Democracy from the Ground Up
Shittah is a municipal policy institute that partners with local authorities across Israel to strengthen local democracy and foster a pluralistic, equitable, and shared society.
We combine research, leadership development, and hands-on implementation to turn democratic principles into everyday municipal practice.
Vision
Founded in May 2023, Shittah believes that local government is the foundation of a democratic and inclusive Israel. It is close to the public, responsive to its needs, and truly reflective of Israeli society’s diverse voices. Amid growing political polarization and declining trust in national institutions, municipalities can and should serve as engines of accountability, pluralism, and pragmatic governance – advancing shared solutions and strengthening social cohesion.
Yet this potential remains largely unrealized, due to the need for structural reforms that would reduce local authorities’ dependence on the central government, expand their powers, strengthen transparency and civic participation, and narrow the economic gaps between municipalities – gaps that often prevent many from engaging more actively in addressing social challenges amid the heavy burden of daily management.
While these structural changes are essential, Shittah focuses on building the foundations of local democracy from the ground up – cultivating local leadership, strengthening municipal ethics and professionalism, and embedding democratic values into everyday governance.
Through this work, local democratic authorities emerge – municipalities that drive change on the ground, making local democracy a living expression of Israel’s democratic fabric and weaving together a more cohesive, equal, and resilient Israeli society.
Approach and Fields of Action
Applied Local Policy
Translating democratic values into municipal practice through research, policy frameworks, and tailored local programs.
Shittah partners with municipalities to address social and civic challenges and to develop solutions that bridge everyday municipal practice with broader public issues – turning them into opportunities to build public trust and strengthen the local arena as a democratic, inclusive, and pluralistic space.
Local Leadership Development
cultivating ethical, inclusive, and effective local leadership committed to strengthening Israeli society as democratic, equal, and shared.
Through ongoing mentoring, professional support, knowledge sharing, and training, Shittah helps elected officials define democratic agendas and lead inclusive local policies that translate these values into everyday municipal practice.
Main Programs
An innovative framework developed by the Shittah Institute that provides local authorities with a set of values and a practical roadmap to realize the vision of local democracy. The model serves as a guiding framework for developing policies and joint initiatives with municipalities across all areas of civic life. Core Values: Equality | Freedom | Pluralism | Justice | Shared Society | Active Democracy
- A Knowledge Hub: An online platform featuring over 50 guides and policy briefs for elected officials.
- A “Local Advice” Service: A dedicated WhatsApp-based channel for real-time professional support.
- Shittah Fellows: A program placing university students alongside local elected officials to assist with community and governance projects.
- Training workshops, and cross-municipal forums: Dozens of learning sessions, workshops, and webinars fostering cross-municipal collaboration.
Our Impact
Since its founding in May 2023, Shittah has built a nationwide network of partners across Jewish and Arab municipalities. Our initiatives now reach 15 cities, a regional cluster of 14 local authorities, and a leadership network of more than 200 elected officials from 87 municipalities – all working to strengthen equality, trust, and democracy.
Partnerships
Shittah collaborates with civil society organizations, government ministries, and philanthropic foundations, creating an integrated ecosystem for democratic and community-based governance.
Within this framework, we place a special emphasis on collaboration with civil society as a key driver of active citizenship and shared responsibility at the local level.
We help municipalities map their local ecosystem, build partnerships with civic organizations, and access a database of dozens of community and civic programs developed through our collaborations with NGOs and policy partners – connecting municipalities, organizations, and stakeholders to generate meaningful on-the-ground impact.
Our Team
Chen Arieli
Chair & Founder
Chen founded Shittah out of a vision to turn the local arena into a cornerstone of Israel’s democratic and social resilience. Chen Ariely is the Deputy Mayor of Tel Aviv–Yafo and Chairperson of Shittah – The Institute for Local Policy. As Deputy Mayor, she oversees the city’s cultural portfolio, leading initiatives that promote creativity, inclusion, and community engagement. A leading social activist for over two decades, she has advanced equality, justice, and peace across Israeli society. Ariely previously chaired The Aguda – The Association for LGBTQ Equality in Israel and currently leads IGY, Israel’s LGBTQ+ youth organization. As the first openly lesbian Deputy Mayor of Tel Aviv–Yafo, she continues to champion inclusive, liberal, and democratic values in both local and national arenas.
Maria Jiries
CEO
Maria leads Shittah’s strategic development and the creation of frameworks that empower municipalities to strengthen local democracy and promote a shared and cohesive society across Israel.
Maria brings a decade of senior government experience, having served as Chief of Staff to the Director General at the Ministry of Transport and as Head of the Regional Development Division at the Ministry of the Interior.
There, she promoted decentralization and inclusive local governance, and led the development of Israel’s regional clusters model – fostering collaboration among diverse municipalities.
Maria lives in Tel Aviv and grew up in Rama, a small Arab village in the Galilee. She brings to her work a personal and professional perspective shaped by diversity, partnership, and a shared sense of responsibility for Israel’s collective future.
The Shittah Multidisciplinary team includes professionals and experts in policy, governance, and community engagement who work in close partnership with local authorities, public leaders, government ministries, and philanthropic foundations – all united by the vision of building Israeli democracy from the bottom up.
Join Us
To learn more about our programs and impact, see the attached PDF and feel free to contact us – we’d be happy to share more.
Shittah’s vision of building Israeli democracy from the ground up depends on people and partners who believe that change begins locally. There are several ways to join and strengthen this movement for local democracy:
Partner with us
Support our work
Engage your community
Spread the word
Together, we can turn local democracy into a national strength – growing Israel’s democracy from the ground up.
