Former Mossad Chief and Jerusalem Mayor Discuss Future of Israeli Philanthropy
At a private Jgive event in Jerusalem, former Mossad chief David Barnea and other leaders discussed social resilience. CEO Uri Ben-Shlomo presented his vision for philanthropy as Israel's fourth pillar of strength.
Last week, a private event took place at the National Library in Jerusalem, organized by the non-profit Jgive, a technological platform connecting donors with charitable organizations. The gathering brought together a prominent group of leaders from the business, security, and academic sectors to discuss the future of giving and the country's social resilience.
Among the notable attendees who arrived in the capital were former Mossad chief David (Dadi) Barnea, Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion, Professor Dan Ariely, and Fiona Darmon, managing partner at Sunvest Capital, alongside other leading figures from the financial and philanthropic sectors.
Israel's Fourth Pillar of Strength
The highlight of the evening was a presentation by Jgive founder and CEO Uri Ben-Shlomo, who introduced his central thesis, "Israel's Fourth Pillar of Strength." According to this concept, alongside the state's three traditional pillars—military, economic, and technological power—there is a national imperative to build a robust social strength. This strength, he explained, must rely on citizens leading grassroots change and on advanced giving infrastructures to secure Israel's social backbone.
Philanthropic Tax Revolution
Jgive was recently at the center of a philanthropic revolution in Israel. Following its petition, the Israel Tax Authority announced a precedent-setting ruling: the option to donate shares to non-profits without subjecting donors to the 25% capital gains tax. This move allows the full value of the shares to be transferred to the non-profit on the day of sale, in addition to the recognized 35% tax credit under Section 46 of the tax code.
