Director's Report - Month of February 2011

I apologize to all blog fans but the month of February overwhelmed me with travel and conferences such that I was not able to keep the blog updated. I will try to fill in the month of February and then hopefully get back to a routine of updating at least every two weeks.

• Alumni Conference in Aqaba - Feb 3rd-5th - Over 100 alumni and affiliates of the Arava Institute gathered in Aqaba, Jordan for the annual Arava Alumni Peace and Environmental Network (AAPEN) Conference. In our largest alumni conference to date, an amazing groupof individuals gathered to participate in workshops, see inspiring lectures, communication and planning sessions, alumni-led activities as well as social opportunities, networking, and cultural activities. It was a weekend full of energy and activity which included a lecture by a representative of Engineers Without Borders Palestine who spoke about his experiences working in the environmental field in the Palestinian Authority, small-group “open space” discussions, a “Decision Making and Time Management” workshop with a Jordanian management consultant, an alumni-only communication session which provided the opportunity for more personal connections based on shared experiences between alumni from various years, presentations and discussions on the structure of the alumni network, elections for a new alumni committee, and a keynote speech by T.H. Culhane on his solar energy projects. A number of alumni presented their current work to all conference participants to offer an opportunity for cooperation and collaboration and provide updates from their field and experiences. Amongst those who shared were Gonen Sagy, the coordinator of the Youth and Environmental Educational Peace Initiative (YEEPI) project run by AIES and funded by USAID, Yair Teller on the bio-digester project in Susya, updates on various environmental and peace building projects happening the Jerusalem area, our Jordanian alumni who are working on a project called Green Echo in Jordan, and a team of alumni who initiated the EcoME Centre.In addition to a full schedule the alumni and other conference participants held a Kabbalat Shabbat service, an open prayer session with music, various musical jams, and a dance party as well as many chances to socialize, network, meet new and old friends, and revitalize the feeling of strength and connection between alumni. At the end of the weekend each region (Jordan, Israel and Palestine) elected four representatives to sit on the new AAPEN committee with a chair for each region coming together to form the international committee. The conference ended with a feeling of progress, inspiration, and excitement for all the upcoming events, projects and potential collaborations and partnerships. (Report provided by Lindsey Zemler)

