The Green Zionist Alliance is pleased to present our environmental-speakers resource guide.

This guide is a resource for your local schools, businesses and communities to explore the many ecological issues in Israel and Judaism through our evolving list of speakers and topics.

All speakers listed below are members of The Green Zionist Alliance. All hold a depth of experience and distinguished insights in their fields.

If you are interested in bringing a speaker to your community, please contact us: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or phone 604-254-2549

National

Noam Dolgin

Noam Dolgin is Executive Director of the Green Zionist Alliance and a freelance Jewish and Israel environmental educator, organizer and advocate.  Noam travels regulary throughout the United States and Canada teaching about the Jewish relationship to the environment and expecially the land of Israel

Topics:

Regional

Arizona, Tucson

Ben Cook

Ben Cook is a student at the University of Arizona. He studied at the prestigious Arava Institute for Environmental Studies.

Topics:

• The World Zionist Organization
• The Green Zionist Alliance

California, Los Angeles

Lee Wallach

Lee Wallach is director of Coejl-SC, and Co-Chair of the Los Angeles Interfaith Environmental Council.

Topics:

• Theological/Philosophical Perspectives
• Experiential Jewish Environmental Education
• Jewish Environmental Action
• Environmental Health and Justice
• Green Building/Sustainability

California, San Francisco

Dr. Jeffrey Albert

Dr. Jeffrey Albert is an environmental fellow at the US Environmental Protection Agency - Global Change Research Program and on the staff of the Aquaya Institute.

Topics:

• Water Resources Issues in the Middle East

Ilana Gauss

Ilana Gauss is a Green Programs Specialist for the San Francisco Department of Public Health. She holds a degree in Marine Biology from Boston University.

Topics:

• Jewish Environmental Education
• Greening Synagogues/Businesses

Colorado

Dr. Daniel Ziskin

Dr. Daniel Ziskin is Founder of Jews of the Earth, dedicated to illuminating the connections between Judaism and the environment.

Topics:

Connecticut, Falls Village

Adam Berman

Adam Berman is Executive Director of the Isabella Freedman Jewish Retreat Center.

Topics:

Maryland, Baltimore

Rebecca Weaver

Rebecca Weaver is an alumna of the Arava Institute and studies Chemical Engineering at Washington University. She is a Hebrew School teacher at Traditional Congregation and actively promotes the benefits of sustainable living/eating in her local community.

Topics:

Margaret Presley

Margaret Presley is a consultant with Hit’Habrut L’Svivah: Connecting To Our Environment, providing integrated environmental educational support for families, schools, and community programs.

Topics:

Maryland, Bethesda

Rabbi Fred Scherlinder Dobb is the spiritual leader of Congregation Adat Shalom.

Topics:

Rabbi Warren Stone

Rabbi Warren Stone has served as the spiritual leader of Temple Emanuel in Kensington, Maryland since 1988.

Topics:

Massachusetts, Brighton

Danielle Luttenberg Meitiv

Dannielle Luttenberg Meitiv has worked at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and as a marine advocate for Environmental Defense. Active in Boston's Jewish Community, she is on the Executive of The Green Zionist Alliance.

Topics:

New Jersey, Teaneck

Rabbi Lawrence Troster

Rabbi Lawrence Troster lectures widely on theology, interfaith relations, and Jewish environmentalism. A rabbinic fellow with COEJL, his background paper on the history of Jewish environmental scholarship serves as the basis for a major COEJL initiative.

Topics:

New Mexico, Santa Fe

Dr.Leonard Gannes

Dr. Leonard Gannes is Assistant Professor of Sciences and Conservation Studies at the College of Santa Fe.

Topics:

New York, New York City

Aaron Philmus

Aaron Philmus a Jewish environmental educator with the Teva Learning Center, is a rabbinical student at the Jewish Theological Seminary.

Topics:

New York, Peekskill

Ariana Silverman

Ariana Silverman is a rabbinical student at Hebrew Union College. She spent two years lobbying and teaching with the Sierra Club. She plans educational initiatives for Hazon and is on the Executive of The Green Zionist Alliance.

Topics:

New York, Staten Island

Dr. Richard Schwartz

Dr. Richard Schwartz is Professor Emeritus of Mathematics, College of Staten Island, and the author of numerous books and essays.

Topics:

North Carolina, Greensboro

Rabbi Howard Cohen

Rabbi Howard Cohen is the spiritual leader of Congregation Beth El.

Topics:

Pennsylvania, Philadelphia

Nati Passow

Nati Passow is on staff at the Teva Learning Center.

Topics:

Rabbi Arthur Waskow

Rabbi Arthur Waskow founded and directs The Shalom Center, which brings Jewish and other spiritual thought and practice to bear on seeking peace, pursuing justice, healing the earth, and celebrating community.

Topics:

Rhode Island, Providence

Daniel Orenstein

Daniel Orenstein holds a Ph.D. from Brown University’s Center for Environmental Studies. He has taught environmental studies at The Hebrew University, the WUJS Institute in Arad, and at the Arava Institute. He is on the Executive of The Green Zionist Alliance.

Topics:

Vermont, Manchester

Bonnie Levis

Bonnie Levis is a host at the Teleion Holon Holistic Retreat Center, which offers yoga classes, creative self exploration workshops, homegrown vegetarian meals, healing treatments, and peaceful accommodations. She is married to Oliver.

Topics:

Oliver Levis

Oliver Levis is a host at the TeleionHolon Holistic Retreat Center and holds a degree in agriculture, with a focus on organic systems. He is married to Bonnie.

Topics:

Wisconsin, Milwaukee

Karen Schapiro

Karen Schaprio focuses her law practice on environmental matters, particularly air and water issues.