Annual Reports
Teva Ivri – 2010 Summary of Activities
During 2010 Teva Ivri has established itself as a leading NGO in the field of Environment and Jewish Identity
• Shabbat Brit-Olam (Universal Union Shabbat : Shabbat parashat Noah) has become a tradition. Dozens of communities and synagogues marked Shabbat Noah from a Jewish-Environmental perspective. The central event "Flood Ahead" took place in Jerusalem, as a street festival.
• "Hiburim" (Connections) : a leadership program conducted in Amit education institutions. As part of the program young leaders participated in various environmental activities. The height of the program was the submission of an Environmental Petition to the Minister of Environmental Protection. As members of the generations to come, the students submitting the Petition committed to protecting the environment.
• Teva Ivri has become the leading NGO for Jewish-environmental issues. Our representatives take part in several steering committees on environment, Jewish renewal and Jewish peoplehood.
• Teva Ivri lead 3 leadership programs, and created relevant contacts for additional programs to be held next year (2011).
• Teva Ivri has grown from 3 to 5 staff members. Michal Bergman has joined as content writer; Keren Fite has joined as Resource Development Coordinator.
We would like to use this opportunity to thank our staff members for their contribution to our success: Hila Zinger, who is responsible for promoting projects; Hadas Yelenick, who is responsible for various projects in Jerusalem; Michal Bergman, who is writing excellent content; and Keren Fite, who has taken charge of organizing our work programs, planning, fundraising and resource development.
Detailed Overview of Teva Ivri's Activities During 2010 :
1. Jewish Environmental Education
a. In addition to "Hiburim" (Connections), during 2010-11Teva Ivri will be leading "Connecting to Time and Place"- an educational program for kindergarten educators promoting "Green Gardens" and providing content for "Green Activities" that is connected to the Jewish yearly cycle and the kindergarten's environment. Teva Ivri is leading 2 pilot programs, one in the Golan Heights (60 hours), the other in the Galilee (28 hours), with a plan for nation-wide dissemination during 2012-2015.
b. "Jewish Sustainability" is a similar program aimed to primary school teachers.
c. Teva Ivri continues to lead Environmental Beit-Midrash around Israel, and create relevant content and educational programs around these subjects.
2. Shabbat Brit-Olam – Shabbat Parashat Noah: an initiative begun in 2009 that has developed into a tradition that motivates taking a Jewish environmental responsibility in various communities, synagogues educational and environmental institutions. The central event "Flood Ahead" was held in Jerusalem and attracted thousands of participants.
3. Environmental Communities Program: Teva Ivri holds a variety of Environmental Communities Programs that focus on various ways to promote Jewish environmental responsibility. In 2010 we had 3 such programs:
a. "Jewish Identity, Social Justice and Sustainability" for managers of community centers.
b. Study Group on Judaism and Sustainability for local environmental leaders in Jerusalem region, in collaboration with Elul.
c. Jewish Environmental Leaders in synagogues and communities around Jerusalem.
4. Green Synagogue and Green Community: a project promoting sustainability in synagogues. During 2010 Teva Ivri has initiated:
a. A public call for green synagogues and green activism in religious communities published by Rabbi Yuval Sherlo. This public call has received extensive media coverage.
b. A meeting with "Tzohar" as part of the "Feel at Home" Program promoting sustainability in synagogues around Tu Bishvat
c. A joint call with several City Unions calling for "Ecological Kiddush" during Shabbat Noah.
5. Israeli Sustainability Conference: 2010 conference "Community and Place" focused on the interrelation between a community and its physical setting. About 150 Jewish environment activists and leader participated in the conference.
6. Teva Ivri's Online Resource Center: Teva Ivri's internet site www.tevaivri.org.il is the only Online Resource Center in Hebrew that connects Jewish values with environmental issues. Our Resource Center hold articles, leaning pages, various activities for a variety of age groups, and much more. Thanks to a generous donation from The Ministry of Environmental Protection, the internet site is currently undergoing extensive upgrade and is scheduled to go online in February 2011.
7. Publications:
a. Teva Ivri has a regular column called "Shabbat Kaima" (Sustainable Shabbat), members of Teva Ivri are being interviewed and publish Opinion columns in newspapers and internet sites.
b. Teva Ivri is one of the founders of Jewcology, a social network and content sharing on Judaism and the environment.
c. Teva Ivri has published "Ahavat Olam" (Universal Love)- a song booklet for Shabbat. In 2011 we plan to publish a "Community in the Environment" booklet containing suggestions for joint study and environmental activism around Shabbat Noah, Tu Bishvat and Parashat Bahar.
Our Plans for 2011-2015
• To create relevant content that will promote sustainability for "Israeli Culture", an additional subject in Israeli educational system.
• To expand our work with kindergarten and school educators nationwide with "Connecting to Time and Place" and "Jewish Sustainability" programs.
• To further expand activities around Shabbat Noah: to reach out to more communities nation-wide. To hold 2 "Flood Ahead" Festivals: in Jerusalem and in Rehovot in 2011.
• To continue our leadership programs. 2 such programs are planed for 2011: "Food for Thought", on Judaism and Food Ethics to be held in Jerusalem; and Social-Environmental Leaders in Community up north.
• To promote Green Synagogues nation-wide. 2011 will initiate a pilot program in several synagogues as collaboration between Teva Ivri and Tzohar (Rabanic organization).
• To continue to hold an annual conference promoting Jewish environmental values. 2011 conference is planned to discuss and promote Jewish environmental education.
• To continue to update the Online Resource Center and produce quality educational materials.
• To promote collaboration with Jewish communities worldwide. We have contacted Taglit and hope to have fruitful collaborations during 2011.
