This year, Ohavi Zedek’s Yom Ha’atzmaut (Israeli Independence Day) day of learning and hope will feature a discussion by Rabbi Michael Cohen of the Arava Environmental Institute for Environmental Studies & Friends of the Arava Institute and Bennington College.

Rabbi Cohen, a longtime environmental activist and peace maker, has written extensively on the impact of social and ecological issues on the conflict in the Middle East. He spends his time living in Manchester Center, Vermont and Kibbutz Ketura, Israel. He will share insights from being at the Institute since its doors opened in 1996 through his many long stays there including this past year of tragedy and war. Rabbi Cohen will unpackage how the Institute creates conditions for new relationships to develop between Israelis and Palestinians even during times of heightened conflict.

The Arava Institute, where Rabbi Cohen is faculty, brings together Palestinian, Jordanian, Israeli, and international students at their Kibbutz Ketura campus in the south of Israel. The program educates future leaders to meet the Middle East’s environmental challenges with innovative peace-building solutions.

Our own Rabbi Aaron and a number of OZ members have studied at Arava with Rabbi Cohen.

Program Schedule:

10:30 am: Rabbi Cohen’s talk, followed by Q&A at 11:10 am
11:45 am: Bagel Brunch
12:30 pm: Music and Israeli Dancing