Our alumni having a serious discussion about sustainability in the Middle East

• Trip to the US Feb - 6th -18th - Immediately after the conference, I travelled to the US in order to attend the Friends of the Arava Institue (FAI) Executive Committee meeting hosted by Board members Karen and Barry Fierst in their home in Maryland. The main purpose of the meeting was to finalize the FAI budget, work plan and to interview candidates for the position of FAI Executive Director. The meetings were very successful and the committee has chosen a new Executive Director for FAI, Daniel Schachter from Boston, Mass. In addition to the committee meeting, I also had the opportunity to meet with donors, foundation representatives, political leaders in Boston, NY, Philadelphia, Washington DC and Colorado. I also met with the JNF Board of the Mountain State Region who have raised over $800,000 towards their $ 1 M goal for the new dormitories. I had the opportunity as well to visit Eddie Sperling, our rider who was seriously injured on the 2010 Israel Ride, in the hospital where he was undergoing a procedure.
• Opening of the Spring Semester 2011 -  On Tuesday, February 22nd, a group of 38 students, 4 Palestinians, 9 Jordanians, 13 Israelis, and 12 North Americans, arrived to Kibbutz Ketura and the Arava Institute. Before classes begin, the students have a few days of orientation.  The first evening of orientation, the students and interns participated in some get to know you ice breakers and then the students were officially welcomed by the Arave Institute staff.  The next morning all of the students walked over to Dr. Elaine Soloway’s experimental orchards where she explained that she’s growing trees from Morocco and Jordan to see how they adapt to the climate of the Arava and understand their medicinal value and other traits.. The students then had their first Peace Building and Environmental Leadership Seminar session with Michelle Shachar and Dr. Uri Gordon.  Everyone had the opportunity to learn about one another through different activities. Later in the day, the students went on a hike followed by a Middle Eastern style gathering with the staff and faculty of the institute. On Thursday the students were taken on a regional trip. They went to Kibbutz Naot Smadar where they learned about the art center, saw wood working and got to learn about the construction of the building. The students also went to their organic winery and learned about organic agriculture and cheese production on the kibbutz. The students finished the day by taking a hike to Nachal Kasui pristine landscape above Ketura with sand dunes close to 100 feet high. The students frolicked in the sand for a half hour and then had a very nice lunch on the dunes.  Friday was course registration day. Everything went smoothly for the students. In the evening some students went to Friday night Shabbat services and everyone came to a very nice meal in the kibbutz dining hall.  On Shabbat about half of the students went on a beautiful Shabbat hike in the desert. On Sunday morning classes began. (Report provided by Josh Neiman)
• International Renewable Energy Youth Conference - Feb 20th - 22nd This year, the first International Renewable Energy Youth Conference Competition was held in the Hevel Eilot Region as part of a broad focus on renewable energy and spring board for regional development Thirty two youths participated in the conference: 2 from Jordan, 12 from abroad (France, Germany, Italy, Britain, India, Romania, Latvia, Croatia, Spain, Portugal, Hungary and Serbia) and 16 from Israel. The competition was about creative solutions for energy storage. Participants also toured sustainable projects in the region. The participants stayed at the Keren Kolot Guest House and had the opportunity to visit the Arava Institute, the Research and Visitors Park and hear a lecture from Dr. Tareq Abu Hamed, head of the Arava Institute Center for Renewable Energy.  The competition winners created  a "fly wheel renewable energy storage system.  The atmosphere of the conference was interesting and exciting and introduced the participants to life in the Arava.
• Eilat Eilot Renewable Energy Conference - Feb 22nd - 24th - The fourth annual Eilat Eilot Renewable Energy Conference was held in Eilat at the Herods and Dan Hotel. Over 2,000 people participated in the conference which once again brought together, entrepreneurs, scientists, policy makers and financers to discuss the promotion of renewable energy in the Middle East and the world. The conference began with the opening ceremony of the new Arava Power Company solar field, the first commercial size field to be licensed by the Israeli Electric Company. The APC field is located just south of the new Arava Institute Research and Visitors Park. Throughout the conference, both the new solar field and the Research and Visitors Park were flooded with visitors from high government officials, reporters, developers and other conference participants. On the final day, 4 bus loads of conference participants descended on the park, the field and the institute providing a wonderful opportunity to raise awareness of the institute's academic and research programs.

David Lehrer

Weekly Report, November 7th - 19th, 2010

• Tareq Abu Hamed flew to Northern Cyprus (Turkish Cyprus) on November 7th to spend three days hosted by the Sustainable Environment and Energy Systems (SEES) Graduate Program at the Middle East Technical University, North Cyprus Campus (METU NCC).  The main purpose of the visit was to discuss the possibility of a joint Master's Degree in Renewable Energy with METU NCC. Tareq met with numerous faculty members fo METU NCC including Professor Turgut Tumer, the Campus President.  A number of areas of cooperation were explored including METU students participating in AIES programs, joint programs and joint research.
• On Tuesday, November 9th,I brought three students from the institute (Sara from NJ, Brian from Seattle, and Elham from Amman) to visit Edward Sperling, the injured rider, at Tel Hashomer.  It was my first opportunity to visit Eddie since the night of the accident.  We arrived about an hour before visiting hours so we were able to have lunch in an Aroma Coffee Shop inside the hospital with Micha Sperling, Eddie's son.  Micha told us that Eddie was awake and able to communicate.  The students were grateful for a chance to get to know Micha and also to tell Micha about themselves.  At around 12:00 we went to visit Eddie in the ICU unit.  Visiting hours are from 12:00 to 14:00 (2:00 pm) and only two people at a time can go in at once.  Of course being typical Israelis we initially ignored that rule but were then promptly kicked out.  In any case, we took turns visiting with Eddie. The students had prepared a beautiful folder with pictures of all of the students and each student wrote something personal next to their picture.  Sara, Brian and Elham took turns reading what they and other students wrote.  Eddie's face looks pretty good considering the beating it took.  His eyes are bright and he had an amazing look of satisfaction as the students chatted with him.  In addition to reading the card, the students told Eddie about themselves.   Eddie mouthed some words which the students were able to understand with some difficulty.  I hope that the visit gave Eddie and his family some cheer. It was incredibly important for the students themselves, who recognize the fact that Eddie had been on the ride in order to support the institute.



