Director's Report January 16th - 28th, 2010

• On Tuesday, January 18th, the Heschel Center and the Arava Institute held a workshop in Tel Aviv on "Food Sustainablility in Israel".  Over 80 people attended the workshop which was an extension of the "Food for Thought Conference" held in the fall  2009.  Since the conference, the Heschel Center and the Arava Institute have been working to create a coalition of non-governmental organizations to promote a more sustainable food system in Israel. The coalition includes environmental organizations, organizations that work on food security and organizations concerned with food and health issues.  The workshp held on Tuesday was the first in a series of meetings, workshops and conference planned for the coming year.  The speakers at the workshop included, Dr. Jeremy Benstein, from the Heschel Center, PhD candidate, Ami Ettinger, one of Israel's experts on food sustainability and an Arava Institute alum, Miki Lipshitz, Director of the "My Love of the Land" Organization of the Center for Regional Councils and Dr. Uri Gordon, a faculty member at the Arava Institute who presented the report on the current status of sustainability in the Israeli food chain. Food Sustainability in Israel Report
• The JNF Parsons Water Fund -Arava Institute tour was a great success. The group appreciated a range of site visits to the, King Abdallah Canal, Shamir Drill, Al Oja village, Jerusalem and Beer Sheva River. The packed schedule also included official meetings with: Red Sea-Dead Sea consultants, Mekorort water representatives, researchers from  the National Energy Research Centre of Jordan and a dinner at the Israeli Ambassador's house in Jordan, which was attended by the American Ambassador and former Jordanian ministers. A particular highlight was the final dinner with Uri Shani, Israel's current Water Commissioner, whose wealth of knowledge of the regional water situation and candid approach was very well received. The group was dynamic-- interested and committed to finding partnerships, spurred by impressive generosity,  and keen to find viable ways to work throughout the region.



JNF Parsons Water Tour at Israeli Amabassador's house

• Member of the Israeli Parliament (Knesset) Dov Hanin, invited Vered Balan, the Heschel Center Project Coordinator for the joint Arava Institute Heschel Center Sustainable Food Initiative andy myself to appear before the Environment Committee of the Knesset to participate in a discussion about food sustainability in Israel. The first item of business on the agenda was a presentation of a report on trace levels of insecticide and pesticides found in fruits and vegetables that reach the Israeli marketplace and therefore Israeli homes.  The impressive report was presented by Shiri Bass Spector, who works for the Research and Information Center of the Knesset.  After Shiri spoke, Vered gave a ten minute presentation on the issue of food sustainability in Israel and the vision statement of the Arava Institute Heschel Center initiative.  Shiri was seated on my left and Vered on my right and when it was my turn to speak, I simply said that I am the Executive Director of the Arava Institute and if anyone wants to know what the Arava Institute does, I will point out that Shiri Spector Bass and Vered Balan are both graduates of the institute and say no more.  This brought out a number of smiles and a laugh or two from the audience but mostly a great sense of pride from me.

• The fall semester 2010 came to a sad but sweet end last week.  Their final weeks were spent studying hard for exams.  In between exams the campus life team organized numerous surprise parties for students who had to leave early.  The Campus Life Team also provided a midnight breakfast in order to allow a break from studying.  The students paid one last visit to the Sudanese children in Eilat where the students played football and made pompoms and had one last amazing potluck dinner on campus.  A final Peace Building and Environmental Leadership Seminar session was held which brought closure to the multi-cultural experiences of the semester.  Students offered blessings to one another and talked about how they had personally changed during the semester.  A very successful final party was held two days before the students left.  The theme was "Under the Sea" and the students received certificates of completion, funny awards, and year books to start things off.  Then there were multiple skits by students and staff including a wonderfully choreographed staff dance to the song "Under The Sea."  The students and staff danced the night away.  On the final day as students were about to leave they organized themselves into an AIES sign on the grass out of their bodies.  This was an amazing group of students and we wish them luck in the future!  

David Lehrer