Owner of Jewcology Team – Page 4

Help Us Meet Our Match!

November 28, 2011 No Comments

Today’s environmental challenge is one of the most significant issues facing the world, and many Jews are working to address this concern. Jewcology is strengthening this Jewish environmental movement and bringing Jews and Jewish communities together from around the world, to create true environmental change. Jewcology’s goal is empowering the Jewish community to lead environmental change and address the global sustainability challenge. It enables this through social media engagement tools for the global Jewish environmental network, leadership training to empower leaders, and a shared library of Jewish environmental content for educators, lay-leaders and rabbis. Jewcology is partnering with many other Jewish environmental organizations, such as Hazon and COEJL, and individual Jewish environmentalists worldwide, to connect and empower the global Jewish environmental community. In its first year, Jewcology: received over 18,000 visits from more than 10,000 unique visitors representing 101 countries; hosted over 400 blog posts and nearly 500 ideas shared by Jewish environmental leaders and organizations; built a global network of 400 registered users who are uploading resources, posting blogs, joining on-line communities and commenting on each other’s posts; and trained 48 Jewish environmental and social justice leaders to tell their stories in a way that motivates communities to action. But there is still so much more for us to do! We need new and enhanced technologies, increased PR and more professionalization so that Jewcology can realize its full potential. To support our work in 2012, Jewcology has received a matching challenge grant of $20,000, and has so far raised over $14,000 toward the match. Funds raised will be used to improve social media tools, expand leadership trainings and professionalize the project’s efforts. Can you help us get the rest of the way to our goal? You can help by: 1) Donating on our project page at Razoo: http://www.razoo.com/story/Support-Jewcology 2) Posting this message on facebook: “I support Jews protecting the environment! Do you? http://www.razoo.com/story/Support-Jewcology” 3) Posting this message on twitter: “Jews can make a difference in the global environmental challenge. Help @jewcology make a difference, http://bit.ly/sVLiav ” 4) Forwarding this message to your friends. Thanks for your generous support!

Results of Jewcology Leadership Trainings

September 23, 2011 1 Comment

“I enjoyed it very much and found the narrative format very powerful and the process even therapeutic.” – Jewcology Leadership Training Participant “…I felt empowered to tell my story… and I felt the intense writing sessions forced me to focus in on the most important aspects of my story. I fully intend to use what I've learned in ‘the real world’!” – Jewcology Leadership Training Participant “It taught me to articulate my motivations, and the importance of doing so to engage others in change.” – Jewcology Leadership Training Participant With the support of the ROI Community of Young Jewish Innovators, Jewcology hosted three leadership trainings in 2011, utilizing the Public Narrative Methodology developed by Harvard professor Marshall Ganz. The trainings took place at the Kayam Beit Midrash (March 14), the Teva Learning Center (June 2), and the Hazon Food Conference (August 21). This training is based on the famous Hillel dictum: “If I am not for myself, who will be for me? But if I am only for myself, who am I? And if not now, when?” (Pirkei Avot 1:14) The training is organized around three different “stories” which one defines for oneself and the group: the story of self, the story of us, and the story of now. The three stories answer fundamental questions about oneself and the community one is engaging, based on a foundation of shared values. Self: Why have I been called to this work? Us: Who is here with me and what common experiences and values do we share? Now: What do we need to do together, now? A total of 48 Jewish environmental and social justice leaders were trained in the course of the three sessions. 75% of attendees filled out evaluation surveys within 2 weeks of each training. The results of the training are as follows: 91.7% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that as a result of this session, they were more empowered to speak to their target engagement audiences. 75% agreed or strongly agreed that as a result of this session, they were more empowered to speak to people who do not share the same Jewish or environmental values. 88.9% agreed or strongly agreed that they planned to use this model in speaking to one or more of their primary engagement audiences. 88.9% agreed or strongly agreed that what they learned would enable them to be more effective in their community engagement efforts. 97% would recommend this session or methodology to a friend or colleague with similar commitments. Participants indicated that they intended to use this tool with a wide range of audiences. The most mentioned were synagogue members, educators, and potential funders. In our third training, evaluations also asked how likely people were to change their actions as a result of this training. 90% of respondents were more likely or much more likely to speak publicly about their passion for the environment and social justice; 90% were more likely or much more likely to overcome a fear of public speaking; 90% were likely or much more likely to understand and express their motivations for environmental and social justice change; 80% were likely or more likely to ask others to take actions that make a difference in their cause; and 70% were more likely or much more likely to build partnerships and teams to educate their Jewish community about the environment and social justice. As a next step, Jewcology will train prior participants to be small group coaches of this training, so that we can internalize this expertise in the Jewish-environmental movement and replicate it ongoingly. Stay tuned for upcoming trainings in 2012! In the meanwhile: See pictures, participant guides, and recent blog posts of participants , and join the ongoing Jewcology Leadership Training conversation in the Leadership Trainings Community. See Marshall Ganz explain public narrative in the video below!