Brian, Micha (Eddie's son), Elham and Sara

• On Wednesday, November 17th, I spoke to Micha who told me that Edward and his family were flying home. For more updates on Edward and his family, please go to  http://edsperling.wordpress.com/ 
• Tuesday, November 9th, was the first day of the 4 day Negev Field Trip for the students.  Day one of the trip saw the students arrive at Sde Boker to sit in on the second day of the Bi-annual International Desertification Conference. For the Masters students it was also a chance to get a real feel for the place they will call home following the completion of their first year of studies here at AIES. Day two of the trip was that much more crammed, with a number of activities lined up beginning with a hike through Ein Avdat and ending with a homely culinary experience in Yeroham.  Highlighting the issues of waste disposal, environmental justice and social inequity , day three involved a visit to Ramat Hovav municipal waste disposal facility and a visit to the unrecognized Bedouin village of Wadi El Na’am. Appropriately, the night was spent in Bedouin tent accommodation at Khan HaShayarot.  The ride home included a stop in a Tel Sheva, where Mariam, the improbable founder of her very own range of organic herbal health products enlightened the group as to her fight against adversity as a Bedouin women in order to start her own business.
• This Arava Alumni Leadership Jam in collaboration with YES ( www.yesworld.org) brought together a group of 24 diverse AIES alumni from Jordan, Israel, USA, and Palestine for 5 intensive days in the Wadi Ram Desert - Jordan. Participants were diverse in both the year that they studied or interned at the AIES (as far back as 1999!) age, nationality and field of expertise! Being in the quiet of the desert and facilitated by a team of YES and AIES alumni the group was guided through a trans-formative process focusing on the interplay between introspection, lifestyle sustainability and the ability to bring about systemic change in the world. Some of the outcomes were; a deepening and building of authentic relationships between alumni, invigoration of the AAPEN and alumni projects, rejuvenation of body, mind and spirit and time to reflect on the post Arava Experience and its influence on the personal, social and professional realms.

Alumni in Wadi Rum

• On Sunday, November 14th, along with the entire world, the students of the Arava Institute watched "With Earth and With Each Other" the first annual virtual web rally for Peace and the Environment sponsored by the Friends of the Arava Institute (FAI).  The broadcast was a bit choppy at first but by the end the broadcast was smooth and the students, staff and kibbutz members who attended the program were inspired and proud.  Of course much thanks goes the FAI staff members, David Weisberg and Jessica Reed for the incredible effort put into the broadcast.  I also want to thank Yonatan Chesler who oversaw the project at the Arava Institute and Josh Neirman for his technical support.  And of course a special thanks to Mandy Patinkin, Pete Seeger and all of the other artists who made this a unique and special event.
• Monday, November 15th, Deputy Minister Ayoub Kara, from the Ministry of Regional Cooperation and the Ministry of Negev and Galil Development visited the institute. I first met the Deputy Minister at this year's Renewable Energy Conference in Eilat in February. I invited Minister Kara to visit the institute.  The Deputy Minister was accompanied by the Eilot Regional Council Head, Udi Gat.  Three students from the institute met with the Deputy Minister and talked about themselves and their experience at the institute. The Deputy Minister asked a few questions to the students and then staff members raised issues concerning funding from his two ministries as well as issues concerning permits for Palestinians.  The Ministry for Negev and Galil Development has promised funding for the new dorms and the Ministry for Regional Cooperation has promised funding for cross border conferences.  The Deputy Minister expressed a strong interest in helping the institute to promote cross border cooperation.  After the meetings, the Deputy Minister was taken on a tour of the institute's renewable energy research facilities.  
• On Wednesday, November 17th, the students met with the son of a kibbutz member who had been the one to spray paint the anti-Arab slogan on the door of one of the units on the campus of the institute.  Similar to the meeting with Louie, the volunteer who also participated in the incident, the meeting was very moving and refreshing.  Marvin apologized for his actions and talked a bit about his background coming from France where he had experienced anti-Semitism and he also spoke about his experiences in the army.  Marvin said how ashamed he was of his actions and that since the incident he has been torturing himself over it and when he comes home from the army does not leave his house.  The students told Marvin that Ketura is his home and that he should not fear leaving his house.  Many of the students spoke about the impact of the incident on them but most of all they expressed forgiveness and a sincere desire to put the incident behind them.   Raja, a Palestinian from East Jerusalem read the following statement to Marvin:
• "My name is Raja' I am an Arab girl form Jerusalem.  This letter is for you since you live in this kibbutz.  I was not shocked, not even a little bit when I heard about what you did, but I was hurt that this norm in Israel happened here in the Arava Institute, where all these nice Israelis welcomed me as student. Obviously you have no idea why I’m here, but let me tell you that you attacked an Arab group who are here to look at this conflict between us from another perspective, a peaceful one. I hope that you can take this experience back to the Army with you, to turn it into a positive one and not to brag to others that you attacked a peaceful Arab group in your kibbutz."
• Cathie Granit, the Institute's Program Director reminded Marvin, that as a soldier, he is looked up to by the younger kids of the kibbutz and that he needs to be an example.  In an emotional statement, Cathie asked Marvin "To please do the right thing."

