Eco-Israel Faculty
Gili Chupak, Marketing & Recruitment Coordinator
Gili grew up in Maryland and received his BA from the University of Maryland. He spent several years in San Francisco and Santa Cruz in California and then moved back to his birth place, New York City.
He received an MS from the New School for Social Research and worked for several different nonprofits on disaster relief & recovery, environmental advocacy and mental health entrepreneurship.
Gili practices T'ai Chi Chih and is a Field Center Certified Facilitator. He currently lives with his wife, Cindy, in Ra'anana, Israel.
He received an MS from the New School for Social Research and worked for several different nonprofits on disaster relief & recovery, environmental advocacy and mental health entrepreneurship.
Gili practices T'ai Chi Chih and is a Field Center Certified Facilitator. He currently lives with his wife, Cindy, in Ra'anana, Israel.
Idan Eliakim, Permaculture Instructor
Idan’s first step into the world of agriculture started in 2004 after he finished his military service, working as a shepherd and a grape harvester. This experience led him to seek a more natural and balanced way of life and his first permaculture design course. Then, Idan opened a small organic gardening business. In 2006, he met Yigal and together they joined “Hava & Adam” to create a CSA and a hands-on, apprenticeship program. That was a very meaningful year but Idan felt a strong need to deepen his knowledge so he signed up to the Hebrew University in Jerusalem earning a degree in agronomy specializing in open area management and forestry. This past year Idan worked for a local CSA in the central coastal area of Israel and as a pest inspector in vineyards. Today, Idan sees his main goal to be education by combining academic knowledge and field experience.
Hadas Yanay, Community Coordinator
Hadas was born in New York State to an Israeli family. She received a BA in Cultural Anthropology at Boston University. Her interest in sustainable food systems developed during a semester abroad in Western Samoa, where she completed a research project on Samoan attitudes towards food. Learning about their gradual disconnection from their food sources and its devastating effect on their health, she was inspired to awaken her own connection with the natural world. Following graduation, she spent a year traveling through India, where she completed a Hatha Yoga teacher training. Upon her return to the U.S., she sought an alternative approach to gain skills and knowledge about sustainable living, and discovered Eco-Israel. After completing the course, she was offered the chance to join the Eco-staff as community coordinator.
She currently lives in a geodesic dome on the Hava & Adam farm, and enjoys traveling, cooking, hiking, dancing, and learning.
She currently lives in a geodesic dome on the Hava & Adam farm, and enjoys traveling, cooking, hiking, dancing, and learning.
Nadav Solowey, Program Director
Nadav was born and raised on Kibbutz Ketura, located in southern Israel.
He was an active member of the Israeli Conservative Jewish youth movement –“NOAM” - for many years. In the army he served in the “Golani” infantry unit and still serves in a reserve unit. At Ben Gurion University, he studied Geology and worked for the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel (SPNI) and the Jewish National Fund (JNF/KKL).
Nadav likes to hike, juggle, play capu’era, cook and bake. In summers he takes groups of tourists on jeep-tours in Turkey and Montenegro.
He was an active member of the Israeli Conservative Jewish youth movement –“NOAM” - for many years. In the army he served in the “Golani” infantry unit and still serves in a reserve unit. At Ben Gurion University, he studied Geology and worked for the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel (SPNI) and the Jewish National Fund (JNF/KKL).
Nadav likes to hike, juggle, play capu’era, cook and bake. In summers he takes groups of tourists on jeep-tours in Turkey and Montenegro.
Elisheva Cohen-Fried, Creative Specialist Emeritus
Elisheva was born and raised in Jerusalem to an American family that made aliya. She graduated from an orthodox experimental high school, and completed her army service in an intelligence unit.
Her initial interest in ecology and sustainable living began during her academic studies at the Betzalel School of Art and Design in Jerusalem. During a semester abroad, in San Francisco, she was inspired by a sustainable design course and began to create with the planet and its inhabitance in mind. She exhibited her designs at an exhibition in Turkey, “Fashion for Sustainability” Curator- Kate Fletsher, and at a Family Day at the SF Moma. Upon returning to Israel she pursued a different approach to ecological design and finished her degree with a basket weaving project that creates resting points and seats in public spaces in Jerusalem. The project, “Walking Distance”, was followed by two municipal exhibitions that continued with the street weaving technique.
After completing her BfA she began to work at the ‘Hava ve Adam’ farm in the grade school ecology programs, gaining valuable experience in gardening and education.
Her initial interest in ecology and sustainable living began during her academic studies at the Betzalel School of Art and Design in Jerusalem. During a semester abroad, in San Francisco, she was inspired by a sustainable design course and began to create with the planet and its inhabitance in mind. She exhibited her designs at an exhibition in Turkey, “Fashion for Sustainability” Curator- Kate Fletsher, and at a Family Day at the SF Moma. Upon returning to Israel she pursued a different approach to ecological design and finished her degree with a basket weaving project that creates resting points and seats in public spaces in Jerusalem. The project, “Walking Distance”, was followed by two municipal exhibitions that continued with the street weaving technique.
