Board

Our board of directors includes well known professionals, local lay leaders, and rising young stars such as:

Isaac Hametz, Agronomist - Founding Director
Before moving to Israel, Isaac worked for years with local and national environmental NGO’s (non governmental organizations) in the United States. He has organized major policy campaigns with the Maryland Public Interest Research Group and the Sierra Club, and has spearheaded grassroots initiatives with the College Park Environmental Group, and the Maryland Sustainable Agriculture Coalition. As an agronomist, Isaac specializes in sustainable agriculture and has field experience managing an 8-acre (32 dunam) organic farm in Upper Marlboro, Maryland.

Stuart Cohen, Ph.D. – Treasurer
Now retired, he was an instructor and Director of a hydrodynamics laboratory at the University of Michigan, USA. Among other local interests, he provides technical assistance to the Center for Rehabilitation, helps the Association of Americans and Canadians in Israel assist prospective olim and supplies furnishings to olim new to Be’er Sheva. He is currently registered in the United States as a Professional Engineer.

Josh Stramer, Student, MSc Environmental Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev – Board member

Josh already holds an advanced degree in Industrial Engineering and has worked as a project manager in the field of information technology. However, despite these significant achievements Josh continues to reach higher. He is currently studying for his masters degree in Environmental Engineering and his thesis project entitled “Genetic Algorithm Applied to a Multi-Stage Sludge Treatment and Biosolid production”, seeks to find an economically and environmentally sound solution to one of Israel’s most serious problems; solid waste management.

Ethelea Katzenell – Board member

For more than 38 years Ethelea “Leah” Katzenell has been involved in voluntary social and “green” activism in Be’er-Sheva and the Negev, both as a member of the AACI (American and Canadians in Israel) and of local and national  ”green” organizations. She is a registered “Volunteer Cleanliness Trustee”. She participated in projects ranging from initiating a community clean-up campaign; collecting and transporting used clothing & household items to new immigrants; managing a joint AACI/Soviet immigrant youth basketball team; lobbying for more environmental and social legislation (e.g., against smoking in public places; for discounts for senior citizens on public transportation; for air pollution & noise regulation; for third sector participation in local planning, etc.); setting up paper & plastic recycling in the City; initiating a city-wide survey of environmental problems in the residential areas with a team of 50 volunteers she drafted; creating a pro-Be’er-Sheva website to put out useful, positive information, etc. Ethelea sits on the Be’er-Sheva municipal committees dealing with: Environment, Health, City Image & Beautification, Historic Preservation, Tourism, etc. as a representative of ”Green Be’er-Sheva” and the local “Green Forum”. She tries to represent the informed citizenry and to provide relevant information.

Gur Rotem, Ecologist and Founder, Adamama Permaculture Institute – Board member
Gur Rotem is the founder of the Adamama Permaculture Institute located at Moshav Nir Moshe in the western Negev and is one of Israel’s premier permaculture experts. For the past 10 years Gur Rotem has been practicing, experimenting with, and teaching permaculture. By combining classical ecological concepts with innovative design strategies permaculture seeks to develop sustainable living systems that are good for both people and the environment.

Tova Hametz, Private Consultant and Project Director for Giving Wisely, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem - Board member
Tova Hametz works as a private consultant with non-profit organizations and social service projects in various fields. Over the last 6 years she has helped numerous institutions function more efficiently (both internally and within the framework of Israeli bureaucracy and the Third Sector) in order to maximize their contributions to Israeli society. Tova is also the Project Director of Giving Wisely, the Israeli non-profit database founded and developed b Prof. Eliezer Jaffe of Hebrew University. She sits on the boards of several Jerusalem based educational organizations, and is a strong advocate of special education.

Ayelet Arnoni – Board member

Ayelet is the founder and former coordinator for the “Social Fabrics” project, a communal sewing project for the women in Kalisher absorption center. Ayelet has a B.A. in English literature and gender studies, and is cuurently studying group facilitation. Ayelet is the coordinator of the southern branch of Bina- a center for Jewish identity and Israeli culture. Ayelet is active and involved in several communal social initiatives in Beer-Sheva.