David Lehrer

Weekly Report September 24th to October 16th

It has been quite a while since I have been able to update the blog as I have been travelling around the US for the past few weeks.  Michael Edmeston, the Administrative Intern gave me the following report on the first week of the new semester:

• Each semester the arrival of the first ‘batch’ of students at the kibbutz always signals something special for all of us at Arava Institute: a sense that a new horizon awaits to be explored, mixed with a profound appreciation that all the previous years of hard work are what make that horizon possible. This year, it was the arrival of five MASA students (North American Students who are recipients of the Jewish Agency scholarship program MASA) on Tuesday the 28th of September  that signalled the new beginning. A week later, on the 6th of October, the arrival of the other 24 students making up the student body for the fall semester ensured that (despite the stress and panic of the faculty) a breath of hope and excitement filled the Institute.
   
  With the semester officially starting on the 10th of October there was just enough time to provide the students, many of whom it is there first visit to Israel or a kibbutz, a chance to get to know one another and what life might be like for the next four months. Over the last few days numerous orientation activities took place- from the mundane such as registration to the more entertaining such as a tour of neighbouring kibbutz Lotan, kite flying at the nearby Samar sand dunes and an evening social gathering of students, interns and staff at the pool followed by that which makes up the fabric of any great academic institute- a night at the pub. Finally, to top things off and as timing would have it, the day before the first seminars everyone was treated to the unique cultural celebrations synonymous with a bar-mitzvah. Making the event that much more meaningful was the fact that not only was it a bar-mitzvah for twins, but also that the boys were the sons of Sharon Benheim who herself deserves celebration for taking on the powers that be in order for students from all walks of life to be part of the experience.
   
  Indeed, like any other academic institution, the students are the ones that make up the life energy of the Arava Institute. However, the fact that the students congregated here in the beautiful Arava desert in the south of Israel are a mixture of American, Israeli, Jordanian and Palestinian Jews, Arabs and Christians gives a whole new meaning to the idea of student life. For these students the chance to learn, live and celebrate under the same roof for a whole semester while their respective communities remain at political odds offers them more than simply a means of getting ahead in life. It offers them (and the world) a means of learning to get along in life. So, as the fall 2010 semester get underway, we wish all the participating students well as they pursue their respective ambitions, all of which no doubt share the common thread of helping build a more peaceful and environmentally conscious society.

A few highlights from my trip:

• Peace Building and Environmental Stewardship Award Ceremony for Pastor Gerald Durley
  
  On October 6th, the Atlanta Friends of the Arava Institute, led by Board of Trustees member Glenda Minkin held an event to bestow the Arava Peace Building and Environmental Stewardship Award on Pastor Gerald Durley of the Providence Missionary Baptist Church of Atlanta Georgia. Pastor Durley is a well known figure in the Afro-American community in Atlanta. Durley has been a long time civil rights and human rights activist and has recently become very involved in the environmental movement http://pmbcatlanta.org/bios.html. In addition to civil rights and the environment, Pastor Durley has been very active in interfaith community activities in Atlanta. For the past 10 years, the Atlanta religious community has sponsored an interfaith trip called the World Pilgrimage Mission to the Near East and Mediterranean visiting, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Turkey and other countries in the regions concentrating on religious sites that having great meaning to Christians, Moslems and Jews. Many of the leaders of the three religious communities in Atlanta have participated in these pilgrimages. In 2007, the World Pilgrimage Mission visited the Arava Institute and made a lasting impression on the participants in the trip including Pastor Gerald Durley.
  
