Since February, I’ve had the honor to study at the Arava Institute for Environmental Studies in Ketura, Israel. Here, I have had the opportunity to study with incredible peers and professors, and have made connections which will last far beyond the conclusion of the semester.

I think it is critical to start this post by explaining a bit about my background. I am a Modern Orthodox Jew who grew up in Baltimore and New York. I was raised in a Zionist home and community which instilled within me a love for the Jewish people and a desire to learn more and contribute to the Jewish state. I was also raised on the values of environmentalism and sustainability. My maternal grandfather was a climate scientist who was one of the first advocates for greenhouse gas emissions research and policy at Exxon before they eliminated his research team. From a young age, my parents taught me the importance of caring for a sustainable world. I always felt passionate about being an environmental leader.

These passions which I developed early in life led me to study both Near Eastern Studies and Environmental Studies at Princeton University for my undergraduate degree. Prior to beginning my degree, I would not have seen such an intersection between these fields. I began to conduct research as an undergraduate on the transformation of a river in Northern Israel. Without going into too much detail, what I discovered in my research was that in order to understand environmental policy and change in Israel, it was critical to learn more about the conflict and the geopolitical and historical context from which it began. This inspired me to study abroad for a summer in Jordan, where I was able to become relatively proficient in Arabic. I cherished the opportunity to speak with Jordanians of Palestinian descent about their lives and family histories and discovered how meaningful the power of storytelling and dialogue can be. 

When I first heard about the Arava Institute, I was shocked that there could be an academic institution which was so catered to my interests. Despite Princeton’s pushbacks in studying in Israel because of security concerns, I pushed them to grant me permission to study at the Institute for a semester. I was ultimately successful, and have been enormously satisfied with the decision to study here this semester.

The institute is constantly challenging what environmental stewardship can look like in a world bound by political borders and unrest. I learned here that while the basic mantra of the Institute is that “nature knows no borders,” the reality of the Middle East is far more complex. Different actors in this region need to understand when the environment transcends political borders, and also when nature is anthropogenically differently altered across varying political borders. Every class that I’ve had here, whether more focused on science or politics, has included that complex conversation which is critical to the work which the Institute does. I have really appreciated the honesty and humility with which the professors who I’ve been lucky to study with conduct themselves, which is hard when attempting to enact ground-breaking work to combat simultaneous political and environmental crises. As someone who is aspiring to be a change-maker in this field, hearing and understanding these nuances from professionals has opened my eyes to the practical work of well-grounded applied research.

Furthermore, it has been such an honor and privilege to have met the diverse student population which the Institute brings together. As one of very few international students this semester, it has been incredible to connect with students and interns who I would have never met otherwise. I have developed meaningful relationships with my roommates and peers while utilizing both my Hebrew and Arabic in the process. It has been critical for me to hear the stories of my peers both in and out of the official dialogue space. In addition to allowing me to deepen relationships, this has allowed me to widen my perspective of the different truths which people who live in and out of this region experience. Throughout the hardships and traumas which we discover here at the Institute, we are building deep channels of support and comfort to face the challenging realities which we face. 

Moreover, as one of very few religious students on the program, it has been so important for me to both share my lifestyle with others and connect with Muslim peers. On a recent trip to an Arab village in the Negev, one of my Muslim friends invited me to pray with him at the local Mosque during the fajr services at the crack of dawn. It has been so spiritually moving for me to be able to connect with others in this realm, simultaneously while being surrounded by the uplifting atmosphere of the still and vast Arava desert.

I must express again how grateful I am to have had this experience so far. It has been such a unique experience for an American university student. In a time in which our world is being plagued by toxic, extremist ideological battles, it has been so critical for me to hear the real-life stories of those experiencing this conflict. I have come to understand how critical social and environmental change are for our ever-changing reality, and how we need to ground such work in the nuances which our world includes. I will forever cherish the time I have spent here. I hope that this semester is only the beginning of engagement in this incredibly critical, meaningful, and complex work.

May we see more peaceful and sustainable times.

