The annual Sustainability and Community Conference brought together leaders, practitioners, students, and concerned citizens for a powerful day of dialogue, innovation, and collaboration. Held on
The transition to a sustainable energy future is happening now! From groundbreaking agrivoltaics strategies to smart demand management solutions and the first-ever Climate Assembly in
Municipal Recovery and Renewal in Times of War and Crisis Joining forces and networking to build strength against the significant challenges ahead Amidst a war
By Meira Hanson, originally published in Hebrew on Rosa-Media. June 2030. It’s the fourth day of a severe heat wave. The time is 14:00 in
The Israel Climate Forum recently held its spring conference in collaboration with the Hebrew University of Jerusalem’s Center for Sustainability. The conference, which was held
While some argue that the Israeli legal system does require changes, the urgency with which the government is promoting this issue raises concerns. However, this
This document includes an aggregation of concrete and practical steps whose implementation will enable the acceleration of Israel’s transition toward a renewable energy-based, low-carbon economy.
By Rony Erez, Co-Executive Director, the Heschel Center for Sustainability Originally published in Ynet on December 11, 2022 In Greek mythology, we learn about Cassandra,
October 1, 2022 The Shoresh company, located in Tirat Carmel, has been leading the field of travel and camping in Israel for over 33 years
Rony Erez Published on Ynet on 6/6/2022 (the original in Hebrew) Within the extensive Arrangements Law promoted by the Ministry of Finance, hides a proposal
Meira Hanson, Ran Raviv, and David Dunetz 29.05.22, 16:12, Calcalist (the original in Hebrew) One of the challenges of central importance in formulating Israel’s energy
Published in Hebrew on March 16, 2022, in Davar online newspaper By Rony Erez In the heart of the Karakum Desert in Turkmenistan is a
By Tamara Sharon Ross and Rony Erez As we turn the page on another year and look towards 2022, we have created enormous momentum as
By Tamara Sharon Ross and Rony Erez Last week, the Heschel Center co-hosted a private event on renewable energy for academics at the University of
Watch live here Rony Erez, Co-CEO of the Heschel Center is a part of the Israeli civil society delegation for COP26 and is presenting in
Thoughts from the Heschel Fellows Alumni Gathering (July 11, 2021) By Orly Peled (1st Cohort, 1999-2000), Director of Shatil Campus The invitation to the 20th
According to the Heschel Center’s NZO program, Israel must and can shift toward renewable energies by 2050. Setting ambitious milestones, such as 50% renewable energies
By Dr. Jeremy Benstein When we begin a new period in our lives, a new year, such as this new year, there are three simple
By Ran Raviv (Published in the Times of Israel (Hebrew), July 25, 2021) This was a tough week for the world and for climate crisis
Dr. David Dunetz, The Heschel Center for Sustainability The aspiration to develop a universal language that connects human beings wherever they are, and even more
Last Tuesday night, mere hours before his mandate was set to expire, Member of Knesset Yair Lapid (of “Yesh Atid”), informed the president of Israel
At the end of March, our 20th cohort of the Heschel Fellows Program travelled to Kibbutz Parod in northern Israel, for a two-day retreat as part
Rony Erez, Ha’aretz, April 22, 2021 The supertanker approach has taken over Israel. The terrible fire on Mount Carmel about a decade ago could have
The rocket fire from Lebanon last week made it clear that we cannot leave PEI’s oil storage facility in Haifa Bay. Foot-dragging is the default
The collapse of the premise of global capitalism, the necessity for global cooperation, the role of science and what’s most urgent to do in Israel
We are delighted and thrilled to announce that media personality Miki Haimovich is joining the ranks of the Heschel Center for Sustainability, as the chair of
By Dr. Shiri Tzemach Shamir, School of Sustainability, IDC Herzliya In the past month, we have witnessed waves of oil spreading all over the shores
There’s no doubt that Israel is divided. The COVID crisis, harshly opposing opinions of the Prime Minister, and the emerging economic crisis have taken a
By Dr. Jeremy Benstein. Pesach is one of the most widely observed Jewish holidays. But I think most people get it wrong. For many, it
