Fourth Jewish Climate Action Conference: Full Schedule

It will take collaboration to meet our climate goals. This is not the time for divisiveness, this is the time to come together. We are glad you are here to teach and to learn. REGISTER AT WWW.JEWISHCLIMATE.ORG

You will be able to validate your attendance (Check-In to sessions) using your personal schedule.

10:30am EDT

Environmental Cooperation as a Path to Peacebuilding

Sunday June 8, 2025 10:30am - 11:15am EDT

TBA

Speakers

Rabbi Michael Cohen

Arava Institute

Rabbi Michael Margaretten Cohen is a faculty member of the Arava Institute for Environmental Studies and Bennington College. He is also the Director of Community Relations, for the Friends of Arava Institute. He teaches courses on conflict resolution, the Bible, and the environment... Read More →

Sunday June 8, 2025 10:30am - 11:15am EDT
TBA 10 Bethel Rd, Wellesley, MA

BUILDING POWER & COLLABORATION

10:30am EDT

GLAMorous Climate Resilience: Cultural Heritage and Knowledge Organizations as Hubs for Climate Work

Sunday June 8, 2025 10:30am - 11:15am EDT

TBA

GLAM spaces are Galleries, Libraries, Archives, and Museums, and in addition to being places of cultural preservation and generation, they are also community resources, hubs, and sanctuaries. This panel discussion will explore the role GLAM spaces play in times of climate crisis, and the importance of organizing both inside and out of these resources to protect both the front line staff and the patrons of these vital resources.

Speakers

Rachael Boyce

Climate Justice and Resilience Manager, Better Future Project

A queer feminist and Maryland transplant, Rachael relocated to Massachusetts to work as a pastry chef. Working in the hospitality industry for 12 years gave her the opportunity to work alongside and learn from the hardest working individuals she has had the privilege to meet. It was... Read More →

Paul Fenton

Director of Environmental and Outdoor Education, Discovery Museum

Paul Fenton is currently the Director of Environmental and Outdoor Education a the Discovery Museum in Acton MA. He has about fifteen years of experience communicating with the public about climate change and the natural world at a variety of informal learning institutions. Paul... Read More →

Puck Malamud

BPL

Sunday June 8, 2025 10:30am - 11:15am EDT
TBA 10 Bethel Rd, Wellesley, MA

BUILDING POWER & COLLABORATION, ADVOCACY

10:30am EDT

Climate and the Future of Electricity and Natural Gas: Insights

Sunday June 8, 2025 10:30am - 11:15am EDT

TBA

This panel discussion will look at where we are, where we need to go for climate, with focus on obstacles and opportunities.

Speakers

David Schreiber

Greenvest

David believes the greatest returns – financial, personal and professional – come from doing well by doing good. Consequently he guides his clients’ investments in accordance with their values and goals toward corporations with responsible environmental, social and governance... Read More →

Marya Axner

JCAN and Fix-the-Grid

Harvey Michaels

MIT Faculty, Energy Business Leader, MIT, XENERGY, CSG

Lecturer and Research Faculty, Energy and Climate Solutions, MIT (Sloan and Environmental Planning). Formerly leader of energy efficiency companies Aclara and Xenergy providing analytics and services. Board member/advisor to Conservation Services Group, eMeter, US gov't Solar and... Read More →

Mark Dyen

Mark Dyen is an energy efficiency and renewable energy advocate and retired energy efficiency entrepreneur. As an advocate since the early 1970’s Mark was involved in the creation and adoption of energy policy reforms, including the creation of Mass Save, reforms in electric rate... Read More →

Paul Shorb

Sunday June 8, 2025 10:30am - 11:15am EDT
TBA 10 Bethel Rd, Wellesley, MA

DECARBONIZING & INFRASTRUCTURE, PANEL

10:30am EDT

Solar Opportunites for Synagogues and Nonprofits

Sunday June 8, 2025 10:30am - 11:15am EDT

TBA

In this workshop, we'll explain solar opportunities for synagogues and nonprofits, and provite updates and predictions for federal and state incentives

Speakers

Maddie Barr

Resonant Energy

Sunday June 8, 2025 10:30am - 11:15am EDT
TBA 10 Bethel Rd, Wellesley, MA

DECARBONIZING ACTIONS, BUILDINGS

10:30am EDT

Judaism and Environmental Justice

Sunday June 8, 2025 10:30am - 11:15am EDT

TBA

In this workshop, we'll explain what environmental justice is, how to recognize injustices in our own communities, and what actions can be taken to combat the structures that contribute to these injustices through a Jewish lens.