About the Author
Davi Frank is a junior at Princeton University studying Near Eastern Studies with minors in Environmental Studies and Religion. He founded and co-led the Adamah on Campus Chapter at Princeton for two years. In that role, he helped create meaningful events on campus, including a Jewish Learning Fellowship centered around Jewish ethics during a time of climate change, reverse tashlich events to cleanup nearby streams, and an environmentally themed Shabbat including a panel of activists, clergy, and professors in the field of environmental ethics and protection.

The post A Semester at the Arava Institute appeared first on Adamah.

Read the full interview below!

Urban Dor: Tell us about what you like about the Greater Hartford Jewish community and when did you first hear about Urban Dor?

Shaina: I love seeing the growth of the community here. Even since moving a year and a half ago, I have already seen an increase in the quantity of events offered and in the number of people being reached. I am excited to see the ways the community will continue to meet this demand with more programming and engagement in months and years to come! I first heard about Urban Dor through the local young Jewish adult WhatsApp group; my first Urban Dor event was the Wine & Cheese Social at The Crown!

Urban Dor: We love that you jumped into the Greater Hartford Jewish community headfirst and started a new group for Jewish women, tell us about your first event and where you envision it going?

Shaina: When I was in college at George Washington University in DC, I was the co-founder of a Jewish sorority, so I feel like a lot of my inspiration came from the joy of that community and group brought me. There is something so special about having a space and ritual just for women. Throughout the last year or so, I have mentioned this idea to some people at events, with lots of reciprocated enthusiasm, so finally I decided to make it happen! Our first event was supported by The Greater Hartford Jewish Federation and took place on Rosh Chodesh Shevat. We discussed what Rosh Chodesh is and how it became a woman’s holiday, did a text study about Shevat, specifically into the ideas of people planting roots and growing, like trees, in the spirit of Tu B’Shevat. In that same Tu B’Shevat spirit, we snacked on some dried fruit and nuts and made tree collages out of recycled magazines. All of this was grounded in a deep sense of connection and community-building. We already have our next event planned, hosted by another community member! Feel welcome to join the WhatsApp group.

Urban Dor: We are so inspired by your love for the planet and infusing Jewish principles through it. What are ways for people to get involved with Jewish sustainability?

Shaina: I work full-time for an organization called, Adamah. At Adamah, we work to cultivate vibrant Jewish life in deep connection with the earth and help people understand the connection between “people and planet,” “Adam and Adamah.” Adamah has opportunities for people of all ages. Specific to our community, are things happening at our nearby Retreat Center, Isabella Freedman. Whether it be with our organization, or just reflecting on the ways that Judaism’s holidays, history, rituals, and values are connected to environmentalism and climate, there are so many ways to make this more central to your spiritual experience. Whether that be reflecting on the ways Judaism calls on us to be stewards of the planet, emphasizes Bal Tashchit (not wasting) and Tikkun Olam (repairing the world), hosting a vegan Shabbat dinner, calling on your synagogue to commit to taking bold climate action… all of these things are so valuable!

Urban Dor: For Urban Dor’s next event – the Wine & Cheese Social in March 2025 – you will be volunteering with us to make Charcuterie Boards (thank you!) – how did you first get involved with that hobby and are you considering taking it further than a hobby?

Shaina: I have always loved to be creative, and this hobby really just came about randomly when making cheese boards for family and friend events. I realized I was both quite good at it, and also had a lot of fun making them! I also love that it is a way to bring in and support local farmers and their produce (during the right seasons). I plan to continue keeping the hobby pretty lowkey, needing to make time for so many other hobbies and passions, however I am always happy to chat if people have a special request or event and want to chat about the possibility of me making a board for them! I love getting to customize based on preferences – I have made mediterranean-themed boards, dessert boards, so many other variations!

Urban Dor: What do you enjoy doing in your down time in Greater Hartford?

Shaina: In the warmer months, I am a big outdoors gal, always on a walk or hike somewhere, one of my favorites is Talcott Mountain. I also love exploring new coffee shops and restaurants, some of my favorites are Birdhouse Coffee in South Windsor and Sayulita in Glastonbury!