The Heschel Fellowship Program, the most comprehensive leadership program in the environmental movement, has launched its 20th cohort with 24 Fellows this January. The program
Last month we hosted a webinar to launch Project NZO’s National Plan for Renewable Energy. The webinar was attended by over 200 participants with the
In the last few months, Heschel Center’s Local Sustainability Director Ran Raviv conducted the directors’ training in the city of Rishon Le’Zion. We are proud
We are living through a historic moment, one that requires a drastic change. As the economic and health situation spirals out of control, cracks in
In July of 2020, NZO (Net Zero Emissions, the Energy Project of the Heschel Center) staffers held two crucial meetings – one with Prof. Yuval
The Heschel Center is changing Israel’s energy economy, helping local authorities leverage half a billion shekels for installing solar panels, and helping Israel reach ever
The Heschel Center for Sustainability is excited to announce that after a long process of screening hundreds of candidates, the board has appointed two co-directors
–A Heschel Center post on Chanukah? But aren’t you guys all about the environment and sustainability and such? –Nu? (Yiddish for: “so, what’s your point?”).
This is the fourth year the Heschel Center co-hosted the Sustainability and Community Conference. This year, like seemingly everything else, the conference focused on the
Background The urban economic opportunity: Many cities in Israel, especially those without a strong commercial base, experience a chronic shortage of resources because of a
For years the sustainability community has been calling for the world to pay attention to our wasteful, self-absorbed, destructive lifestyles. “We need a new paradigm”,
Or What Can We Learn From the Netherlands? By Ran Raviv The most recent bicycle accident in Tel Aviv succeeded in finally attracting public attention
A central Heschel Center message is that the climate crisis one of the leading challenges of our generation. However, many Israeli decision makers like to
According to McKinsey’s Insight’s Global Energy Perspective (January, 2019), the world will see an increase in renewable energy usage, starting in 2020. However, the dire
Lia Ettinger, The Heschel Center, published on 2 Feb. 2020 in Haaretz (Hebrew). “Israel is too small to matter” is a common claim among government
By Dr. Jeremy Benstein This story took place in 1755. On Sunday, November 1, All Saint’s Day, around 9:30 a.m., a big earthquake hit Portugal.
By Dr. Lia Ettinger On May 1, the British Parliament declared a climate emergency. A week and a half later, Ireland’s parliament issued a similar
At the end of May, the 19th cohort of the Fellows program concluded. This year, most of the participants had significantly less environmental background than
The interview for “Graduate Success” takes place this time with Sheana Schechterman, Director of the Department of Sustainability at Dizengoff Center, a graduate of the
On June 23-26, I attended a workshop in Rhodes, Greece entitled “Abrahamic Traditions & Environmental Change.” The workshop was co-organized by the University of Connecticut
By Aviva Shemesh, The Heschel Center for Sustainability Published in Ecology & Environment: Journal for Science and Environmental Policy of the ISEES (December 2019, issue
Meet the Alumni of our 19 Heschel Fellowhip Cohort! Shlomi Ben Arush He holds a bachelor’s degree in environmental studies, a master’s degree in environmental
By Hanadi Higris and Rohan Plaot The idea of initiating a Jewish-Arab Galilean women’s leadership program was not designed on our desk, but was created
By Victor Weis Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development, developed and endorsed by the United Nations General Assembly by all its member states, is a comprehensive
For almost the entire length of its eighteen year existence, the Heschel Sustainability Fellows program has met on Wednesdays. The last Wednesday of the Heschel
On June 13th, we held our 3rd Annual Conference on Sustainability and Community, at the Clal Building in downtown Jerusalem, on the theme of “Local
By Victor Weis, CEO of the Heschel Center Mankind has improved its ability to produce goods. The problem is, that the way we make our
Victor Weis, Former CEO of the Heschel Center for Sustainability Israelis, do you spend too much time in traffic jams? Do you think that’s it’s
Participants in this year’s Heschel Sustainability Fellowship (19th cohort), Lena Chiyadari and Anat Nir, tell of their involvement in the nationwide protest against violence against
