Teva Learning Alliance
{{Short description|US non-profit organization}}
{{Tone|date=July 2009}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Teva Learning Alliance
| logo =
| foundation = 1994
| location = New York City, US
| key_people = Nili Simhai
(Director)
Alexandra Kuperman
(Assistant Director)
| industry = Non-profit
| homepage = [http://www.tevalearningcenter.org www.tevalearningcenter.org]
}}
The Teva Learning Alliance (formerly Teva Learning Center) is a Jewish-based environmental education 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that teaches about Judaism and the environment at Jewish day schools, summer camps and Hebrew schools.{{cite news|title=Love the Earth? Bless the Sun|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB123872560930985495|publisher=Wall Street Journal|date=3 April 2009 | first=Julie | last=Wiener}} It is the only full-time year-round program providing innovative, experiential Jewish and nature-based education.Westchester Jewish Conference, Organizations and Synagogues Directory 2009-2010
History and mission
The Teva Learning Center was founded in 1994 by and is based at the Isabella Freedman Jewish Retreat Center and Surprise Lake Camp.{{cite web|url=http://isabellafreedman.org/environment/teva |title=Isabella Freedman Jewish Retreat Center |publisher=Isabellafreedman.org |date=2009-04-20 |accessdate=2011-08-17}}
The Teva Learning Center seeks "to renew the ecological wisdom inherent in Judaism" by "immersing participants in the natural world."{{cite news|title=D.C. News & Views: Faith Goes Green |url=http://www.mpac.org/article.php?id=663 |accessdate=2009-07-24 |date=27 June 2008 |publisher=Muslim Public Affairs Committee |quote=The Teva Learning Center, for example, seeks to create awareness among Jews about their connection with and dependence upon the natural systems that support life. The Center seeks “to renew the ecological wisdom inherent in Judaism” by “immersing participants in the natural world.” |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090723110613/http://www.mpac.org/article.php?id=663 |archivedate=July 23, 2009 }}
Its director, Nili Simhai, won the 2009 Covenant Foundation award for Excellence in Jewish Education.{{cite web|url=http://www.covenantfn.org/news/18/137/Covenant-Foundation-Announces-2009-Awardees-for-Excellence-in-Jewish-Education/ |title=News Article | The Covenant Foundation |publisher=Covenantfn.org |date= |accessdate=2011-08-17}} In 2014, Teva and the Isabella Freedman Jewish Retreat Center merged with the Jewish environmental organization Hazon.{{Cite web|url=http://hazon.org/isabella-freedman/history/|title = History}}
Programs
The Teva Learning Center is a Jewish education group which engages in environmental education and activism through the context of Judaism.{{cite news | title = Retreat mixes spirit with love of nature | url = http://www.njjewishnews.com/njjn.com/111507/moRetreatMixesSpirit.html| accessdate = 2009-07-24 | date = 13 November 2007 | publisher = New Jersey Jewish News| quote = They took part in the program at the Teva Learning Center in Falls Village, Conn., which integrates outdoor environmental education with Jewish concepts and values.}} Teva's education centers on the preservation of the environment from a Jewish point of view.{{cite web|last=Brown|first=Elicia|title=Cutting The Budget, But Not The Joy|url=http://www.thejewishweek.com/viewArticle/c227_a15272/Special_Sections/Celebrate.html|url-status=dead|accessdate=July 24, 2009|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090501235316/http://www.thejewishweek.com/viewArticle/c227_a15272/Special_Sections/Celebrate.html|archivedate=May 1, 2009}} Teva frequently teaches children in Jewish day schools teaches as well as synagogues, camps and youth groups.{{cite web|url=http://forward.com/articles/15080/ |title=Digging Deep on Tu B'Shevat – |publisher=Forward.com |date= 4 February 2009|accessdate=2011-08-17}} Teva provides a hands-on approach to environmental education.{{cite web|url=http://www.hadassah.org/news/content/per_hadassah/archive/2009/09_Feb/feature_2.asp |title=Site Map | Hadassah, The Women's Zionist Org of America |publisher=Hadassah.org |date= |accessdate=2011-08-17}}{{cite web|author=Ben Tepfer |url=http://www.jvibe.com/Real_life/Renewal.php |title=Using Religion to Save the Planet |publisher=JVibe |date= |accessdate=2011-08-17}}
