Annual Conference of the Tzedek Center 2025 – Local Hope

The event focused on creating new hope in neighborhoods and communities – hope for renewal and positive change in areas where the state and government are largely absent.

It focused on strengthening democracy and expanding opportunities for civic engagement, the struggle of local political representatives to preserve democracy, social division in times of war, living together in a diverse society, the role of local representatives in reconstruction, and strategies for local problem-solving.

In this context, the final seminar of the “Local Voice” project for this year's participants also took place. The program consisted of two parts:

Part 1 – a tour to the city of Kiryat Shmona and the largely destroyed Kibbutz Manara on Israel's northern border, where reconstruction is underway. Community leaders spoke about the support of the evacuated residents and the future of these places.

Part 2 – a networking workshop providing the new local politicians a chance to connect and share experiences.

The significance of the conference, especially in times of the ongoing war and political instability, was clear – it aimed to strengthen the cohesion of Israeli society and local democracy after almost two years of war. Collaboration remains essential to build a better future.