The power of a Movement

Dear Friends,

They say that in the Land of Wishes, Expressions, and Sayings, a competition is held every year at the same time: the contest for the most worn-out cliché. In this contest, the participants do not arrive at the peak of their strength or with sharp focus, but rather weary and battered.

And every year, without fail, the audience’s favorite takes first place: Shana Tova, “Happy New Year.” Its victory is, of course, guaranteed in the years to come. After all, everyone loves it. They replicate it again and again and again, everywhere imaginable. The rivals of Shana Tova cannot understand how it keeps winning year after year, even though everyone who uses it feels disappointed by the ever-widening gap between the wish and reality.

And indeed, the gap is visible everywhere: prolonged heat waves, the Environmental Emissions Register pointing to pollution and exposing lies in broad daylight, and above all, the war continues, 48 of our brothers and sisters are gone, and the suffering of all endures.

Yet life and the environment do not wait and cannot wait. And so, even when reality is harsh, hope still lingers in all our hearts. The work carries on through those determined to reverse the trends: for example, the hundreds of environmentalists who have called for an end to the war, and the workers of the Nesher factory in Ramla who stood up against a polluting industry.

~ ~ ~ With wishes for a Shana Tova of healing and renewal, and with hope and anticipation for the return of everyone

 Standing Up for Israel’s Environmental Organizations

This month, Life & Environment, together with Adam Teva V’Din and MK Yurai Lahav-Hertzano (Yesh Atid), petitioned the Supreme Court against the Ministry of Environmental Protection for blocking the transfer of 11 million NIS in annual support funds for environmental NGOs.

The funds were approved unanimously seven months ago by the Cleanliness Fund, which is legally independent and financed by waste disposal fees. Despite this, the Ministry refused to issue the required call for proposals, citing “budgetary constraints”—a claim the petitioners argue has no legal basis.

The Knesset’s Interior and Environmental Protection Committee has already ruled the Ministry acted without authority and urged Minister Idit Silman to reverse her decision. She declined to attend the Committee’s hearing.

Without these funds, the work of many organizations, particularly smaller groups serving Arab and ultra-Orthodox communities, faces serious harm. As petitioners stressed, the Minister’s role is purely executive and she has no discretion to block the transfer.

“Instead of fighting pollution, the Minister is fighting those who defend the public from it,” said MK Lahav-Hertzano.

We will continue to resist government attempts to silence civil society and weaken Israel’s environmental movement.

 Farewell to Uri and a Warm Welcome to Lara 

After three remarkable years, Uri Angel, the director of the Tzamarot Accelerator, is leaving his role to pursue studies in energy systems at Oxford University. Uri believes that sustainability is today’s strongest expression of love—for people, animals, and future generations. During his tenure, he significantly contributed to the growth and development of the initiatives accepted into the Tzamarot program. We thank Uri for his dedication, excellence, and impact.

We are thrilled to announce that the program’s leadership will continue in excellent hands: Lara Faran will succeed Uri as director of Tzamarot, guiding and supporting innovative initiatives. Lara comes from within the movement, having served as CEO of 15 Minutes, and brings extensive experience from the Israel Society of Ecology and Environmental Sciences and other organizations. We wish Lara every success and are confident she will do an outstanding job.

Thank you for being part of our Journey.

Sincerely, The Life & Environment Team