Dr. Jeremy Benstein The most obvious connection between Pesach and environmental ideas is the agricultural/ seasonal one: it is Chag He’aviv, the festival of Spring,
What does the Heschel Center have to do with germs!? Hearing the focus of our recent Hackathon, many people raised an eyebrow. But it turns
Our beloved alumna, Rania Akel, environmental artist, teacher, and community activist extraordinaire, has started an amazing new project. Located in the town of Kufr Kara,
Thoughts Inspired By the 3rd Israel Climate Convention 29 November 2018 by Dr. David Dunetz “What I hope we achieve at this conference is that
By Meira Hanson, with the assistance of Dr. Irit Rotem. In municipalities across Israel election day looked like Heschel Alumni day. 13 Heschel Alumni ran
At the recent national conference on Environment and Sustainability 2050, the Heschel Center, in collaboration with the the Ministry of Economy and the Ministry of
By Victor Weis What is the connection between eating a hamburger and the national security of the State of Israel? You’ll be surprised to learn.
May saw the completion of the year-long training program for leadership of the Israeli Scouting movement. The goal of the training was for the movement
By Ran Raviv, Heschel Staff Do city clerks and managers need to be able to dream? Do directors of the various municipal departments even know
We are living in a global world which is changing dramatically, and at a positively dizzying pace. The solution to many problems will be found
By Dr. Jeremy Benstein In an innovative partnership, the Heschel Center has joined forces with the Center for Health Leadership, under the leadership of Uri
What is a circular economy? Circular economy is an economic model designed to increase the efficiency with which we use resources and raw materials in
In the beginning of January, the Heschel Center’s alumni came together for an evening with Professor Dani Rabinowitz from Tel Aviv university and discuss concerning
An interview with Malaka Canaan, Galiee Fellow. [Pictured above: left photo: Malaka is on the left demonstrating the hydroponically grown greens; and on right photo:
The most recent report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) warns of the devastating implications for civilization if we don’t take dramatic steps
Haifa is home to many religious communities, housing Muslim and Christian populations in addition to various denominations of Judaism which coexist harmoniously. Haifa also boasts
By Dr. Jeremy Benstein The Heschel Center stands at the forefront of the mobilization of Israel’s civil society for addressing climate change in activism and
Energy saving lighting, bicycle lanes, green construction and many other sustainable projects were installed in Bizaron-Ramat Israel, the first sustainable neighborhood in Tel Aviv. This
What is the connection between the field of engineering and sustainability? Apparently, everything! The not-for-profit International Organization of Engineers Without Borders (EWB) is an association
When the science department at a local high school in the Jerusalem neighborhood of Gilo decided to build an ecological pool, they thought they were
The 18th Cohort of the Heschel Fellows Program launched on November 8, 2017. This year includes change-makers from a variety of disciplines: Engineering, Mass Communication,
Dr. Dorit Adler – The Israeli Forum for Sustainable Nutrition Head Dietician for the National Council for Nutritional Security The Israeli Forum for Sustainable Nutrition
The Hackathon is a race against time (usually a 36-hours event) which brings together a group of people from diverse backgrounds to work on producing
During the first week of September the Heschel Center hosted an alumni gathering that included a two day seminar for in-depth learning in which 40
On March 6, 250 representatives from local municipalities, social entrepreneurs, community leaders, business executives, and academics participated in the Heschel Center’s National Conference for Sustainability
Once again the actress Renana Raz, whose face dried and cracked in the advertisements about the country’s previous water shortage, has returned to the small
The Heschel Center, together with the Porter School of Environmental Studies at Tel Aviv University, and the Israel Society of Ecology and Environmental Studies (ISEES),
A few weeks ago was the last meeting of the Galilee Fellows which wrapped up the first phase of the program. Fellows are now entering
