 |
|
from the Heschel Center for Environmental Learning and Leadership
|
|
| Dear Friends, |
|
As our Deputy-Director Dr. Jeremy Benstein writes in his Tu Bishvat commentary, this festival perhaps represents better than all the quintessential synthesis that the Heschel Center's efforts for a sustainable future in Israel represent:
In our many-layered Tu Bishvat, we too can strive to integrate and deepen the four interlocking realms that define our relationship to life and land: economic, spiritual, national-political and ecological. Each can, indeed must, inform and help guide the others, together creating a healing, balanced, sustainable, and sustaining whole.
Read Jeremy Benstein's Tu Bishvat Commentary.
|
|
|
| Seeds of Sustainability |
|
To mark this tree-planting festival we are launching a new initiative to allow all of our friends and supporters to take a productive part in the Heschel Center's activities.
We are presenting you the opportunity to plant "seeds of sustainability" in the Heschel Center's various projects or in the center itself.
Each seed costs $50 and the "planter" will be sent a virtual tree certificate to mark the contribution. The seeds can be planted in your own name or on behalf of someone else, in which case the certificate will be sent to the recipient's email address with a copy to the "planter". You are also welcome to specify a special occasion and the specific project in which the seeds are to be sown.
|
 Plant seeds of sustainability.
|
See a sample tree certificate 
|
|
|
| American Friends of The Heschel Center |
|
It is highly significant and exciting that in our Tu Bishvat edition we are able to announce the planting of the roots of our new US-based affiliate. "American Friends of The Heschel Center"has been set up as an independent non-profit with 501.3(c) status (pending), which means that tax-free donations can be made directly within the US. All thanks and credit to Kay Magilavy, volunteer founder-director of the organization, who spent an enormous amount of time and energy into the project. We welcome your participation and ideas for projects and activities for the American Friends. In the next edition of the newsletter, you will be able to directly support the American Friends, and in the meantime, if you have input or would like further information, please contact us:
Kay (US), David (Israel).
|
The Heschel Center has, as usual, been active in a range of areas, building an effective and capable leadership for a sustainable Israel:
|
|
| Heschel News |
|
Environmental Leadership Action Network (ELAN): five Fellows' projects selected for support.
Coordinators of the selected projects: Rafi Rich,
Gidi Bashan, Daniel Mishori, Shimon Tzuk,
Meira Hanson, Hagai Kott and Ravit Hananel
|
Five projects were selected for intensive incubation and support, from among the fourteen outstanding proposals submitted by Fellows graduates in a range of fields from ecological economics to sustainable agriculture. Each project will be coordinated by one Fellow and will involve others in a cooperative effort, extending the Heschel Center's network of environmental professional leaders. The next newsletter will include a feature on each of the winning projects. The projects were presented at the graduation event for the sixth class of environmental fellows.
Dr Jeremy Benstein, Fellows Program Coordinator
|
Graduation of the sixth class of Environmental Fellows
|
6th year graduate Victor Weiss receives certificate and olive sapling from Fellows Program Coordinator Dr Lia Ettinger
|
Plant seeds to support an Environmental Fellow.
|
|
The EU-backed "Local Sustainability Kiosk" begins operating after international kick-off meeting in Jerusalem.
At a meeting in Jerusalem in November, the Heschel Center's Deputy Director Orli Ronen-Rotem presented the project outline of the Local Sustainability Capacity-Building Project to representatives of the European Union's "Life" Program. Over three years, citizen activists, professionals and municipal officials will be empowered to create programs for local sustainability through tools and training in legislation, management and planning. The Heschel Center has set up a Local Sustainability Support Center and Information Kiosk and will coordinate the programs along with its partners (the Environment Ministry, the Porter School for Environmental Studies at Tel Aviv University and the International Center for Local Environmental Initiatives). The presentation was very well received and initial stages of the project have already begun, with the appointment of the Local Sustainability Support Center coordinator, Maya Shalit.
View power-point presentation (3Mb)
Plant seeds to empower local sustainability.
|
|
The Eighth Annual "Maof" Seminar for NGOs joined environmental and social change organizations together for the first time in an examination of threats to the commons and how to preserve the public's rights. In an intensive 3-day seminar, over 20 representatives of NGOs with agendas such as human rights, community empowerment, peace, social justice, foreign worker rights and of course environment engaged in study, workshops and issue-based excursions. The result was a declared commitment to join forces to ensure health, environment, culture and water remain within the public commons.
|
Plant seeds to strengthen and train the Israeli environmental movement. |
|
|
As elections approach, politicians from leading parties attend panel on Israel's sustainability policy.
A packed hall of around 200 people attended the event, hosted by the Heschel Center as part of the "Paths to Sustainability" NGO coalition. Prior to the panel discussion, the coalition presented its Budgetary Shadow Report on the government's implementation of the sustainable development policy. The report shows that, despite a few areas where significant financial resources have been directed to sustainable development projects, no ministry places the issue at the top of its agenda and some authorities (such as the Israel Land Administration) are pursuing a policy diametrically opposed to sustainability principles.
|
Former Minister and current Knesset Member Prof. Yuli Tamir (Labour), leading journalist and commentator Avirama Golan (panel host) and Knesset candidates Hadas Shachnai (Greens) and Lior Carmel (Kadima) at the Heschel Center event.
|
|
|
Government ministry executives begin environmental leadership course as part of the "School for Sustainability Studies" at Tel Aviv University.
Twenty-four middle- to senior-level ministry executives have begun the specially designed course being run by the Heschel Center in cooperation with the Porter School for Environmental Studies.
See the list of courses at the School for Sustainability Studies
|
New members join Board at AGM. The Heschel Center recently held its Annual General Meeting at which three new members joined the board of trustees. Ravit Hananel, a graduate of the Heschel Fellows program, will bring her experience from the "Mizrahi Democratic Rainbow-New Discourse" social advocacy NGO to Heschel's activities, and Ruth Shevach-Gatraida will assist in cooperation efforts with the local business community based on her expertise from the "MAALA – Business for Social Responsibility " organization. Architect Dina Rachevsky, founder and former director of the National Planning Administration will contribute her wealth of knowledge and experience to the Heschel Center's mission.
See the full list of the Heschel Center's Board and Staff.
|
|
|
|
|
To make a tax-exempt contribution to the Heschel Center now, please click here
|
|
|
|
Dr. Eilon Schwartz
Executive Director
|
|
|
|
