Noam’s Adult Lecture and Programming Options   Spark an in depth conversation on cutting edge Jewish environmental values, learn about the state of Israel’s environment, or explore how we can work in our own lives to make a difference. Noam’s diverse array of adult lecture topics make him a perfect guest speaker at your conference, retreat, synagogue or lecture series.   Jewish Environmental   Shabbat as a Weekly Environmental Holiday, a Spiritual and Practical Guide to Shabbat Practice. Shabbat dinners are one of the most common forms of Jewish activity. While this weekly holiday is a great opportunity for community building or family bonding, Shabbat is also central to Jewish values of personal and communal sustainability. In this workshop we will explore the Jewish values of sustainability inherent in Shabbat and discuss ways to make your communal Shabbat dinner more environmentally conscious.   Treif Tomatoes? The Ethics and Halacha of Genetic Engineering. Would you eat a tomato you knew had pig genes in it, or fly or human? You may be doing just that and don't know it. Genetically engineered foods now dominate our shopping market shelves. In this session we will explore the Jewish ethical and legal questions surrounding the genetic engineering of food (pro and con), and help forward a Jewish response to this timely issue.   Oy Veh I'm Svitzing, a Jewish Response to Climate Change Climate change is the pressing environmental challenge of our day, so in an attempt to look forward, let's look back at what Jewish tradition has to offer this modern problem.  Explore Jewish texts related to energy conservation and waste reduction, pikuach nefesh (responsibility to save life,) plus biblical values of withholding rain and climate change as G-d's form of punishment.  Your Table as a Temple Eating is an action we take more than 3 times a day. What we choose to consume speaks volumes about our values and beliefs. In this workshop we will explore the Jewish and secular ethics related to conscious food choices, modern food technology and how to make our meal a holy offering.   Beyond Bal Taschit, Advancing a Jewish Sustainability Ethic For most of the last decade, Jewish environmentalism has focused on Baal Taschit, the law against waste. But Jewish environmental values are much deeper than this once wartime law. In this workshop we will discuss issues of sustainable living, bioregionalism, and how Jewish tradition can be used to help guide societies growth.   Vegetarianism and Jewish thought In the story of Creation, humanity is given only fruit and seeds as food. So why do we eat chicken on Shabbat? This workshop will explore the Jewish values related to meat consumption and vegetarianism, including biblical, prophetic and modern voices.   Do Marmots Have Rights? Exploring Jewish Animal Ethics From the value of individual species, to reduction of pain and suffering in animals, Jewish law and tradition is full of references to animal rights, both wild and domesticated. In this workshop we will explore these texts and discuss how can develop a Jewish animal rights ethic for the 21st Century.   Creation Through Evolution. Exploring Creation’s Methodology Scientists speak of singularity before a big bang, Kabbalists of a oneness shattering into billions of pieces. Evolution tells us life started in the water, Genesis 1 says the same. This workshop we will tell the story of Creation using the latest scientific and Jewish thought, and explore whether these two concepts might be more alike than most think.   Our Communal Responsibility, Greening Our Lives and Our Synagogue. Explore Jewish values related to environmental and communal responsibility, and the interplay between Jewish ethics, and personal and communal consumer choices.  Strategize ways to ‘Green’ your synagogue’s building and community.           Israel Environmental   The Unnatural Jew, Exploring our Personal Connection to Land How well do you know the geography of your home state or country? Can you name the lakes, rivers, mountains, valleys? Most Israelis can. In this session we will explore our personal connection to our homelands in the Diaspora and Israel, discuss historic and current reasons for these relationships, and view Zionism as a movement to re-indigenize the Jewish people.   The Zionist Dream, An Environmental Nightmare? Oleh U’vneh (Arise and Build) is one of many early Zionist slogans calling for growth, settlement, and development of the land of Israel. But has it gone too far? Has Israeli’s need for western style development and standard of living, come at the expanse of the land we love to dear? This workshop will explore the pros and cons of modern Israeli development and discuss sustainable solutions to Israel’s growth.   Sustainable Peace, exploring the interplay between peaceful cooperation and environmental sustainability in the Middle East We’ve all heard the speculation that the next war in the Middle East will be fought over water. This precious natural resource is one of many shared by Israel’s citizens and neighbors. In this workshop we will explore the shared environmental concerns around land, water and air, and discuss how collaboration is vital in addressing social and environmental sustainability and creating lasting Peace.   If I Forget Thee O Jerusalem, Will all your Forests be Destroyed? A Philosophical, Spiritual and Political Exploration. Jerusalem is at the center of Jewish life and prayer, but how many of us really know what’s happening to this piece we love so dear. This workshop will explore our personal and communal connection to Jerusalem, and discuss threats to Jerusalem’s forests and last remaining open spaces.   Eco-Zionist Dilemmas, Balancing Environmental Sustainability with Security and Economic Considerations Israel has long been a country with only two political issues, security and economic development, issues that still today remain central to Israel’s future. Unfortunately this view has left other issues vital to Israel’s future off the table including many environmental concerns. This workshop will explore how we balance environmental considerations with economic and security concerns in Israel, and help develop a vision for a safe, prosperous and ecologically sustainable future.     Holiday Programming   Hanukkah as a Holiday of Energy Conservation One days supply of oil, last for eight.  A group of passionate committed people fight for something they believe in and win.  This ancient miracle of the Macabbees is repeated daily when we switch to low energy light bulbs, reduce our personal and communal consumption level and fight for systematic and political change. This Hanukkah, let's practice being a energy efficient "Light unto the Nations."   Tu B’shvat – a Jewish New Year for the 21st Century and beyond Come together for a community celebration of our connection to our earth, our bodies and our G-d. Through text, song, art and creative exploration we will celebrate this ancient holiday in light of our 21st century lives.   Sukkot – Exploring Jewish food ethics on a holiday of harvest. Sit together under a sukkah and share the feast of fall harvest while discussing the most Jewish thing of all, food. Exploring modern Jewish food ethics including health, social and specifically environmental concerns of production, transportation, bioengineering, etc.   General Environmental   Climate Change/ Global Warming for Dummies. An Introduction to the Science of Climate Change for Regular People. Everyone’s talking about climate change, but what is it really? How do greenhouse gases work? What might happen if trends continue? What can I do as an individual to make a difference? This workshop will answer these questions and more in a simple, interactive forum aimed at giving regular people the tools to understand the reality of climate change.