Want to connect further with Shaina? Email her at shaymorrel@gmail.com.

Article by Simon Lichter.

The post Spotlight: Shaina Morrel appeared first on Adamah.

by Sam Sobel

February 12, 2025 

Hello, reader! In case you missed the previous Baltimore Environmental Sustainability Network blogs, allow me to introduce myself. My name is Sam Sobel, and I’m the Baltimore climate action coordinator for Adamah.

The BESN is a collection of Jewish organizations and individuals working to promote a more sustainable Jewish Baltimore. This network is a partnership between The Associated and Adamah, initiated by Mark Smolarz and guided by the leadership of Rabbi Nina Beth Cardin.

While the BESN focuses on community collaboration, I also work with local Jewish organizations on their own climate efforts through Adamah’s national Jewish Climate Leadership Coalition. Open to any Jewish nonprofit at no cost, the Coalition is made up of community organizations that recognize the existential threat and moral urgency of climate change.

There is only one requirement for Coalition members — to submit a Climate Action Plan once a year in time for Tu B’Shvat, the Jewish new year of trees that starts this year at sundown on Wednesday, Feb. 12

An organization’s CAP details actions taken over the past year while setting goals for the coming year. More than 400 organizations internationally — primarily based in the United States and Canada — have joined the Coalition since its inception in September of 2022. Last Tu B’Shevat, there were eight Coalition members in Baltimore. By Tu B’Shevat this year, Baltimore can proudly claim 21 Coalition members.

The Coalition Climate Action Plan is broken down into a variety of categories focused on expanding impact and the path toward net-zero greenhouse gas emissions. While members are asked to share their progress in all categories, organizations often excel in one category more than the others. These strengths are apparent in our own community and are worthy of being spotlighted.

Energy Efficiency

The energy efficiency section of the CAP asks, “What steps have you taken and/or are you going to take to reduce energy use at your facilities?”

To begin to answer this question, an energy audit is often a useful first step. Several Coalition members in our community have gone through this process in the past year, including Baltimore Hebrew Congregation. The audit assessed the age and condition of all mechanical and other systems, and provided a list of energy conservation measure recommendations, which BHC plans to prioritize for implementation.

Having all-electric efficient equipment is a cornerstone for becoming a net-zero emissions building, a fact reflected in the opportunities of Adamah’s Climate Action Fund. One of these opportunities is the North American Climate Grant Fund, which has provided matching grants for projects that involve sourcing clean electricity, going electric and energy efficiency.

The Edward A. Myerberg Center in Northwest Baltimore was recognized for its climate goals with a grant award to replace its nearly four-decade-old refrigerator with a new and efficient model. When hearing about the Myerberg Center receiving this grant, one community member was inspired to donate a new freezer to complete the efficient set.

The Myerberg Center kitchen is far from complete however, as they plan to replace their ice machine and gas oven as well with efficient electric models, and share their experiences and the climate impact of their actions.

Fuel Switching to Electric Appliances

The goal of all-electric efficient appliances often requires switching over from fossil fuel-powered appliances to electric powered appliances. The Associated is engaging with this process by conducting a comprehensive inventory of fossil fuel-dependent equipment and infrastructure across their 19 buildings.

By carefully mapping out the natural replacement cycles of appliances, equipment, and vehicles, The Associated is creating a strategic roadmap for transitioning to electric alternatives. This methodical approach ensures both environmental and financial sustainability, setting an example for how organizations can make systematic progress toward climate goals.

Food We Serve

There are many intentional food choices that can be made to reflect a more sustainable way of eating. For Chizuk Amuno Congregation in Pikesville, a new grant from the Center for Jewish Food Ethics will allow them to model sustainable food choices for their community.

The synagogue and school will move toward more plant-based foods, starting with school lunches. To start, each Friday the meal is plant-based, with no meat or dairy. A caring committee of teachers, parents and synagogue members is brainstorming ways to help bring more plant-based options to other parts of programming, whether it’s the kiddush after services, meals and treats for the faculty and Shabbat/community dinners.