Jewcology mentioned in El-Al in flight magazine!

August 26, 2011 No Comments

Jewcology mention in Atmosphere, the El-Al in flight magazine! See: http://www.roicommunity.org/blog/el-als-atmosphere-magazine-roi-feature-a

Leadership Training #3

August 26, 2011 No Comments

Thanks to everyone who participated in the third Jewcology Leadership Training, which took place on August 21 at UC-Davis, a bonus day to the Hazon Food Conference. Fourteen participants learned to tell their own stories, the story of their communities, and stories to motivate action now. We learned how to inspire and motivate others with stories, and to overcome our own fears and burnout by finding continual inspiration from our passion and purpose. More details about the training results will be coming soon, but in the meanwhile we wanted to share some photos from the training. Congratulations to all who participated! To see the participant guide, visit the Leadership Trainings community

Jewcology site will be down from Sunday night to Monday morning.

August 7, 2011 No Comments

Note: The Jewcology site will be down for a scheduled server transition from Sunday night to Monday morning. We'll see you on the other side!

Deadline for Hazon Leadership Training, Friday August 12

August 2, 2011 No Comments

Jewcology – Public Narrative Leadership Training Sunday, August 21st, 10:30am – 6:30pm, $60 Deadline for registration: Friday, August 12! As a Jewish environmental leader, do you know how to motivate people into action? Are you able to inspire people who don't share the same values as you? Jewcology is partnering with educators from Harvard University for this one-day workshop where you will learn how to share the experiences and values that have led you to engage in Jewish environmental education and action; gain skills to help you tell your personal stories in a way that connects you with others and clearly expresses your purpose; and practice using these values and commitments to connect with a wide range of individuals and groups, and to inspire a diversity of audiences to take meaninful, collective action. Learn more and register today! Already registered for the Hazon Food Conference? You can register without re-entering all of your information at http://hazon.nirsham.com/events/register/10.

Scholarships Going Fast for Leadership Training at Hazon Food Conference, August 21

July 19, 2011 No Comments

What’s the Story?

June 28, 2011 No Comments

How do you motivate people? In the Jewish-environmental movement, it seems that we share fact after fact about the environmental challenges we face, and list after list of things that people can do to make a difference. We’ve also gotten good at telling people what Jewish values should motivate them, and bringing them outdoors to grow food or see the beauty of nature. While we’ve made some headway as a movement, we certainly have not mastered environmental motivation in the Jewish community. The key to understanding motivation is that it comes from the heart, not from the head. We touch people at the level of values not by sharing sources and facts and actions, but by sharing stories. With the support of the ROI community, on June 2, Jewcology hosted our second Jewcology Public Narrative Training at the Teva Seminar on Jewish Environmental Education. Utilizing the “leadership story” techniques developed by Harvard Professor Marshall Ganz , participants learned how to identify and tell powerful stories that can express our purpose, unite our community and inspire meaningful shared action. The training is based on the famous Hillel dictum: “If I am not for myself, who will be for me? But if I am only for myself, who am I? And if not now, when?” (Pirkei Avot 1:14) The training was a part of Teva’s “Eco-Change Makers Track.” Rachel Konforty, an experienced trainer in the public narrative methodology, led the training along with Matt Lewis and Evonne Marzouk. The training was similar to the one offered on March 14 at the Kayam Beit Midrash, but also incorporated the excellent feedback provided at that session: additional time focusing on the Jewish environmental context and applications of this tool, and additional Jewish context to ground us in our tradition. The essence of the training was organized around three different “stories” which one defines for oneself and the group: the story of self, the story of us, and the story of now. Self: Participants were invited to identify their own personal story so that they can explain how they because committed to Jewish-environmental activism. Us: Drawing upon common values with the group in the room, each participant had to identify a “story of us” which would resonate with the values of all the people there. Now: Finally, participants were asked to identify a story of now: one single, specific, urgent action that could be requested of all the participants. Following the session, attendees completed an online evaluation suvery. 100% of respondents indicated feeling more empowered to speak to their target engagement audience, 90% indicated that they felt more empowered to speak to people who do not share the same Jewish or environmental values; and 90% indicated that they planned to use this model in speaking to one or more of their primary engagement audiences. 100% also indicated that they would recommend this model or this training to a friend or colleague. Participants indicated that they intended to use this tool with a wide range of audiences, including educators, synagogue members, potential funders, students, and local environmental groups. Attendees also indicated that they would be interested in continuing to use the Jewcology community to support them, including by using the Jewcology "Leadership Trainings" Community to continue discussions, attending follow-up trainings, connecting with the global Jewish environmental community through Jewcology (70%), and meeting with others in their region (60%), Asked how to improve the session, participants indicated they would appreciate more time, more model stories, and providing more opportunity and resources for follow up. We’ll have the chance to implement these improvements at our third Jewcology leadership training, which will take place on August 21 as a bonus day to the Hazon Food Conference at UC-Davis! We’ll be offering the same training with the improvements described. This training will help you develop your own personal Jewish-environmental story, connect with the values in a group of others, and ask for meaningful shared action. We hope you will join us there!

