Just a few hours after Jews of all stripes gathered at the Western Wall in Jerusalem to celebrate “Birkat haChama” – the blessing of the sun – Aria Penkava slid a tray of kosher-for-Passover cookies into a solar oven to slow-cook using focused heat energy from the sun. “The sunrise was glorious this morning,” said […]
Countries in the Middle East should take notice that the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan is making great efforts to improve Jordan’s environment as well as that in the region. One of the foremost environmental societies in the Kingdom is the Jordan Environmental Society, which was established in 1988, during the reign of King Ab dullah’s […]
Eco-Jews are busy now celebrating Passover, while Christians in the Holy Land and the world over ready themselves for Easter. Iranians, we learn had their own celebrations this time of the year, coinciding with the vernal equinox on March 21. Iran’s political makeup and leadership may not be making many friends these days, but one […]
I am really not the right person to be reviewing “Nature’s Due” by Professor Brian Goodwin from Shumacher College in the UK. It is based on some quite complicated biology, a subject that I haven’t studied formally since I was 14. James sent me the book in September, and I’ve only just finished it now, […]
With Passover coming up so soon many of us are preparing in a variety of ways, whether it be purging our homes of every last remaining bread crumb or learning how to make that special family haroset recipe. But when the cleaning is done, the seder dinner is eaten, and the afikoman is found – […]
Who would think that Switzerland and Israel have anything in common? Switzerland brings to mind lush mountains, flowing streams and delicious chocolate. Israel has the well known (and personally loved) chocolad para but it doesn’t quite compare. I guess it takes a diplomat to make the connection. Monika Schmutz-Kirgöz, the Deputy Head of Mission of […]
Why did I reread passages of this book over and over, why did scenes haunt me for weeks? The struggle for survival is boiled down, elemental: two humans, trying to find enough food for surviving another day, trying to avoid becoming food for the human beasts.
Because one cannot own any leavened bread over Passover, for the month before Passover, religious Jews comb through their house for any remnants of leavened bread, which is a good opportunity for regular spring cleaning. I think it's a good chance to think about reducing, reusing and recycling...
Jordan’s Environment Minister Khalid Irani, RSCN Director General Yehya Khaled, Amman City Manager Ammar Gharaibeh and Wild Jordan Director Chris Johnson hold candles during an event marking Earth Hour on Saturday night (Photo via RSCN) Regional Earth Hour celebrations mixed: On Saturday night at 8:30 p.m. when many people in both Jordan and Israel were […]
Each week Orthodox Jews read one segment of the Five Books of Moses so that they can complete the entire Five Books within the course of a year. In this week’s Eco-Rabbi post I discuss a Jewish approach to meat. I’m a vegatarian… sympathizer. (Seriously, could you really eat lamb after looking at that picture?) […]
Do you dream of an Israeli-based website that concentrates information about all the great local eco-friendly businesses into one virtual green portal? That provides reviews, offers coupons, and even has a membership club with a monthly raffle of organic vegetables? A website that arranges Israeli eco events on an interactive virtual calendar? Well wake up! […]
A new television series, “Sovev Israel” (translated as both Around Israel and Israel Environment), was launched on March 22, 2009 in Israel. The series was produced by Israel Educational Television in cooperation with the Geography Instruction Inspectorate in the Ministry of Education and with the assistance of numerous organizations, including the Ministry of Environmental Protection, […]
Just once in 28 years. That’s how often religious Jews bless the sun. While observant Jews bless their food before they eat it, bless first fruits of the season, trees, and guard the cycles of the moon “religiously” to mark their holidays, the Blessing of the Sun occurs only once every 28 years. The event […]
The 2009 Week of Love for Nature, Water and the Environment (in short: the week of peace, love and dupey du) took place this week in Israel. It was the seventh year running from March 13 – 21, 2009, according to the Israeli Ministry of Environment. The annual event, organized by the Ministry of Environmental […]
Green Prophet got wind of some new courses when “the Sea” called us this week: The school, the Social Economic Academy, with branches in Tel Aviv, Haifa and Jerusalem is opening its spring semester this year with the course: “I buy – I exist: A journey in the trail of the consumption culture.” The course […]