As a specialized academic institution, the Arava Institute equips leaders with the environmental knowledge, conflict mitigation skills and innovative research necessary to cooperatively solve the environmental challenges of the Middle East and the world. Founded in 1996, the Arava Institute has over 850 alumni. These alumni share a global consciousness and an entrepreneurial spirit. They are advocates for cooperation, are knowledgeable about pressing environmental and social issues and are committed to sustainability.
The Arava Institute offers an alternative paradigm in which shared environmental concerns bring future leaders together rather than drive them apart. Arava Institute research centers conduct innovative projects that address the environmental issues that strain the Israeli-Arab relationship. Simultaneously, the Arava Institute’s academic program provides both an exceptional environmental education and advanced intercultural dialogue skills around the shared concern of environmental degradation and sustainability.
This work is only possible through the continued commitment of our dedicated supporters. The Arava Institute is proud to honor these individuals as members of the Arava Institute Acacia Giving Society.
2014 Acacia Giving Society Members
[toggle title=”Platinum”]
Platinum members have supported the Arava Institute with a gift of $10,000 or more in 2014. An asterisk (*) next to their name(s) denotes that they made their gift through the Jewish National Fund. These individuals include:
Jeffrey Abramson* |
Michael & Judith Berman |
Harry Bleiwise |
Irwin & Rita Blitt |
Frank Chudnow & Margie Patlak* (Trustee) |
Pearl Elias* |
Joseph & Deborah Eppstein (Trustee) |
Franklin Fisher* |
Jonathan Fishman* |
Aaron Frank* |
Lois & Larry Frank* |
Bernard Friedman |
Melvin & Geraldine Garbow* |
Lori Gordon* |
David & Brenda Jaffe* (Trustees) |
Paul & Carol Miller |
Rick & Nancy Moskovitz |
Marion Mueller |
Jay Myers |
Sylvia Neil & Daniel Fischel* |
Miriam Newman & Michael Pinnolis (Trustee) |
Mildred Stein |
Ronald & Katherine Stein* |
Chet & Rita Stein* (Trustee) |
Paul Yarowsky & Katheryn Grumbach* |
Andrew & Julie Wilshinsky* |
[/toggle]
[toggle title=”Gold”]
Gold members have supported the Arava Institute with a gift ranging from $5,000-$9,999 in 2014. An asterisk (*) next to their name(s) denotes that they made their gift through the Jewish National Fund. These individuals include:
Lawrence & Marcia Arem |
Theodore Banks* |
Michael Charness* |
Eileen Chudnow* |
Chuck Edelstein* |
Cary & Nancy Feldman* |
Karen & Barry Fierst* (Advisory Board) |
Betty Freudman* |
Mort Gerber & Mary Ann Levitt* |
Paul Gillis* |
Amy Goldman & Joel Brill (Trustee) |
Sally Gottesman & Rachel Tiven |
Jack & Celeste Grynberg* |
Daniel & Naomi Kayne |
Maurice Amado Foundation* |
Robert Kitchenoff* |
Kenneth Kruspsky* |
Matthew Lieberman* |
Lisa & Maury Friedman* (Advisory Board) |
Larry Lustberg |
Jeffrey Menick* |
Butch Weaver* (Advisory Board) |
Jack & Andrea Platt |
Elliot Rebhun |
Paula & Azzy Reckess |
Nathan & Mary Relles* |
Ben Sillins & the Robert Sillins Family Foundation |
Shai & Judy Robkin* (Trustee) |
Howie & Susie Rodenstein* (Trustee) |
Lee Tabas* |
Cheryl Ullman |
Francine Lavin Weaver* (Advisory Board) |
[/toggle]
[toggle title=”Silver”]
Silver members have supported the Arava Institute with a gift ranging from $2,500-$4,999 in 2014. An asterisk (*) next to their name(s) denotes that they made their gift through the Jewish National Fund. These individuals include:
Debra Aaron |
Dick Berman* |
Bruce Berman* |
Matt Brown* |
David Camp & Gwen Borowsky* (Trustee) |
Harvey & Katherine Cohen* (Trustee) |
Doris Roskin* |
Russell & Brenda Frank* |
David & Marilyn Frazer* |
Art Gould (Trustee) |
Deborah Marcus-Stayman* |
Judy Mendel & Paul Feldman |
Howard Metzenberg* |
Hershel & Betsy Richman (Trustee) |
Hillel & Judy Salomon (Trustee) |
Alan Salzberg |
Mark & Marcee Samberg* |
Eric Schaffer* |
Karen Schapiro & Douglas Frazer* (Trustee) |
Stuart & Joan Schoenfeld (Advisory Board) |
Stephen Segal |
Bill Steinmetz |
Steven & Sara Wilstein* |
[/toggle]
[toggle title=”Bronze”]
Bronze members have supported the Arava Institute with a gift ranging from $1,000-$2,499 in 2014. An asterisk (*) next to their name(s) denotes that they made their gift through the Jewish National Fund. These individuals include:
Adler Family Foundation |
David & Ryna Alexander* |
Isaac Antebi & Mechal Perl* |
Paula Barco |
Bay & Paul Foundations |
Eric Berzon & Danielle Ruymaker (Trustee) |
Michael Bien |
Jeremy Bollinger* |
Andrea Boyarsky-Maisel |
Jonas Brachfeld* |
Judith Buechner |
Daniel & Claire Caine* |
Scott Cassel* |
Gerald Cook |
Lisa Edelstein* |
Sue Fischlowitz & David Roberts |
Morris Flaum* |
Brian Foont |
Meryl Frank |
Clark French |
Mark & Mary Glick |
Debbie Goldman |
Phil & Carol Goldsmith |
Rabbi Leslie Gordon & David Goodtree* |
Harvey & Patti Gould |
Reyla Graber* |
Harold & Nancy Parritz |
Jon Harris-Shapiro (Trustee) |
Debbie Heller |
Lisa Hicks* |
Ruth & Mark Joffe |
Joseph Kahan |
George & Barbara Kramer |
Roberta Landau* |
Nicholas Leighton |
Jodi & Ross Mansbach* |
Michael Marcus* (Trustee) |
Massie Family |
Hinda & Joel Miller |
Glenda & David Minkin* |
Marcy & Michael Needle* |
John & Kayla Niles |
Linda Peotter* |
Michael Polifka |
Norman Rosenberg |
Annette Rotter & Joel Laitman |
Phillip & Debbie Rubin* |
Stanley & Sheila Schwartz* |
Wayne Senville & Lila Shapero |
Kenneth & Pamela Simon |
Lois Simon* |
Bennett Simon |
Marvin M. Slott |
Shira Sternberg (Trustee) |
Lynne Tapper & Leland Brandt |
Stephen & Susan Wagner |
Mark & Pam Weinstein |
Ben & Sandra Weiss |
Warren Wolfson |
Jessica & Eric Zachs |
Nolan Zail* |
[/toggle]
About the Acacia Tree
When asked to describe the meaning of the acacia tree in three words, students from the Arava Institute focused on the tree’s resilience, strength and tenacity in the face of adversity. It is fitting then that this tree should represent the Institute and all who work, study and support it. Mutual understanding, cross-cultural cooperation and lasting peace are not easily achieved. Yet since the Institute’s start in 1996, over 850 students have set out to accomplish these ambitious aims. With the help of our faculty, staff and supporters, these young leaders have shown resilience, strength and tenacity to overcome the political tensions, cultural disassociation and environmental challenges that divide the region. These leaders are friends, allies, colleagues and partners, working together to achieve their vision of a sustainable and peaceful Middle East.
