A beacon of forward-thinking leadership among climate urgency in Los Angeles
As Jewish organizations across the country navigate growing antisemitism on college campuses, UCLA Hillel has had to endure more: the LA wildfires. Through this emergency situation, UCLA Hillel’s commitment to sustainability never wavered.
“I am looking forward to new climate initiatives at UCLA Hillel! Perhaps we will commit to a zero emissions policy, then take action to implement it by installing solar panels and switching to electric appliances.” – Aviram Bhalla-Levine, PhD student at UCLA
UCLA Hillel is one of 400+ members of Adamah’s Jewish Leadership Climate Coalition (Coalition). This Coalition provides financial, logistical, and communal support to a network of Jewish community organizations who recognize the urgency of climate change and commit to take action. Adamah’s Coalition helps organizations implement their organizational Climate Action Plans as well as provides Adamah staff liaisons to lead the climate action work.
Thanks to an Adamah Climate Action Fund zero-interest loan, UCLA Hillel will be installing a photovoltaic solar array, drastically reducing their carbon footprint. With limited green space, they have found creative ways to encourage sustainable transportation, offering students bike storage inside the building and utilizing nearby EV charging stations. These small adaptations show how even urban organizations can make a positive environmental impact within their constraints.
“I feel really excited to be here at UCLA’s Hillel while we have this opportunity to invest in climate action – it’s a great chance to get more involved and have more of an impact on this community.” – Bella Goldwasser, undergraduate student at UCLA
UCLA Hillel’s commitment to the environment goes beyond just infrastructure. They are considering the creation of a Green Committee within its Board of Directors. They have made food sustainability a key priority. All meals at Hillel feature vegetarian and vegan options, while efforts to reduce food waste are continuously refined.
On February 10, 2025, Adamah on Campus hosted a “Cookies & Climate” event at UCLA Hillel, celebrating Tu B’Shvat and the intersection of Judaism and environmentalism. Students decorated cookies while engaging in discussions about the climate crisis and Jewish environmental texts. They highlighted the words of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai, who said that “earth, humans, and rain” are equally important for the survival of the world. Rabbi Levi ben Hiyyata’s teaching—that without the earth, there is no rain, and without rain, the earth cannot endure—resonated deeply with students. This event, along with others like it, demonstrates how Adamah on Campus is encouraging students to explore how their Jewish values intersect with climate action.
As Samm Levy, a student at UCLA Hillel, shared, “As someone whose primary interests are environmentalism, conservation, and the energy transition, I was so excited to find an opportunity to intersect my passion for the environment and my Jewish identity.”
“I look forward to Hillel at UCLA’s transition to more sustainable practices that protect our planet and hope this encourages others to do the same.” – Brandon Damavandi, undergraduate student at UCLA
Through these initiatives and the support from Adamah, UCLA Hillel has shown that Jewish organizations can play a vital role in addressing climate change exemplifying the Jewish value of tikkun olam (repairing the world).