Dr. Jeremy Benstein Rabbi David Hartman, z”l, used to speak about how, before he made aliyah, he expected that when Pesach rolled around in Israel,
An interview with Esther Akiva, a member of the Heschel Center’s managing board and an Alumna of the Network of Local Sustainability Centers, coordinated by
It is in Noam Sheffer’s job description to dream big. As the director of the Ayanot Youth Village, he works to shape adolescents’ understanding of citizenship,
Even today, many people are unaware that eating heavily processed foods and diets rich in dairy and meat have a detrimental effect both on our
Esther Akiva is an orthodox mother of 5 originally from Brooklyn, New York. Three years ago she and her family left the West Bank settlement
It was a beautiful fall day in TAEQ’s Green Building in Sakhnin, where the Galilee Fellows gathered for one final concluding meeting where friends, distinguished
The Galilee Climate Fellows Program, a co-production of the Heschel Center and the Arab environmental education center in Sakhnin in the central Galilee ended its
Despite the rain and the traffic, 170 participants and over 40 speakers gathered at the Hansen House in Jerusalem on March 1 to learn, share
The Heschel Center was excited to partner with the Porter School of Environmental Studies of Tel Aviv University (PSES) and the Israel Society of Ecology
The transition to a sustainable energy future is happening now! From groundbreaking agrivoltaics strategies to smart demand management solutions and the first-ever Climate Assembly in
By Rony Erez, Co-Executive Director, the Heschel Center for Sustainability Originally published in Ynet on December 11, 2022 In Greek mythology, we learn about Cassandra,
Published in Hebrew on March 16, 2022, in Davar online newspaper By Rony Erez In the heart of the Karakum Desert in Turkmenistan is a
Watch live here Rony Erez, Co-CEO of the Heschel Center is a part of the Israeli civil society delegation for COP26 and is presenting in
Rony Erez, Ha’aretz, April 22, 2021 The supertanker approach has taken over Israel. The terrible fire on Mount Carmel about a decade ago could have
The collapse of the premise of global capitalism, the necessity for global cooperation, the role of science and what’s most urgent to do in Israel
Last month we hosted a webinar to launch Project NZO’s National Plan for Renewable Energy. The webinar was attended by over 200 participants with the
In July of 2020, NZO (Net Zero Emissions, the Energy Project of the Heschel Center) staffers held two crucial meetings – one with Prof. Yuval
The Heschel Center is changing Israel’s energy economy, helping local authorities leverage half a billion shekels for installing solar panels, and helping Israel reach ever
Background The urban economic opportunity: Many cities in Israel, especially those without a strong commercial base, experience a chronic shortage of resources because of a
A central Heschel Center message is that the climate crisis one of the leading challenges of our generation. However, many Israeli decision makers like to
According to McKinsey’s Insight’s Global Energy Perspective (January, 2019), the world will see an increase in renewable energy usage, starting in 2020. However, the dire
Lia Ettinger, The Heschel Center, published on 2 Feb. 2020 in Haaretz (Hebrew). “Israel is too small to matter” is a common claim among government
By Dr. Jeremy Benstein This story took place in 1755. On Sunday, November 1, All Saint’s Day, around 9:30 a.m., a big earthquake hit Portugal.
By Dr. Lia Ettinger On May 1, the British Parliament declared a climate emergency. A week and a half later, Ireland’s parliament issued a similar
By Aviva Shemesh, The Heschel Center for Sustainability Published in Ecology & Environment: Journal for Science and Environmental Policy of the ISEES (December 2019, issue
By Victor Weis Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development, developed and endorsed by the United Nations General Assembly by all its member states, is a comprehensive
Thoughts Inspired By the 3rd Israel Climate Convention 29 November 2018 by Dr. David Dunetz “What I hope we achieve at this conference is that
At the recent national conference on Environment and Sustainability 2050, the Heschel Center, in collaboration with the the Ministry of Economy and the Ministry of
By Victor Weis What is the connection between eating a hamburger and the national security of the State of Israel? You’ll be surprised to learn.
