Jerusalem Food Rescuers

About UsSince 2019, Jerusalem Food Rescuers | מצילות המזון | منقذو الغذاء has been working to build a sustainable, efficient, and community-driven urban food system in Jerusalem. In Israel, 40% of edible food is discarded, amounting to 2.5 million tons annually. Meanwhile, 1 in 5 Jerusalem residents is food insecure. A wasteful food system is both environmentally irresponsible and ethically unconscionable. Our Vision We’re reclaiming this wasted potential and transforming it into a resilient, collaborative, and equitable urban food system. Our strategic location within Jerusalem's Wholesale Market allows us to tackle food waste at its source. Through food rescue, education, and policy work, we push food security and sustainability onto the municipal agenda and ensure they remain long-term priorities. By uniting residents, businesses, municipal partners, and organizations, we’re developing innovative solutions that reduce waste, strengthen communities, and rebuild our relationship with food. Join us in shaping a future where food is valued, shared, and never wasted. Our WorkFood Rescue From our hub in Jerusalem’s wholesale market, we rescue over 11 tons of fresh produce on a weekly basis. These are perfectly edible fruits and vegetables that would otherwise be discarded. Distribution Together with 1,200+ families across 28 neighborhoods, we distribute rescued food through community-run channels that prioritize dignity and inclusivity, led by residents and youth leaders. Community Kitchen In partnership with the municipality, we recently launched Jerusalem’s first community-educational kitchen. This space serves as both a practical hub and a symbol of civic innovation, where youth, families, and neighbors cook together, learn about sustainability, and strengthen community ties. It is a living model of how food can be embedded into municipal planning, education, and resilience. Education We teach food sustainability through workshops, tours, and year-long school programs—reaching over 26,000 people with hands-on, values-based learning.  Visitor's Center Kitchen Our kitchen turns rescued surplus produce into thoughtful, seasonal, plant-based meals. From small workshops to large public events, more than 16,000 people have shared our meals — experiencing firsthand how rescued food can build community and shift a city’s food culture. Urban Food Forum We’re shaping Jerusalem’s future food system by connecting policy makers, businesses, and civil society. We’re transforming Jerusalem’s food system—slashing food waste, strengthening communities, and building a model of sustainability and equity from the ground up. With your partnership, we can amplify this work and position Jerusalem as a bold, replicable model for cities everywhere.