Food We Waste

As highlighted in a previous Jmore blog, food donation is a meaningful method of limiting food waste while also benefiting the community. When possible, the Towson University Hillel works with “The Hub,” the campus food resource organization. Through this partnership, Towson University Hillel aims to ensure that students in need have access to their food surplus, whether or not they are a part of the Hillel community.

Nature-Based Solutions

Nature-based solutions encompass climate action in natural spaces, such as lawns, forests, waterways and more. With 180 acres of land at the Pearlstone campus in Reisterstown, nature-based solutions are a priority.

This past year alone, 70 very rare Giant River Canen Arundinaria Gigantea — which used to be a major part of Maryland’s ecosystems but now are entirely gone — were planted onsite. Fourteen were also donated to other nurseries in the community to restore the species’ presence in the state.

But an organization doesn’t need to have a sprawling campus to make a difference with nature-based solutions. At Pikesville’s Beth Tfiloh Congregation, a stream restoration project in partnership with the Environmental Protection Agency began in 2019.

The restoration of the Moores Branch runoff adjacent to Beth Tfiloh’s property has focused largely on future resiliency, installing components to protect from future erosion. In addition, a new footpath through the area was built so that anyone using the path as a shortcut for services would be gently steered onto a trail rather than disturbing the natural vegetation.

Education & Nature Connection

A central focus for many organizations is engaging communities through programming, celebrations and learning moments connecting people to the Earth, educating them about climate change and inspiring collective action

The Owings Mills Jewish Community Center exemplifies this approach with its pending grant proposal to create an educational nature trail featuring artwork highlighting native species. The project has actively sought community input throughout its development.

While this initiative represents a permanent installation, impactful environmental education can also occur through special events. One example is Chevrei Tzedek Synagogue’s upcoming “Green Mitzvathon” at The Myerberg Center (3101 Fallstaff Road).

This weekend-long event on May 2-4 will explore the Jewish principle of Earth stewardship (shmirat ha-adamah) while offering practical guidance for environmental action. Activities will include nature walks, services, plant-based meals and an environmental fair featuring educational demonstrations and eco-friendly vendors.

The 21 current Coalition members in Baltimore are deeply connected to our community, and the impact of their actions resonates far and wide. This is work to be proud of, and it’s only just beginning. Let us keep this important work up, growing and learning in our community climate solutions.

May we have peace on a healthy Earth. And go Orioles!

Feel free to reach out to Sam Sobel and the BESN at besn@associated.org. For questions about the Jewish Climate Leadership Coalition, reach out to Sam at sam.sobel@adamah.org

The next BESN event, which will be open to all, will be on food waste prevention. Learn how to help the climate, your budget and the goal of greater sustainability at our food waste prevention gathering on Tuesday, Mar. 25 from 5-6:30 p.m. at the Myerberg Center, 3101 Fallstaff Road. Register here.

The post JMORE – Tu B’Shvat Climate Action appeared first on Adamah.

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).

The post UCLA Hillel appeared first on Adamah.

Kol Yisrael Areivim Zeh Bazeh. We are all responsible for one another.

Adamah family,

As our Los Angeles community suffers devastating loss, we wanted to check in with you, as you, your family, and your friends are in our thoughts with the fire and evacuations. You are not alone in this; we at Adamah are here to support you.  

Working in Adamah’s Youth Empowerment Division, I’ve witnessed the resilience of young Jewish climate activists in our LA community and their passion for our environment. 

As I come to tears writing this, I am certain that we will return from this stronger, more prepared, and grateful for our ability to overcome adversity in these stressful times.  We alone aren’t responsible for the climate crisis, and together we can be instrumental in being part of the solution. I know our community will take time to heal and recover from this devastating fire, and it is important you know we are here to support you.   

May your strength shine through, 

Marissa Fink
Adamah on Campus California Coordinator

We are committed to building up our LA staff and programming in the months and years to come, helping engage, inspire, and mobilize vibrant Jewish life in deep connection with the earth, for our people and our planet—so that whenever these crises strike, together we know we will pull through. 

