Israeli Harvest is committed to supporting environmental organizations in Israel, specifically grassroots groups in Beit Shemesh and the surrounding
Metah Yehuda region. Beit Shemesh and Mateh Yehuda are paired with Washington D.C in the Jewish Agency's Partnership 2000, a program to build enduring ties between Americans and Israelis. So far Israeli Harvest has made modest contributions to environmental groups in the region but will contribute more as we grow stronger.
Set between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, the hilly Metah Yehuda region is full of kibbutzim, moshavim, rural villages and the fast growing city of Beit Shemesh.
Although beautiful and still mostly rural, the region is not without major environmental problems. Environmental threats in the region include air pollution from cement factories, sprawling residential development and proposed large scale oil shale extraction project.
The Shemesh Yehuda Forum is one of the most active environmental groups in the area. The forum's website is in Hebrew but below are links to articles in English by the organization's director, Renee Halpert.
Fighting to Preserve Givoat Bet Shemesh (Nov 2009)
Air Quality (May 2009)
Pre-Pesach Electronic Waste Collection (2009)
In June of 2010, Renee Halpart and a delegation of other environmentalists from the region visited Washington DC. This Washington Jewish Week article tells about their productive visit organized by the Jewish Agency.
Below is a photo of students who volunteer at the Well of Hope community garden right outside Beit Shemesh. Energetic science teacher Gil Karasanti started the project to help youth from the city maintain a connection to nature.
Set between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, the hilly Metah Yehuda region is full of kibbutzim, moshavim, rural villages and the fast growing city of Beit Shemesh.
Although beautiful and still mostly rural, the region is not without major environmental problems. Environmental threats in the region include air pollution from cement factories, sprawling residential development and proposed large scale oil shale extraction project.
The Shemesh Yehuda Forum is one of the most active environmental groups in the area. The forum's website is in Hebrew but below are links to articles in English by the organization's director, Renee Halpert.
Fighting to Preserve Givoat Bet Shemesh (Nov 2009)
Air Quality (May 2009)
Pre-Pesach Electronic Waste Collection (2009)
In June of 2010, Renee Halpart and a delegation of other environmentalists from the region visited Washington DC. This Washington Jewish Week article tells about their productive visit organized by the Jewish Agency.
Below is a photo of students who volunteer at the Well of Hope community garden right outside Beit Shemesh. Energetic science teacher Gil Karasanti started the project to help youth from the city maintain a connection to nature.