‘My form of Zionism’: Jerusalem nonprofit helps new olim build businesses in Israel

MATI Jerusalem, a nonprofit founded in 1991, helps new immigrants build businesses in Jerusalem through mentoring, webinars, and loan assistance. Senior mentor Michael Horesh has guided hundreds of olim, offering free mentoring hours and addressing challenges like VAT issues and impostor syndrome. Client Meira Herman, who made aliyah in 2018, runs an art business and dog daycare, crediting Horesh's advice. The organization partners with municipal and national bodies, with 40 advisers in multiple languages.

MATI Jerusalem, a nonprofit founded in 1991 by former mayor Teddy Kollek and businessman Uri Scharf, helps new immigrants and other underserved groups start and grow businesses in Jerusalem. The organization provides mentoring, webinars, and loan assistance, partnering with the Jerusalem Municipality, the Aliyah and Integration Ministry, the Jewish Agency, and the Jerusalem Foundation. Michael Horesh, a senior mentor since 2010, has guided hundreds of olim, offering five free hours of mentoring to those who have lived in Israel up to 10 years, with an additional 15 hours if they establish a business. Horesh emphasizes the importance of asking for help and addressing issues like impostor syndrome and financial management. One client, Meira Herman, who made aliyah from New York in 2018, runs an art business and a dog daycare, crediting Horesh's advice for her success. The article also highlights a company that discovered unpaid VAT due to accountant oversight, now working with MATI to manage repayment. The piece underscores MATI's role in fostering entrepreneurship among immigrants, with 40 advisers available in multiple languages.