We are living in a global world which is changing dramatically, and at a positively dizzying pace. The solution to many problems will be found
The most recent report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) warns of the devastating implications for civilization if we don’t take dramatic steps
By Dr. Jeremy Benstein The Heschel Center stands at the forefront of the mobilization of Israel’s civil society for addressing climate change in activism and
Dr. Dorit Adler – The Israeli Forum for Sustainable Nutrition Head Dietician for the National Council for Nutritional Security The Israeli Forum for Sustainable Nutrition
The Heschel Center, together with the Porter School of Environmental Studies at Tel Aviv University, and the Israel Society of Ecology and Environmental Studies (ISEES),
The Heschel Center was excited to partner with the Porter School of Environmental Studies of Tel Aviv University (PSES) and the Israel Society of Ecology
Municipal Recovery and Renewal in Times of War and Crisis Joining forces and networking to build strength against the significant challenges ahead Amidst a war
By Ran Raviv (Published in the Times of Israel (Hebrew), July 25, 2021) This was a tough week for the world and for climate crisis
In the last few months, Heschel Center’s Local Sustainability Director Ran Raviv conducted the directors’ training in the city of Rishon Le’Zion. We are proud
This is the fourth year the Heschel Center co-hosted the Sustainability and Community Conference. This year, like seemingly everything else, the conference focused on the
Or What Can We Learn From the Netherlands? By Ran Raviv The most recent bicycle accident in Tel Aviv succeeded in finally attracting public attention
On June 13th, we held our 3rd Annual Conference on Sustainability and Community, at the Clal Building in downtown Jerusalem, on the theme of “Local
By Ran Raviv, Heschel Staff Do city clerks and managers need to be able to dream? Do directors of the various municipal departments even know
Haifa is home to many religious communities, housing Muslim and Christian populations in addition to various denominations of Judaism which coexist harmoniously. Haifa also boasts
Energy saving lighting, bicycle lanes, green construction and many other sustainable projects were installed in Bizaron-Ramat Israel, the first sustainable neighborhood in Tel Aviv. This
When the science department at a local high school in the Jerusalem neighborhood of Gilo decided to build an ecological pool, they thought they were
On March 6, 250 representatives from local municipalities, social entrepreneurs, community leaders, business executives, and academics participated in the Heschel Center’s National Conference for Sustainability
An interview with Esther Akiva, a member of the Heschel Center’s managing board and an Alumna of the Network of Local Sustainability Centers, coordinated by
Esther Akiva is an orthodox mother of 5 originally from Brooklyn, New York. Three years ago she and her family left the West Bank settlement
Despite the rain and the traffic, 170 participants and over 40 speakers gathered at the Hansen House in Jerusalem on March 1 to learn, share
Thoughts from the Heschel Fellows Alumni Gathering (July 11, 2021) By Orly Peled (1st Cohort, 1999-2000), Director of Shatil Campus The invitation to the 20th
The Heschel Center for Sustainability is excited to announce that after a long process of screening hundreds of candidates, the board has appointed two co-directors
At the end of May, the 19th cohort of the Fellows program concluded. This year, most of the participants had significantly less environmental background than
The interview for “Graduate Success” takes place this time with Sheana Schechterman, Director of the Department of Sustainability at Dizengoff Center, a graduate of the
For almost the entire length of its eighteen year existence, the Heschel Sustainability Fellows program has met on Wednesdays. The last Wednesday of the Heschel
Participants in this year’s Heschel Sustainability Fellowship (19th cohort), Lena Chiyadari and Anat Nir, tell of their involvement in the nationwide protest against violence against
