Weekly Report August 23rd-28th, 2009

This is my first posting of the Director’s Blog. I hope to post a weekly update on what is happening at the Arava Institute on the blog.
This was certainly an exciting week:
· At the beginning of the week, the institute was fortunate enough to welcome back Rabbi Michael Cohen and Alison Hill who will be spending a half year sabbatical working at the institute. Rabbi Michael will be working on fundraising, recruitment, strengthening ties with the US Embassy and teaching a class. Alison will be working in the Academic Department helping Cathie with Admissions.
· On Tuesday, I was invited to attend a luncheon at the King David Hotel in Jerusalem for “the Elders” – a group of elder statesmen and stateswomen which was formed by Nelson Mandela to promote peace and conflict resolution around the world. “The Elders” activities are funded by Sir Richard Branson of Virgin Airlines and Jeffrey Skoll, the first President of e-bay. The delegation that came to Israel this time included President Jimmy Carter and the Reverend Desmond Tutu. I was able to sit next to Jeffrey Skoll who now runs the Skoll Foundation and a movie production company. Jeffrey and I had a great conversation and I am trying to follow up with a meeting.
· On Thursday, the German technology giant, Siemens signed an agreement with the Arava Power Company (APC) to invest $15 million for 40% of the company. APC was founded by Kibbutz Ketura, Yosef Abromivitz and our own Rabbi Michael as Israel’s leading PV solar energy provider. APC’s first PV solar field will be on 20 acres of land just south of the Arava Institute’s offices and future campus. The company’s estimated worth is now about $37 million and the Arava Institute owns 1%.
· This week began Ramadan, the month long period of fasting for the Moslem world. Tareq Abu Hamed, the Director of the Center for Renewable Energy and his wife Sukina are fasting along with the rest of their faith. Tareq comes to work every day of course but tries to steer clear of the kitchen. We wish Tareq and all of our Moslem friends – Ramadan Kareem.