-Jakir Manela, Adamah CEO

The post Supporting our LA community appeared first on Adamah.

Shamati trains and activates educators to support teens and college students leading climate work, and to build resilience in the face of climate emotions.

In September, Adamah launched Shamati, thanks to the tremendous support of the Covenant Foundation. Shamati, meaning “I have heard,” is a program designed to provide Jewish educators with tools to support young people grappling with climate change. We piloted the Shamati Educators Cohort, convening twenty-six Jewish educators (of middle, high school, and college students across North America) for six online sessions.

…

Although I joined Shamati because I wanted to explore how environmental protection appears in Jewish texts, I did not expect to see the Torah portion from my bat mitzvah, B’har, during one of our sessions. This portion (Leviticus 25:2-5) talks about the importance of giving a year of rest to a person’s land every six years. I’d never fully understood this portion’s relevance to our modern lives, but reexamining this text through Shamati made everything appear obvious: everything needs rest. When the earth, like us, does not rest, it is weakened, placed into a vulnerable state. It suddenly made much more sense to me that our emotions regarding the climate reflect the conditions of nature. I learned so much about recentering myself with the earth, and feeling both the pain of the earth and its constant need to recenter itself through small acts of self-care.

Yoshi Silverstein’s session particularly spoke to me. He introduced us to “Seven Dimension Cosmology for Embodied Jewish Resilience,” a practice from his Mitsui Collective. Examining the seasons, cardinal points, moon cycle, and time of day as representative of the emotions of a group was so fascinating. I couldn’t get his lesson out of my head after we concluded our Zoom. After considering the relationship between noon (tzahar), summer (kayitz), and south (darom), it feels impossible to ever disassociate the concepts. Although I am still working through the relationship between my emotions and the Seven Dimension Cosmology, I loved learning about a part of Judaism which was so new to me.

In addition to the connection between the earth and our bodies, I found the history of antisemitism and the fossil fuel industries relevant to our current political climate and the blaming of Jewish people for many of the world’s problems. Our sessions on eco-futurism and the psychology of crisis also stood out to me as essential for understanding the true extent of the harm we are facing as the climate degrades. From these sessions, and the rest of Shamati, I would highly recommend anyone with even the slightest feelings about climate change to take this course.

At Brown RISD Hillel, my students are incredibly focused on taking action. They are actively working on campaigns to encourage voting in the national election, and lean towards rallies and protests to address climate change. These are fantastic methods to raise awareness, but learning about the psychology of the climate crisis and its potentially devastating effects, especially on young people, inspired me to integrate personal resilience into my activities with students. During a coffee chat, a student involved in Adamah on Campus mentioned to me that he tries to avoid thinking about the crisis altogether, as it is too overwhelming. As the results of the presidential election are intrinsically linked to the future of America’s policies on climate change, I plan to host a “wellness day” at our Hillel to give students an outlet on Election Day.

We will have bagels, snacks, and art stations set up around Hillel to provide a source of self-care. I’m hopeful that creating forms of art as creative resistance to feelings of anxiety will become a practice I can further utilize at future Adamah events and at general activities on campus.

Adelaide Gordon
Springboard Fellow, Brown RISD Hillel

The post Psychology of the Climate Crisis appeared first on Adamah.

Shamati trains and activates educators to support teens and college students leading climate work, and to build resilience in the face of climate emotions.

In September, Adamah launched Shamati, thanks to the tremendous support of the Covenant Foundation. Shamati, meaning “I have heard,” is a program designed to provide Jewish educators with tools to support young people grappling with climate change. We piloted the Shamati Educators Cohort, convening twenty-six Jewish educators (of middle, high school, and college students across North America) for six online sessions.

