the successes and challenges of 2025, and to jointly shape the 2026 plan for community safety. Participants reflected on the year’s achievements, from increased trust between neighborhood safety coordinators and residents, to better coordination between police, welfare, and fire services. They also addressed the ongoing challenges of communication, preparedness, and sustaining local leadership in times of crisis.
Throughout the day, discussions were marked by an unusual level of openness. Each representative, whether from the community centers, municipal welfare, security, or the fire department outlined how their office could contribute to a safer Jerusalem in the coming year. Together they began building a shared vision: one where every neighborhood, regardless of geography or community identity, benefits from the same sense of safety and cooperation.
The group also brainstormed the selection of four new community centers to join the 2026 program, expanding the network and deepening the citywide partnership that has become the backbone of JICC’s Community Safety and Resilience initiative.
The conference closed on a note of optimism. Participants agreed that the coming year would focus not only on maintaining safety mechanisms but also on strengthening partnerships within each community, ensuring that community safety is rooted in trust, coordination, and shared responsibility.