Jewcology Celebrates our 200th Day!

June 24, 2011 No Comments

Mazel tov! We’re excited to be celebrating Jewcology’s 200th day! Jewcology now features: 484 resources for synagogues, schools, communities and Jewish institutions (shared in the Idea Box) 342 registered users 253 blog postings 34 communities 24 video “questions of the week” featuring our partner organizations In honor of this happy anniversary, we have awarded the Jewcology Leaf to our most active participants. You can see the leaf in the corner of the profile pictures of our top participants. Look on the site to see who got the leaf, and participate actively to earn your own!

Leadership Training at Hazon Food Conference, August 21

June 24, 2011 No Comments

Are you educating the Jewish community about protecting the environment? Have you faced challenges with: motivating people into action? inspiring Jews who don’t have the same values as you? or moving a community into activism and shared commitment? Jewcology is partnering with educators from Harvard University on a new leadership training intended to address these specific issues, in order to empower Jews who are seeking to educate Jewish communities about the importance of protecting the environment. Date: Sunday August 21 Time: 10:30am-6:30pm Location: UC-Davis (University of California) Cost: $60 This leadership training was successfully delivered at the Kayam Beit Midrash on March 14 and the Teva Seminar on Jewish Environmental Education on June 2. Now, we are bringing the training to the Hazon Food Conference! The Hazon Food Conference (August 18-21) is the only place where farmers and rabbis, nutritionists and chefs, vegans and omnivores come together to explore the dynamic interplay of food, Jewish traditions, and contemporary life. Don’t miss four days of do-it-yourself food workshops, lectures, discussions, joyful Shabbat celebrations, kids & family programming, and delicious, consciously-prepared food. The Jewcology Leadership Training will be delivered for the first time on the West Coast, a bonus day to the Hazon Food Conference. In this full-day session, we will: learn how to share the experiences and values that have led us to engage in Jewish environmental education and action gain skills to help us tell our personal stories in a way that connects us with others and clearly expresses our purpose, and practice using these values and commitments to connect with a wide range of individuals and groups, and to inspire a diversity of audiences to take meaningful, collective action. Scholarships are available to support your participation in this program! Scholarships are available to those attending the full Hazon Food Conference and to Bonus Day participants. Deadline for scholarship applications: Friday, August 5. Apply for a scholarship Register for the entire Hazon Food Conference and Jewcology Public Narrative Leadership Training (Don’t forget to include the Jewcology Bonus Day in your registration) OR Register for the Jewcology Public Narrative Leadership Training ONLY (one day, August 21) Co-sponsored by UpStart, Urban Adamah, EcoJews of the Bay, Wilderness Torah, Canfei Nesharim, Netiya, and the Graduate Center for Education at American Jewish University. *This program is generously supported by the ROI Community global network of young Jewish innovators.* Hazon is America’s largest Jewish environmental group. Hazon creates healthy and sustainable communities in the Jewish world and beyond through transformative experiences, thought leadership and capacity building. Jewcology is the web portal connecting the global Jewish environmental community. Browse resources, post blogs, and join communities at www.jewcology.org.

Jewcology Question of the Week #24

June 21, 2011 4 Comments

Carole Caplan, Past President of the Jewish Reconstructionist Congregation of Evanston, Illinois, asks Jewcology’s question of the week: “What environmental book have you finished most recently?”

Jewcology Question of the Week #23

June 14, 2011 No Comments

Tiferet Sassona, Volunteer Coordinator at Kayam Farm, asks Jewcology’s question of the week: “Who is your Jewish Environmental role model?“

Jewcology Question of the Week #22

May 31, 2011 No Comments

Ora Sheinson, President of Canfei Nesharim – Sustainable Living Through Torah, asks Jewcology's question of the week: "What can we do to green Jewish communities?"

Question of the Week #21

May 24, 2011 No Comments

Michael Levin, intern at Hazon, asks Jewcology's question of the week: Who did you teach in the last week to protect the environment? Hazon creates healthy and sustainable communities in the Jewish world and beyond.

Deadlines Approaching for Leadership Training!