Our beloved alumna, Rania Akel, environmental artist, teacher, and community activist extraordinaire, has started an amazing new project. Located in the town of Kufr Kara,
By Meira Hanson, with the assistance of Dr. Irit Rotem. In municipalities across Israel election day looked like Heschel Alumni day. 13 Heschel Alumni ran
In the beginning of January, the Heschel Center’s alumni came together for an evening with Professor Dani Rabinowitz from Tel Aviv university and discuss concerning
Dr. Dorit Adler – The Israeli Forum for Sustainable Nutrition Head Dietician for the National Council for Nutritional Security The Israeli Forum for Sustainable Nutrition
The Hackathon is a race against time (usually a 36-hours event) which brings together a group of people from diverse backgrounds to work on producing
During the first week of September the Heschel Center hosted an alumni gathering that included a two day seminar for in-depth learning in which 40
Once again the actress Renana Raz, whose face dried and cracked in the advertisements about the country’s previous water shortage, has returned to the small
It is in Noam Sheffer’s job description to dream big. As the director of the Ayanot Youth Village, he works to shape adolescents’ understanding of citizenship,
Even today, many people are unaware that eating heavily processed foods and diets rich in dairy and meat have a detrimental effect both on our
For years the sustainability community has been calling for the world to pay attention to our wasteful, self-absorbed, destructive lifestyles. “We need a new paradigm”,
Or What Can We Learn From the Netherlands? By Ran Raviv The most recent bicycle accident in Tel Aviv succeeded in finally attracting public attention
A central Heschel Center message is that the climate crisis one of the leading challenges of our generation. However, many Israeli decision makers like to
By Dr. Jeremy Benstein This story took place in 1755. On Sunday, November 1, All Saint’s Day, around 9:30 a.m., a big earthquake hit Portugal.
By Dr. Lia Ettinger On May 1, the British Parliament declared a climate emergency. A week and a half later, Ireland’s parliament issued a similar
By Aviva Shemesh, The Heschel Center for Sustainability Published in Ecology & Environment: Journal for Science and Environmental Policy of the ISEES (December 2019, issue
Victor Weis, Former CEO of the Heschel Center for Sustainability Israelis, do you spend too much time in traffic jams? Do you think that’s it’s
Dr. Jeremy Benstein The most obvious connection between Pesach and environmental ideas is the agricultural/ seasonal one: it is Chag He’aviv, the festival of Spring,
By Victor Weis What is the connection between eating a hamburger and the national security of the State of Israel? You’ll be surprised to learn.
Dr. Dorit Adler – The Israeli Forum for Sustainable Nutrition Head Dietician for the National Council for Nutritional Security The Israeli Forum for Sustainable Nutrition
Once again the actress Renana Raz, whose face dried and cracked in the advertisements about the country’s previous water shortage, has returned to the small
Dr. Jeremy Benstein Rabbi David Hartman, z”l, used to speak about how, before he made aliyah, he expected that when Pesach rolled around in Israel,
The annual Sustainability and Community Conference brought together leaders, practitioners, students, and concerned citizens for a powerful day of dialogue, innovation, and collaboration. Held on
The transition to a sustainable energy future is happening now! From groundbreaking agrivoltaics strategies to smart demand management solutions and the first-ever Climate Assembly in
Municipal Recovery and Renewal in Times of War and Crisis Joining forces and networking to build strength against the significant challenges ahead Amidst a war
By Meira Hanson, originally published in Hebrew on Rosa-Media. June 2030. It’s the fourth day of a severe heat wave. The time is 14:00 in
The Israel Climate Forum recently held its spring conference in collaboration with the Hebrew University of Jerusalem’s Center for Sustainability. The conference, which was held
While some argue that the Israeli legal system does require changes, the urgency with which the government is promoting this issue raises concerns. However, this