…

Our understanding of climate emotion is still growing. We are so far behind the curve, and until now, we haven’t done a good job of showing that we care. That’s why it is incredibly important for us to take every opportunity to tell students that we hear them, and that we know this is real. If we can do that, instead of triggering seclusion and anxiety, climate emotions can become a new touchpoint for students to engage. We may have only met a few of them, but the students who are feeling deeply about climate change are out there, and they are seeking. They are looking for signs that it is safe to come talk about their feelings. Shamati is teaching me how I can become the resource that they find.

Shamati has been a great opportunity for me to learn different frameworks for understanding young people’s climate concerns and guiding them towards effective change – of themselves and the world they live in. Being in a cohort of other professionals who are just starting to do this work, and hearing from experienced educators who have been doing the work for a long time, has helped me to feel more confident that I can make a positive difference in the lives of young
people who are struggling.

A major throughline that permeates is how explicating our individual and collective stories can set us up to feel empowered instead of helpless. Because of this training, I have new tools for helping students to work through their own stories as they pave their own path to effective action.

At Stanford, students are looking for support, but they need to feel that it is right for them. Now our Hillel is a place where they can come and find a listening ear that takes them seriously and is ready to help them in the way that is best for their continued growth. Any Hillel wellness professional would find in the Shamati Initiative a wealth of resources for engaging with and programming for college students.

Rabbi Eli Weinbach
Rabbi and Director of Student Well-Being, Stanford Hillel

The post Empowering Our Students appeared first on Adamah.

Every autumn, I find myself reveling in the beauty of the fall colors. As days shorten and temperature cools, chlorophyll production in the leaves slows to a stop. This breakdown unmasks other pigments that have been hidden beneath the chlorophyll’s green. These carotenoids and anthocyanins reveal yellow, orange, red and purple hues in the fall foliage.

When thinking about this natural process and the elegance of the trees, I am reminded of a quote from the Torah. In this passage, God instructed Israelites not to destroy fruit trees when conquering cities, “for man is a tree of the field”. His reasoning emphasizes the connection between humans and the environment, hinting at the intrinsic value of all life. 

I began wondering about God’s view of sustainability, and as I delved deeper into Biblical texts, I quickly discovered that this commandment is one of many sustainable practices sprinkled throughout the Torah.

Seder Zeraim (seeds) is an entire section of Mishna, which contains 74 chapters, dedicated to agricultural practices. Seder Zeraim outlines farming and agricultural processes that include leaving parts of the field to the poor and the practice of Shemitah. 

It was stated in the Torah, “Six years you shall sow your land and gather in its produce, but in the seventh year you shall let it rest and lie fallow.” God commanded giving the land a year to rest, a common sustainable agricultural practice known as “fallowing.” This practice helps the earth renew and to help us restore our connection to God and to the environment.

Beyond many nature related Halachot (laws), the Kabbalistic “Tree of Life” focuses on living spiritually and cultivating our metaphorical “branches” with good deeds. Our connection to trees and other forms of life are repeatedly referenced in Jewish texts and traditions. 

Today we are faced with what many call “sustainababble.” Greenwashing and corporate deception confuse consumers into thinking their choices are good for the environment. Carbon offsets allow companies to harm local communities and to project misleading estimates of climate impact, solving one problem while creating another. Too many of us have forgotten that “man is a tree of the field,” that we are part of the land and that we must protect it.

Adamah, the largest Jewish environmental organization in North America, believes in the deep connection between people and the planet; Adam, the first person created, and Adamah, the Hebrew word for “ground.” Adamah exists on campus to lead students to a greener future through Jewish environmentalism. Adamah aims to uncover the hidden roots of sustainability throughout the Torah, and hopes to inspire change and to promote spiritual connections to the environment. 

Just as the chlorophyll production in our surrounding foliage slows and the Shemitah laws command us to let our crops rest and renew, we must slow down and do the same. As we reconnect to nature and adapt to the changing seasons, we too reveal new colors. Our green might fade, but our yellow, orange, red or purple emerge. Each of our Trees of Life form new and beautiful branches. When we remind ourselves of the vital connection between Adam and Adamah, when we fallow and rest, we become our most sustainable selves. We become like “a tree of the field.”