=Bring It Back To Our School=
Teva provides workshops on the environment and outdoor experiences along the East Coast at 45 different schools{{cite web |url=http://www.thejewishweek.com/viewArticle/c36_a13447/News/New_York.html |title=Archived |website=www.thejewishweek.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080923081605/http://www.thejewishweek.com/viewArticle/c36_a13447/News/New_York.html |archive-date=September 23, 2008 |access-date=2023-04-26}}{{dl|date=April 2023}} working with about 4,000 students annually.{{cite web|url=http://www.njjewishnews.com/njjn.com/062509/sxSchoolRecycling.html |title=School recycling effort earns state recognition | New Jersey Jewish News |publisher=Njjewishnews.com |date=2009-06-23 |accessdate=2011-08-17}}
Part of this is teaching students that they are Shomrei Adamah ('Keepers of the Earth'):
Shomrei Adamah ('Keepers of the Earth'), is for fifth- and sixth-grade day-school students who visit a retreat center for four days and make a 'brit adamah,' or covenant with the earth, to engage in environmental activity. The Center also runs a program for junior-high students, Achdoot ('Togetherness'), in which the teens camp in the wilderness, usually a state campground.{{cite news |url=http://www.thejewishweek.com/viewArticle/c372_a12455/Special_Sections/The_New_Activism.html |title=It's Not Easy Being Green |first=Doug |last=Chandler |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081120224152/http://www.thejewishweek.com/viewArticle/c372_a12455/Special_Sections/The_New_Activism.html |archive-date=November 20, 2008 |work=The Jewish Week |date=June 18, 2008 |access-date=2023-04-26}}
In June 2009, students from the Solomon Schechter Day School of Raritan Valley in New Jersey were presented with the 'Kids for Clean Communities Award' for the recycling program they developed at their school after attending the Teva program.
=Birkat HaChamah=
In 2014, Teva purchased a bus previously owned by Ben & Jerry's founder Ben Cohen for use in environmental classes.{{cite web|url=http://forward.com/articles/104024/ |title=Blessing of the Sun: A Teachable Moment – |publisher=Forward.com |date= 17 March 2009|accessdate=2011-08-17}} The bus was incorporated into environmental awareness programs related to Birkat Hachamah or Blessing of the Sun. However, Orthodox Talmudic scholar Rabbi J. David Bleich of Yeshiva University, (a specialist in Birkat Hachamah) has criticized this interpretation of Judaism as a notably environmental faith. He argues that environmental problems are "issues in and of themselves and are totally unrelated to the blessing of the sun," as the blessing is an occasion to acknowledge the wonder of God's creations, not a political statement. "I suppose you can connect anything," he says. "You can draw dots and lines; you don't have to be logical.".
=Farm Fellowships=
Teva offers a three month fellowship in environmental farming and Jewish values.{{cite web|url=http://forward.com/articles/13968/ |title=Farm School Brings Students Back to Their Roots|publisher=Forward.com |date= 14 August 2008|accessdate=2011-08-17}}{{cite web|last=Fishkoff |first=Sue |url=http://jta.org/news/article/2008/12/30/1001876/jewish-food-movement-comes-of-age |title=Jewish food movement comes of age | JTA - Jewish & Israel News |publisher=JTA |date=2008-12-30 |accessdate=2011-08-17}}
=Teva Seminar=
An annual four-day program designed to train over 100 participants to develop programs in their 'home' institutions.{{cite web|url=http://www.wiserearth.org/organization/view/647ea6ed69c613d14ff8106bfe2dafd7 |title=Organization: Teva Learning Center |publisher=Wiserearth.org |date= |accessdate=2011-08-17}}
References
{{reflist|2}}
External links
- [http://tevalearningcenter.org Teva Learning Center]
{{American Jewish environmental organizations}}
Category:Jewish organizations based in New York City
Category:Environmental organizations based in New York City
Category:Jewish educational organizations