The State of Israel's founding vision had roots in Jewish and universal values of justice and equity, and concern for future generations. Sixty years later, without visionary leadership, Israel is embroiled in a social-environmental crisis which threatens its sustainability, endangering the fabric of the society, the lives of the inhabitants and the resilience of the land itself.

Water, land and air are polluted, open spaces are disappearing under piles of concrete, public assets are being sold for the benefit of a select few rather than the common good, while the poverty is growing rapidly alongside the extreme wealth of the few. There is a wide public desire for change and yet there is no guiding vision other than a narrow view of "economic growth," which is exhausting our social and environmental resources for the interests of a small group.

The Heschel Center for Environmental Learning and Leadership was established to lead Israel to become a society based on renewal of the values of justice and caring for the future of the land and its inhabitants:

"…that your days may be multiplied, and the days of your children, in the land…"

We envisage a society where real progress and growth are defined in terms of ecological health and social justice, where we all participate in the making of the decisions that affect us through fair and transparent process, where values of community, common destiny and compassion are the basis for our actions.

The Heschel Center trains leading individuals from across the spectrum of Israeli society to become the social-environmental vanguard, implementing this innovative vision of an ecologically and socially sustainable future based on values we inherited from our forebears.

Building on the inherent strengths and advantages underlying Israeli society and its traditions, while learning from successful forward-looking efforts here and around the world, the Heschel Center is creating a body of concrete examples of what needs to be done and how to achieve it: planning and design which encourage community vibrancy and strengthen sustainable local economies, agriculture which grows healthy food for all citizens while enhancing land and water quality; participatory democracy based on active and committed citizens and enlightened, transparent government, building carbon-free energy self-reliance, revitalizing urban areas.

This network of initiatives and especially the people driving them is leading Israel to the possibility of a future created through responsibility for one another and for future generations.

If I am not for me, who is for me?

When I am for myself (alone), what am I?

If not now, when?