The post Adam and Adamah appeared first on Adamah.

The world looks very different today than it did back in August 2023. In the wake of increasing climate disasters and anti-Semitism, as well as the continued heartbreaking war, Adamah has been supporting young Jews through its two youth empowerment programs: Jewish Youth Climate Movement (JYCM) and Adamah on Campus.

These programs empower middle, high school, and college students nationwide to lead on Jewish environmental education and climate action, integrating meaningful opportunities for nature-connection, community-building, and leadership development. Through Adamah’s youth empowerment programs, we are building a joyful and resilient generation of Jewish environmental leaders. This year’s highlights are captured below. We are working across differences (religious, political, socioeconomic, to name a few), and bridgebuilding to grow a healthier, more sustainable, and equitable world for all.

And our youth empowerment work is growing and evolving! Thanks to the generous support of the Covenant Foundation, we are launching a new initiative called Shamati (which means “I have heard”). Shamati will equip Jewish educators with the resources and networks necessary to support their youth who are grappling with climate anxiety and channel their grief into collective action.

Please consider supporting this meaningful, joyful, and timely work.

Shabbat Shalom,

Liana Rothman
Youth Empowerment Director

Donate Today

Adamah on Campus Year in Review

Adamah on Campus launched at the start of the 2023-2024 academic year.

As a member of Adamah on Campus, it was really meaningful for me to participate in organizing Reclaim Earth Day. I got my start to climate activism through the Jewish Youth Climate Movement, and that experience was monumental in my development as an organizer. Especially because Reclaim Earth Day fell on Passover, I appreciated the chance to consider Jewish themes of renewal and change in the context of the current Reclaim Earth Day movement.

Anna, Adamah on Campus student leader at Brown

In our first year, we:

Launched 16 Adamah on Campus chapters (and connected with 100+ campuses in total!)

Nurtured 50 Adamah on Campus chapter leaders

Engaged over 1500 students through 50+ chapter-led programs

Supported 15 Hillels in climate action planning through Adamah’s Jewish Climate Leadership Coalition

JYCM Year in Review

My favorite parts of the time we spend together as a [Jewish Youth Climate] Movement are the times we get to build a strong community. When we sing together during Shabbat, pray together in the morning and take time to acknowledge the land and people around us, we build connections that strengthen our movement and inspire us to mobilize each other!

Leila, 11th grade, Middlebury, VT​​​​​

Our impact this year:

We have grown from 52 to 70 Kvutzot (chapters) since August 2023

We held our first Northeast JYCM Climate Action and Education Retreat at the Isabella Freedman Jewish Retreat Center

We piloted and launched the Kvutzah Leaders Fellowship

Our Tu B’Shvat Climate Justice Haggadah was used by over 150 Jewish communities

We held numerous Days of Climate Education and Action coast to coast

Our Kvutzot reached thousands of community members nationwide

The post Adamah is empowering the next generation of leaders appeared first on Adamah.

Adamah on Campus will support Jewish college students nationwide through leadership development, mentorship, and a national peer network of support.

Many thanks to our partners at Hillel International for their support on this new initiative, and to our allies at Dayenu for their partnership as well. Most importantly, here’s to all the amazing young Jewish college students out there leading this work by co-founding our Adamah Campus Student Leadership Board and by launching the first Adamah Campus chapters across the country.

I am so inspired by these young leaders, and by the powerful trajectory we are building for Youth Empowerment and Leadership Development, starting with the Jewish Youth Climate Movement (JYCM) and now Adamah on Campus, and linking to our life-changing post-college fellowship programs for Teva educators and Adamah farmers. This is what movement-building looks like!

Our goal for this school year is to launch over 20 Adamah Campus chapters nationwide engaging and supporting Jewish college students. You can help! Please help us spread the word to Jewish college students and Hillels in your network; let’s grow this powerful movement together.

The Origins of Adamah on Campus

In the wake of increasing climate disasters and anti-Semitism, young Jews intimately feel the anxieties and challenges of growing up in a world rife with injustice and an uncertain future.

