The seeds for the Jerusalem International YMCA were sown in the 1920s as the brainchild of Dr. Archibald Harte. Harte worked tirelessly for his vision of an international YMCA branch in Jerusalem that would serve as a bridge between faiths and cultures in the increasingly divided city.
The YMCA had been present in Jerusalem old city since 1878, then, less than a decade after harte’s dream was born, the ‘new’ international YMCA building was dedicated in 1933 by Lord Edmund Allenby.
In recognition of our efforts in promoting peace, understanding and the dignity of humankind, the Jerusalem International YMCA was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993.