May 21, 2011 No Comments

Join us for a new leadership training which will empower you to engage your community in Jewish-environmental learning and action. Spaces are filling up: register today! Scholarship deadline extended to MONDAY, MAY 23. Registration deadline: Friday, May 27! The seminar will take place on Thursday, June 2 at the Teva Seminar on Jewish Environmental Education in Cold Spring, NY. Participating in the Teva Seminar?Sign up for the Jewcology training! If you are not attending the seminar,you can still join us just for the day and take advantage of this excellent training. In this full-day session, we will: learn how to share the experiences and values that have led us to engage in Jewish environmental education and action; gain skills to help us tell our personal stories in a way that connects us with others and clearly expresses our purpose; and practice using these values and commitments to connect with a wide range of individuals and groups, and to inspire a diversity of audiences to take meaningful, collective action. To register, make your choice below: Register for the Jewcology Public Narrative Leadership Training (one night only, June 1-2) Register for the entire Teva Seminar on Jewish Environmental Education (be sure to select the box to register for the FULL DAY Jewcology Leadership Training). *This program is generously supported by the ROI Community global network of young Jewish innovators. Learn more at www.roicommunity.org.* The Teva Learning Center is a Jewish environmental education organization that exists to renew the ecological wisdom inherent in Judaism and to renew the Jewish community through connection with all creation. Jewcology is the web portal for the global Jewish environmental community. Browse resources, post blogs, and join communities at www.jewcology.org.

Question of the Week #20

May 11, 2011 1 Comment

David Marks, co-director of Teva Learning Center, asks "What environmental Torah portion has the biggest impact on addressing global climate change, and why?"

Question of the Week #19

May 3, 2011 5 Comments

Lauren Freedman, board member of the Green Zionist Alliance: The Grassroots Campaign for a Sustainable Israel asks the Jewcology question of the week: What do you think is the most important environmental challenge today?

Question of the Week #25

April 12, 2011 1 Comment

Seth Fineman, an intern for the Green Zionist Alliance: The Grassroots Campaign for a Sustainable Israel, asks the Jewcology question of the week: About what environmental topic do you want to learn more?

Register for Leadership Training at Teva!

April 10, 2011 No Comments

Jewcology Public Narrative Leadership Training, June 1-2 (at the Teva Seminar on Jewish Environmental Education, May 31-June 3) Are you educating the Jewish community about protecting the environment? Have you faced challenges with motivating people to move beyond intellectual knowing and into action? Have you struggled with inspiring Jews who don’t have the same values as you? Or have you felt limits in your ability to engage those with environmental values into a place of activism and shared commitment? Jewcology is pleased to announce a new leadership training intended to address these specific issues, and to empower Jews who are seeking to educate Jewish communities about the importance of protecting the environment. This leadership training was successfully piloted as a Bonus Day to the popular Kayam Beit Midrash on March 13-14, and now we are bringing it to the Teva Seminar on Jewish Environmental Education, May 31 – June 3, 2011! The Teva Seminar is an opportunity for dynamic educators to engage farmers, students, Torah scholars, scientists, social justice advocates, teachers and more on diverse Jewish environmental topics through 4 distinct curricular tracks: Congregational Education, Camp and Wilderness, Organic Farming & Gardening Education, and Eco-Change Makers. As part of the Eco-Change Makers Track, Jewcology is offering its Leadership Training on Thursday, June 2. In this full-day session, we will learn how to share the experiences and values that have led us to engage in Jewish environmental education and action. We will gain skills to help us tell our personal stories in a way that connects us with others and clearly expresses our purpose. We will practice using these values and commitments to connect with a wide range of individuals and groups, and to inspire a diversity of audiences to take meaningful, collective action. You can join us for the entire Teva Seminar, or register for just the Jewcology Public Narrative Training. Click your choice below: Register for the entire Teva Seminar on Jewish Environmental Education (be sure to select the box to register for the FULL DAY Jewcology Leadership Training) Register for the Jewcology Public Narrative Leadership Training (one night only, June 1-2) *This program is generously supported by the ROI Community global network of young Jewish innovators. Learn more at www.roicommunity.org.* The Teva Learning Center is a Jewish environmental education organization that exists to renew the ecological wisdom inherent in Judaism and to renew the Jewish community through connection with all creation. It is the only full-time year-round program dedicated to innovative, experiential Jewish education taught through the lens of the natural world. Teva is holding its annual Seminar on Jewish Environmental Education on May 31-June 3, 2011 with a Shabbat retreat June 3-5. Jewcology is the web portal for the global Jewish environmental community. Browse resources, post blogs, and join communities at www.jewcology.org.

Question of the Week #18

April 5, 2011 No Comments

Ilana Krakowski, intern at Hazon, asks Jewcology's question of the week. What are you growing this year?

Home of the Jewish-Environmental Movement

Author: Owner of Jewcology Team