After completing her BfA she began to work at the ‘Hava ve Adam’ farm in the grade school ecology programs, gaining valuable experience in gardening and education.
Eco-Israel Founders
Yigal Deutscher, Eco-Israel Founder & Permaculture Instructor
Yigal grew up in New York City and began farming as an ADAMAH Fellow at the Isabella Freedman Jewish Retreat Center in Connecticut. He received a certificate in Agroecology from University of California, Santa Cruz (Center for Agroecology & Sustainable Food Systems), as well as a Permaculture Design Certificate from the Permaculture Research Institute in Australia. He is also a member of the Jewish Farm School Collective.
Yigal is currently on leave from the farm, researching permaculture communities and Transition Towns of North America. To reach him directly, feel free to contact him at shorashimroots@yahoo.com
Yigal is currently on leave from the farm, researching permaculture communities and Transition Towns of North America. To reach him directly, feel free to contact him at shorashimroots@yahoo.com
Naomi Katz, Eco-Israel Founder & Education Director
Naomi received her BA from Brown University and MA from UC Berkeley, and is certified as a Master Herbalist from Ran Herbs College of Phytotherapy (Israel). She is also a certified Permaculture Educator. Before making aliyah, she taught middle and high school for several years in the US and also started a school garden program with students in East Oakland, CA. She began to connect with the land at Oz Farm, in northern California and soon realized that though California is beautiful, her land is Israel. Naomi made aliyah in 2007, an outgrowth of her years in Young Judaea and her Zionist upbringing.
She is currently on leave from Eco-Israel as she travels through South America to deepen her understanding of herbal medicine and its uses in traditional cultures. She can be reached at naomikatz@gmail.com
She is currently on leave from Eco-Israel as she travels through South America to deepen her understanding of herbal medicine and its uses in traditional cultures. She can be reached at naomikatz@gmail.com
Eco-Israel Alumni
Ben (Tzion) Bokser
A native of New York City, Ben comes from a traditional Jewish background - a mix of Conservative and Modern Orthodox - and is doing his best to maintain a serious and thoughtful Jewish observance somewhat in between the practices of those two communities.
After growing up in New York, spending a lot of time in Israel on various programs, studying at Yale for a BA in Ethics, Politics, and Economics, Ben came to Hava & Adam to be part of Eco 3. He had a great time and decided that he was ready to go through with his longtime plan of making Aliyah (immigrating to Israel). He moved to Israel in August 2010 and is living on Kibbutz Sde Eliyahu with a community of new immigrants preparing to go into the Israel Defense Forces in November 2010 for about two years. After his army service he hopes to continue learning and working in the broad field of sustainability and ecological design, hopefully in connection to permaculture and gardening. Feel free to contact him at ben.bokser@gmail.com.
Cara Gold
Cara hails from the cold, but sometimes-sunny climate of Ottawa, Canada. After pursuing her passion for social justice by becoming an AVODAH corps member in Chicago, she found herself in the not-so-cold climate of Hava & Adam farm participating in Eco Israel. She loved it enough to stay for a while longer, then made her way back to cold Canada in order to find a way of connecting her continuing passion for social justice with her new-found love of Permaculture.
Karin Fleisch
Karin credits Eco-Israel with strengthening her commitment to living sustainability and creating a more sustainable, simpler, and more integrated food system. Since returning from Eco-Israel she joined her shul's compost committee and is proud to say that their Shabbat kiddush for about 60 people produces almost zero waste!
Karin has been immersed in the food systems field since 2004, when she worked at Teachers College, Columbia University's LiFE (Linking Food and the Environment) Program, an award-winning, food-based science curriculum. She then spent three years at the Food Bank for New York City, as a Community Program Specialist, building the capacity of the Food Bank's emergency food program network. At the Food Bank, Ms. Fleisch won a United Way Junior Fellowship as "one of 25 emerging leaders in New York City's non-profit sector." Craving immediate, direct knowledge of food/agriculture, she apprenticed at Hava & Adam Ecological Farm in Modiin, Israel, where she lived in a geodesic dome and grew vegetables from September 2008 until February 2009. Post-farm life, Karin consulted for non-profits in the fields of food systems, food security, and sustainability. Her clients included Leket Israel, Israel's national food bank. In June 2009, she participated in the ROI Global Summit for Young Jewish Innovators, after which she returned to the Food Bank, as Manager of Member Services. In this capacity, she oversees member program recruitment and manages a staff of four Specialists who guide, advise and monitor NYC's 1000+ soup kitchens and food pantries. She also sits on the board of Uri L'Tzedek and is a compliance officer for the Tav HaYosher (an ethical seal to certify kosher restaurants that respect basic labor standards). She studied Philosophy and Political Science at Boston University, graduating with honors in 2003.
