We are very excited to announce the launch of the first annual crowdfunding campaign for the Jerusalem Green Fund – ֵGREEN YOUR CITY!

The Jerusalem Green Fund (JGF) stands out among Israeli organizations today directly confronting the challenges of climate change in the urban domain. It is unique in its broad spectrum approach of addressing environmental, economic, and societal issues, whilst facilitating dialogue with the municipality to affect real change. With over 90% of Israel’s population now living in cities it is imperative that we advocate for and work towards sustainable cities 

The JGF invites you and all who live in Jerusalem or for whom Jerusalem lives in their heart to partner with us in transforming Jerusalem into a cleaner, greener, and healthier city for all of its residents, and in protecting the essential natural resources in and around the city. 

Donate to the #GreenYourCity campaign now!
 

Jerusalem’s population has more than doubled in the last 15 years. This impressive increase has resulted in urban sprawl, the densification of building within city limits, building of new roads, greater noise pollution, more waste production, lack of drainage water management along with a myriad of other issues relating to social stresses inherent to inner city communities. All of this often comes at the expense of our natural surroundings which is essential for quality of life. 
 

Jerusalem’s growth must be sustainable in order not to directly impair the environment - the clean water, fresh air, healthy food supplies, urban trees, and invigorating natural spaces - which nourish and sustain us.

The Jerusalem Green Fund needs you! Each of you is a part of the wondrous weave of Jerusalem and its environment. Each of you is an active participant in building Jerusalem. We at the JGF are turning to you to take an active role in #GreenYourCity by joining and supporting us through this campaign. Help us reach our goal of 180,000 shekels. Help us strengthen and expand our many ongoing programs in Jerusalem:

“For the sake of Zion I will not remain silent , and for the sake of Jerusalem I will not be still” (Isaiah 62:1)

“The final chapter is ours to write. We know what we need to do. What happens next is up to us.” David Attenborough

Beit Taylor & Sustainablility Forum Kiriyat HaYovel

Our NeighborFood project at the Taylor Community Center has been established as a hub for sustainable activities. In an effort to save the center and the adjacent urban nature site of Wadi Hayovel, we have over 30 volunteers, from high schoolers to senior citizens join us every Tuesday afternoon at the rescued food stand, community garden and giveaway store.

In the past month we planted seeds from rescued produce in the garden and finished the play area that was funded by the Place-making project.

Join us, Tuesday February 14th for our Tu B'shvat event in cooperation with all our friends from the Sustainability Forum!

Post Urban Forestry Course

Although the Tree Course is over, we are keeping in touch at monthly meetings

To do for the trees and the people of Jerusalem.

You can join us through the WhatsApp group or contact Efrat: 052-5665364 fefrat@gmail.com

Romema Center for Sustainability

Recently our Nachal”a Forum (Haredi Women for Neighborhood Advancement) in Romema met with Rachel Rabinovich of Bishvil Artzy for three meetings on connections between Torah and nature, urban nature and our place there within. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed themselves, learned a lot and was inspired to keep on pursuing our neighborhood goals.

Sustainable Jerusalem Lobby

• The lobby already has over 70 organizations, together we are preparing a menu of requests for candidates in the municipal elections

• With the help of a student intern who we are sponsoring from Bar Kayma, we are now holding meetings with all the member organizations of the lobby, to strengthen ties and refine the requests for candidates in the elections, which will be held in November.

• Following the arrest of 3 "Save the Jerusalem Hills" activists in a demonstration in front of Moshe Leon's house, the lobby sent a letter to the mayor requesting to condemn the arrest, and to fulfill his commitment to protect the Jerusalem hills

Hanoch Carlebach

Hanoch Carlebach, a Jerusalemite, always loved nature and urban nature. When he was very young, he approached Naomi Tsur in 2001, when she was director of the Jerusalem region for the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel (SPNI), with the intention of setting up a project to clean the city's natural springs (obviously she helped him out). 21 years later Hanoch met Naomi again, with a different request, with much more life experience and knowledge in the field of sustainability. This time he created a vision with his friend, Erez Cohen, to establish community-based agricultural farms integrating people with disabilities on city rooftops. He quickly realized that the Jerusalem Green Fund encourages such projects and immediately became a Jerusalem Stakeholder. Together Hanoch & the JGF submitted a call for proposals to establish such a roof in the Romema Community Center (we are still waiting for the answer!).

After working as a private gardener for 20 years,Hanoch left this area of work completely, in order to focus on green roofs and realize his vision. In the meantime, to delve deeper and promote them in the city, he has been appointed to a newly established position in the municipality, coordinator of rooftop community gardens. Hanoch will be responsible for establishing, developing and guiding rooftop community gardens throughout the city!

Hanoch has two children, who both like to hike in nature - in Mitzpe Ramon and also in Jerusalem, especially in areas like Bible Hill and Mishkenot Sha'ananim, which enjoy the vista of the Old City visual basin.