Over the past few years, our Jewish Youth Climate Movement (JYCM) program has blossomed in response to this challenge; today JYCM is the core of Adamah’s burgeoning Youth Empowerment movement, engaging thousands of high school and middle school students through 58 chapters all across the country!

Last summer, ten JYCM alumni—now college students—met with Jakir Manela at Pearlstone during a JYCM Leadership Board retreat, and advocated for us to take the next step by launching a campus network that builds upon the strength and momentum of JYCM. Just one year later, we’re making it happen together!

During last year’s pilot year, Adamah Campus Student Leaders helped organize a Farm-based Alternative Spring Break at Pearlstone, climate justice Tu Bishvat seders, Eco-Shabbat experiences, and participated in a Global Jewish Youth Leadership Delegation to COP27 in Egypt.

Kol Hakavod (well done!) to our Adamah Campus Chapter at Brown University, where student leaders were honored with the Tzedek Award by Brown RISD Hillel in recognition of their awesome impact on the campus community.

The post Announcing the Launch of Adamah on Campus appeared first on Adamah.

What a year! In less than two weeks our merger will be legally official, so I’m reflecting these days on our past, present, and future.

A real highlight of this year for me was traveling to COP27 in Egypt with ten campus leaders of the Jewish Youth Climate Movement and ten Israeli youth leaders from Nitzana, an educational youth village in Israel’s Negev desert. Special thanks to JAFI and other investors for your support. These JYCM leaders are now speaking about their COP27 experience at events nationwide, and poised to grow our campus impact moving forward. So how do we maximize more youth leadership opportunities? And how can our COP28 delegation be an even greater catalyst for culture change and systemic change?

Another highlight came just a few days ago, when my family and I traveled to Isabella Freedman Jewish Retreat Center for the Adva Reunion. My wife and I met at Isabella Freedman almost 20 years ago when she did the Adamah fellowship and I was a Teva educator, so we were overjoyed to reunite with over 140 Teva and Adamah alumni and their partners, spouses, and children.

There are now almost 1,000 Adva alumni doing amazing things all across the country—as are alumni from Pearlstone, Eden Village, Urban Adamah, Wilderness Torah, GrowTorah, and other JOFEE programs who collectively embody a rapidly growing new generation of American Jewish leaders with profound potential.

How do we make the most of this incredible potential, for the Jewish world and beyond?

The Jewish Youth Climate Movement is definitely on its way to actualizing its potential, growing nationwide in leaps and bounds, and starting to emerge on college campuses as well. And the Jewish Climate Leadership Coalition is on its way too, already engaging over 145 member organizations committed to climate action and working with our Action team to form communities of practice and create and implement meaningful climate action plans across the Jewish world. Our momentum is palpable, and we are thrilled to announce that in 2023 we will be launching our second Community Impact Hub in Southern California! Stay tuned for more information on our broader Impact Hub Strategy in the months ahead.

How do we capture this momentum AND strengthen our core at the same time? Our two core impact campuses are navigating post-pandemic recoveries at Pearlstone and Isabella Freedman, and our model Community Impact Hub in Detroit is also rebuilding with an awesome team and new multiyear vision. Far-reaching pandemic impacts and ongoing inflation create intense financial pressure on all our teammates, operations, and organizational activities. We have an amazing team confronting awesome opportunities alongside daunting challenges.

In a few days, on Shabbat Chanukah, we’ll be celebrating the bar mitzvah of our second-oldest son, Shama Nissim. There is nothing like the feeling of lighting Chanukah candles together as a family, with friends, and in community; and there is nothing like seeing a child step up and into their voice as a nascent young adult facing a strange new world. The cycles of life are real, and so is the power of community. We can find the strength to hold our children with love, to be real with them about the challenges we and they face. And we can also light candles together, and show them that there is no match for the light we shine in the darkness, together.

We need each other. So let’s come together to build the Jewish community and the world we believe in.

Sending you all love and light.

Happy Chanukah!

With so much gratitude for your support,

Jakir Manela

Chief Executive Officer

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