Karin has been immersed in the food systems field since 2004, when she worked at Teachers College, Columbia University's LiFE (Linking Food and the Environment) Program, an award-winning, food-based science curriculum. She then spent three years at the Food Bank for New York City, as a Community Program Specialist, building the capacity of the Food Bank's emergency food program network. At the Food Bank, Ms. Fleisch won a United Way Junior Fellowship as "one of 25 emerging leaders in New York City's non-profit sector." Craving immediate, direct knowledge of food/agriculture, she apprenticed at Hava & Adam Ecological Farm in Modiin, Israel, where she lived in a geodesic dome and grew vegetables from September 2008 until February 2009. Post-farm life, Karin consulted for non-profits in the fields of food systems, food security, and sustainability. Her clients included Leket Israel, Israel's national food bank. In June 2009, she participated in the ROI Global Summit for Young Jewish Innovators, after which she returned to the Food Bank, as Manager of Member Services. In this capacity, she oversees member program recruitment and manages a staff of four Specialists who guide, advise and monitor NYC's 1000+ soup kitchens and food pantries. She also sits on the board of Uri L'Tzedek and is a compliance officer for the Tav HaYosher (an ethical seal to certify kosher restaurants that respect basic labor standards). She studied Philosophy and Political Science at Boston University, graduating with honors in 2003.
Marissa Block
After volunteering on an organic farm in summer 2009 opened her eyes to the wonder and power of sustainable food, Marissa left her bustling life in Brooklyn to explore her newfound passion for agriculture. Her journey brought her to the Hazon Food Conference in California, where she was introduced to Yigal and a little known program called Eco-Israel. After a stint of WWOOFing on the West Coast in summer 2010, her explorations led her to magical country of Israel and the perfect little farm called Hava v'Adam. Her five months as an Eco 5 participant solidified her desire to dedicate her life to permaculture, sustainable food and social justice -- in addition to gaining some of the best friends and best memories in the world. She has fallen deeply in love with community living and farm life, and in April 2011 she heads to Eugene, Oregon, to become an Apprentice on yet another organic farm for the upcoming growing season.
Mere weeks after the conclusion of Eco 5, back in her snowy hometown of Boston, Marissa misses playing in dirt every day, roo koo koos, harvesting salad out of the garden at every meal, watching the cabbage in her Dome Garden get bigger, Idan's beard, sitting under the big tree in the center of the farm, baby Jaya, tahina on everything, Goldstar beer, and stunning sunrises and sunsets over Domeville.
Marissa can be reached at marissa.block@gmail.com, and would be happy to speak to you about anything!
Mere weeks after the conclusion of Eco 5, back in her snowy hometown of Boston, Marissa misses playing in dirt every day, roo koo koos, harvesting salad out of the garden at every meal, watching the cabbage in her Dome Garden get bigger, Idan's beard, sitting under the big tree in the center of the farm, baby Jaya, tahina on everything, Goldstar beer, and stunning sunrises and sunsets over Domeville.
Marissa can be reached at marissa.block@gmail.com, and would be happy to speak to you about anything!
Becca Droz
Becca Droz, from Sixburgh a.k.a. The City of Champions a.k.a. Pittsburgh, PA, was a lost soul, wandering aimlessly in the deserts of her mind until random series of events created for a teleportation portal to the Hava & Adam farm. She was on a gap-year from school at the University of Colorado at Boulder trying to find out what major she wanted to pursue for her final two years of school. She always knew that she loved nature, especially after participating in trail crews in Virginia and Alaska with the Student Conservation Association (SCA), but trail crews just didn’t seem like a practical guide for life.
As she embarked on the mental, spiritual, and mildly physical adventure of a lifetime on the farm, she became drawn to her passion, permaculture. With this awakening to an understanding of a solution, a practical, possible, eatable solution to many of the world’s problems, Becca has not only found what she wants her career path to be, but she has found a major! Becca is currently working to create her own major at CU called Permaculture and will be the only CU student with an individually structured major!
Becca is spending the remainder of her gap-year back in Sixburgh earning money and getting involved with Transition Town Pittsburgh and Evolver Pittsburgh (everyone should look to see if there is a transition town or evolver in their city) where she has met amazing people interested in permaculture and consciousness and creating the more beautiful world that we all know in our hearts is possible.
Becca thinks that it is strange writing in third person and is still a lost soul, but is practicing yoga and meditation, which has helped her to understand that the cosmic powers of the Universe will help guide her through her brief moment in time on this beautiful Earth.
Feel free to contact her at 412 805 0509 or beccadroz@yahoo.com
As she embarked on the mental, spiritual, and mildly physical adventure of a lifetime on the farm, she became drawn to her passion, permaculture. With this awakening to an understanding of a solution, a practical, possible, eatable solution to many of the world’s problems, Becca has not only found what she wants her career path to be, but she has found a major! Becca is currently working to create her own major at CU called Permaculture and will be the only CU student with an individually structured major!
Becca is spending the remainder of her gap-year back in Sixburgh earning money and getting involved with Transition Town Pittsburgh and Evolver Pittsburgh (everyone should look to see if there is a transition town or evolver in their city) where she has met amazing people interested in permaculture and consciousness and creating the more beautiful world that we all know in our hearts is possible.
Becca thinks that it is strange writing in third person and is still a lost soul, but is practicing yoga and meditation, which has helped her to understand that the cosmic powers of the Universe will help guide her through her brief moment in time on this beautiful Earth.
Feel free to contact her at 412 805 0509 or beccadroz@yahoo.com
