Our dedicated staff and board members represent a broad alliance of Jews from across the political and religious spectra who are dedicated to working toward a sustainable future. Interested in volunteering? Click here! Staff, Board of Directors and Israeli RepresentativesRabbi Michael Cohen
Dr. Orr Karassin
David KrantzDavid Krantz is a co-founder, president and chairperson of Aytzim. He serves on the board of directors of Interfaith Moral Action on Climate; on the board of directors of Arizona Interfaith Power & Light; and on the founding team of the Interfaith Oceans. David also is a National Science Foundation IGERT doctoral researcher and Wrigley fellow at Arizona State University's School of Sustainability. He previously served as a leadership fellow at the Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life, on the cabinet of the American Zionist Movement. and as a global-justice fellow at American Jewish World Service. Additionally, David is the editor of the Jewish Energy Guide, a co-founder of Jewcology, and the co-founder of Shomrei Breishit: Rabbis and Cantors for the Earth. He earned three master's degrees, including one in journalism at the University of California, Berkeley, and two through a Steinberg Fellowship at New York University, where he studied Judaism and environmental policy. David has spoken about Israeli, Jewish and interfaith environmentalism on four continents. Susan LevineSusan Levine is Aytzim's volunteer and intern coordinator. She enjoys being part of an international team working to green Israel. Susan holds a master's degree in education. Netta SchmeidlerNetta Schmeidler is Aytzim's head Hebrew translator. She works as a product executive in the Israeli high-tech industry. Netta holds master's degrees from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and from the Tel Aviv University. She lives in Herzliya with her husband and two children. Dr. Richard H. SchwartzThe project manager of Aytzim's Green Zionist Alliance Israel Environmental Forum, Dr. Richard H. Schwartz is also the president of the Society of Ethical and Religious Vegetarians, the president emeritus of the Jewish Vegetarians of North America and a professor emeritus of mathematics at the City University of New York's College of Staten Island. Richard is also the author of several books, including "Judaism and Global Survival" and "Judaism and Vegetarianism." His work inspired the documentary film, "A Sacred Duty: Applying Jewish Values to Heal the World." Dr. Alon Tal
Rabbi Rain ZohavRabbi Rain Zohav is the director of Jews of the Earth. A lifelong activist with a history of organizing around issues of racial, economic and environmental justice, Rain answered the call for clergy to support the water protectors at Standing Rock. She also has taught two series of classes on the topic of “Social Action Education as Spiritual Practice.”
Aytzim Presidents & ChairpersonsRabbi Michael Cohen2001—2007 Noam Dolgin2008 David Krantz2009—present
Aytzim Administrators & Executive DirectorsAlison Hill2001—2003 Hal Klopper2004—2006 Noam Dolgin2007—2010
Aytzim Co-Founders
Former Members of Aytzim's Board of Directors
IN MEMORIAMRabbi Lawrence Troster, z"l
Learn more about Rabbi Lawrence Troster by clicking here.
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"The establishment of a true community cannot come about unless the agrarian life, a life that draws its strength from the soil, is elevated to a service of God."
- Martin Buber
Did You Know?
The Kinneret reaches a new low in its recorded depth history nearly every year.
Mideast Green News
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UAE: 4,000 coral polyps planted off Fujairah coast to regenerate marine ecosystem – Environment and Development24/6/2022 Emirates Draw recently celebrated a new milestone in its ‘Coral Reef Restoration Programme’ with the planting of...
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Desertification cannot wait for climate – Envrionment and DevelopmentNajib Saab 19/6/2022 The fifteenth session of the Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Convention to...
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