Eco-Chalutzim and Eco-Tourists

Eco-Chalutzim and Eco-Tourists by Noam Dolgin

Throughout the ‘90s, among both Jews who made aliya (moved to Israel) and those who remain in the Diaspora, many invested time and energy in projects that help build peace and collaboration with Arab citizens and neighbors, promote religious diversity, and support other social justice initiatives. Some have turned to environmentalism as a means of protecting the people, land and state of Israel.

Diaspora Jews are connecting to Israel through environmental concerns. Preserving the land of Israel is becoming a sacred mission.

On a “Tech and Teva [nature]” trip to Israel (February 2008) with 34 Jewish educators from Long Island, I had the opportunity to meet both olim (immigrants) and tourists, and see how their dedication to Israel’s environment has changed their relationship to Israel and themselves. Through the olim we met, leaders in Israel’s emerging environmental scene, we encountered a new kind of chalutz (pioneer) – an educated, motivated and enthusiastic immigrant ready to bring environmental responsibility to a country that desperately needs it.

Olim Who Make a Difference

Many of us are familiar with the works of notable environmental pioneers like Dr. Alon Tal and Dr. Eilon Schwartz, who have been instrumental in establishing some of the leading environmental organizations such as the Israel Union for Environmental Defense, the Arava Institute for Environmental Studies and the Heschel Center, and have been involved with the Conservative Jewish world through their positions as Mercaz and Green Zionist Alliance representatives to the Keren Kayemet (Jewish National Fund in Israel) Board.
Beyond these pioneers, new olim continue to move to Israel to work on its environment. Here is the story of three emerging leaders and how their organizations are making a difference:

Raised in Seattle, Joshua Berman made aliya with his wife Tali in 2003. They live in a moshav outside of Jerusalem. Tali is the founder of the Meir Autism Treatment Center, (www.meirautism.org) and Josh helps run a number of e-commerce Web sites.

Josh has been volunteering his time to bring the Good Energy Initiative (www.goodenergy.org.il) to the American Jewish community and the world. The Good Energy Initiative is an opportunity for individuals, synagogues and organizations to offset their carbon footprint by supporting grassroots carbon reduction initiatives in Israel. He believes there is a golden opportunity for organizations and communities to not only “green” themselves by carbon offsetting but also to support important environmental initiatives in Israel. Thanks to Joshua's efforts, such activities as conferences, bar mitzvahs and day-to-day business operations are offset by purchasing solar water panels for underprivileged Israelis, who could not otherwise replace their kerosene heaters, or by distributing energy-efficient light bulbs to Israeli schools and children.

Born and raised in Stockholm, Sweden, Andrea Weil made aliya in 2000 with a desire to help Israel protect its marine environment. Noticing that very little in Israel was being researched or taught about human impacts on the Mediterranean Sea, Andreas approached a group of scientists from the marine research field and together, in 2003, they founded EcoOcean (www.ecoocean.com).

EcoOcean´s main resource is the research vessel, the R/V Mediterranean Explorer, used by marine researchers from universities throughout the country. Additionally, EcoOcean operates a number of educational programs intended for a wide range of ages, including the "Megalim" Center for Educational Activity at Michmoret, for the study of marine and environmental sciences. Experts from EcoOcean visit elementary schools and high schools across the country to lecture on marine ecology and biology related issues.

Born and raised in Atlanta, Leiba Chaya David made aliya in 1996 with a deep connection to the land, eager to explore with a Tanach (Bible) in one hand and a water bottle in the other. Like many of the early Zionist naturalists, Leiba Chaya's connection to the land is central to her Jewish and Israeli identities. Working first as a guide for the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel (SPNI), she now works for SPNI in Jerusalem, coordinating inner city campaigns, community initiatives and educational projects for both secular and religious schools. Leiba Chaya hopes to use her understanding of Jewish education to help coordinate educational projects that will reach across the Atlantic and bridge American Jewry to Jerusalem and Israel through the land and the environment.

Eco-tourism

When one thinks of the stereotypical Jewish Long Islander, one does not usually think “environmentalist.” But take 34 Jewish educators to Israel, from 20 years old to it’s-not-polite-to-ask, with a diverse array of backgrounds and you get a group of passionate, caring people, looking at Israel with a lens to the environment and coming up with amazing questions and good solutions. This is what happened on the SAJES-sponsored visit to Israel that I accompanied in February.

On this 10-day tour, which crossed the entire country from the Kinneret (Sea of Galilee) to Eilat, this group encountered activists, educators and researchers, exploring their vision of Israel in the 21^st century.

One of the most exciting elements was the sense of potential. Wherever we went we saw projects just waiting to get off the ground. These projects ranged from educational programs to exciting new technological research, community campaigns and personal initiatives. Each faced its own set of challenges, some financial, some social and some political, but each were waiting for the support needed to let it blossom.

Shellie Dickstein, coordinator of educational services at SAJES concluded, “There is so much we can learn from Israelis to bring back to our community, and so much we can bring to Israel.”

Now that the trip is over, we move to what is always the hardest stage, implementation, keeping the connections going between those we met in Israel and what we can do in our communities in America. But this trip has sparked a new light for the educators, even those who had visited Israel before.

As one indicated in her evaluation: “This experience was very special, my third time in Israel. I was struck by the fact that the guest lecturers talked about the importance of teaching the children. Educate the adults through the children. As teachers we are going back with a new sense of mission, that we can make a change in the world by teaching the children. The children are the future.”

It is important to acknowledge linkages among ourselves as Jews in North America, the people of Israel, the land of Israel and the global environment. Even neutralizing our carbon footprint or otherwise reducing our environmental impact in the US has an influence on Israel’s environment.

Perhaps another participant said it best: “The trip made me more determined to take care of the environment and to make Israel education more of a priority for children.” Utilizing an environmental lens, we can revitalize Americans’ relationship to Israel and to the environment.