  A few months ago, David Weisberg approached Pastor Durley about accepting our award and though reluctant at first (he said he had enough awards) he finally agreed after he and David found a common love for Broadway musicals and because Pastor Durley understood how much a large community event could help support the Arava Institute. Over 100 people from the various religious and ethnic communities came to the event which was held in a downtown Atlanta hotel only a few blocks from the home of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., whose presence was felt throughout the evening.
  
  The event was emceed by a local Atlanta television news anchor, Brenda Wood. The evening started with our own alumni Mousa Diabat and Eitan Amiel speaking about their experiences in peace building at the Arava Institute. Then David Weisberg played the guitar and led the Providence Missionary Baptist Church Choir in a rendition of "The World is Coming to a Start" from the Broadway musical "Purlie" (yes it will be very hard to replace David Weisberg). Other speakers included long time civil rights activist, Reverend C.T. Vivian and the Fulton Council Commissioner, John Eaves. The award itself was given to Pastor Durley by three of his friends who are also members of the clergy, the Reverend Dr. George Wirth, Rabbi Ron Segal and Immam Plemon El-Amin. The evening took on a comical air as the four old friends traded barbs and turned the evening from an awards event into a "roast". As Pastor Durley was speaking last, he warned Plemon, "don't bring a knife to a gun fight". I was laughing so hard that tears came to my eyes and in his concluding remarks Pastor Durley reminded us all of how important it is to keep a sense of humor about us as we fight to make the world a better place. The three clergy also announced that in addition to granting the award, they have established the Durley Legacy Fellowship which will annually enable two Arava Institute alumni to come to Atlanta and spend time with Pastor Durley and other community leaders to learn about community organizing and activism in the birthplace of the civil rights movement.
  
  
  This event was an overwhelming success and by far one of the most professional and high profile events ever held by FAI. It raised the bar for FAI and has helped to strengthen the institute's connection with the diverse Atlanta interfaith community. Enormous congratulations and thanks go to Glenda Minkin, David Weisberg, Audrey Galex (who first made the connection to the World Pilgrimage Mission) and the other organizers of the event.

• Meeting with Pete Seeger
  
  
  
  On October 8th, my daughter Ariana and her boyfriend, Ori and I drove up from Manhattan to Beacon, New York to meet famous folk singer and activist, Pete Seeger. It was an incredible honor for us to have been invited to this American icon's home along the Hudson River. Pete Seeger has been one of my heroes since childhood and after spending over two and a half hours at Mr. Seeger's home with him and his daughter Tinya, I am even more in awe of him and his conviction to make this a better world. At 91, Mr. Seeger may not be as physically active as he once was but his mind is as sharp as ever, especially when it comes to what the human race needs to do to survive. Pete Seeger says that if the human race exists 100 years from now, it will be because people who deeply disagree with each other have learned how to communicate often through music, the arts and even sports. I told Mr. Seeger and his daughter about the work of the Arava Institute bringing Israelis, Palestinians, Jordanians and students from around the world together at the Arava Institute to teach them that nature knows no borders. I also discussed the concerns raised about the Jewish National Fund's sponsorship of "With the Earth and With Each Other", the internet event in which Mr. Seeger has agreed to participate. I explained to Pete and his daughter Tinya that the Jewish National Fund (JNF) has been an important partner to the Arava Institute over the years enabling the institute to do the cross border environmental work and to bring Palestinian and Jordanian students to the institute. The JNF is only one of many sponsors of the event which is focused on raising awareness about peace building efforts in the Middle East such as the work of the Arava Institute.
  
  Though I originally thought we would spend about an hour with Mr. Seeger, Pete was incredibly generous with his time and seemed to enjoy, telling my daughter, Ariana, her boyfriend Ori and I about his long history as a folk singer, peace activist, civil rights activist and in recent years environmentalist. Pete's Clearwater Foundation has led the battle to clean up the Hudson River. We were enthralled to hear Mr. Seeger tell us about his early days starting out singing, his friendship with Woodie Guthrie, how he met his wife, his early days as a member of the Communist Party, the need to "switch sides" when Stalin signed a non-aggression pact with Hitler, the revival of folk music in the late 50's and early 60's and his current activities in support of the environmental movement. I hope that at the age of 91, I still have the same fire in my eyes, moral conviction and courage that I witnessed on my visit to Beacon, NY. The Arava Institue and the Friends of the Arava Institute are privileged to be able to name such a legendary artist and social activist as one of our friends.
  
  David