Speakers

Rachel Scarpino

JALSA

Rachel Scarpino is an Organizer at JALSA. Rachel attended Hofstra University for her bachelor’s degree in Global Studies, Geography, and Political Science, and UMass Boston for her master’s degree in Global Inclusion & Social Development. Her organizing background includes an... Read More →

Hank Greenberg

JALSA

Hank Greenberg is an Organizer at JALSA. Hank graduated from Haverford College with a major in Political Science and a minor in Environmental Studies. He is a seasoned political organizer with experience working for Montgomery County (PA) Democrats, the New Pennsylvania Project, and... Read More →

Sunday June 8, 2025 10:30am - 11:15am EDT
TBA 10 Bethel Rd, Wellesley, MA

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE & HEALING, SOCIAL JUSTICE

10:30am EDT

Jewish Eco-Poetry: Poems of Grief, Protest, Resistance, and Resilience

Sunday June 8, 2025 10:30am - 11:15am EDT

TBA

Dig into the world of Jewish eco-poetry as we read and discuss selections by Hila Ratzabi, Sabina Messeg, Monica Gomery and others. The poems presented will vary in their expression of the human relationship with and response to the more-than-human world, ranging from a deep sense of connection to profound grief or raging protest. The function of eco-poetry in expressing grief and as a tool for protest, resistance, and resilience will be explored. Participants, including those who have never written a poem before, will discover at the end of the session that they have created a Jewish eco-poem for the times.

Speakers

Rabbi Katy Allen

Co-founder and President, pro tem, Jewish Climate Action Network

Katy Allen is the founder and rabbi of Ma'yan Tikvah - A Wellspring of Hope, and the co-founder and President of Jewish Climate Action Network-MA. She is a board certified chaplain and a former healthcare chaplain and now considers herself an eco-chaplain.

Sunday June 8, 2025 10:30am - 11:15am EDT
TBA 10 Bethel Rd, Wellesley, MA

RESILIENCE, POETRY/STORYTELLING

10:30am EDT

Refugia Theology: Building Faith Networks of Shelter, Resilience, and Climate Healing

Sunday June 8, 2025 10:30am - 11:15am EDT

TBA

The biological concept of refugia refers to the reality that some pockets of species biodiversity might survive environmental disaster (volcano, glaciation, etc.) and become the seeds of habitat renewal in the future. As we begin to live the reality of climate change—flood, drought, fire, crop loss, competition for resources, power systems designed to centralize wealth, control, and survival—can people of faith become refugia communities? Refugia means, not withdrawal, but healing, resilience, and active commitment. Can we create places of safety that are also active models for a future that respects the inter-relatedness of all life on earth? The goal of this workshop is to look at potential interfaith implications of refugia theology.

Speakers

Karen Root Watkins

Church of the Good Shepherd (Acton), EnergizeActon.org

Sunday June 8, 2025 10:30am - 11:15am EDT
TBA 10 Bethel Rd, Wellesley, MA

SPIRITUAL VALUES AND ACTIVISM

10:30am EDT

Starting a Community Cleanup in your Community

Sunday June 8, 2025 10:30am - 11:15am EDT

TBA

At this presentation, I will show the video of my daughters being interviewed about the Community Cleanup program they helped create in Needham (https://www.boston25news.com/news/8-year-old-needham-twins-organize-cleanup-event/QSE5KXRGABGXBCIXTLHZZQO5OM/) and offer advice (including a printed one-sheet) that will encourage and help guests to start their own programs in other communities.

Speakers

Matt Robinson

Matt Robinson is an educator and writer who has written for and about many environmental, Jewish, and other organizations. Along with his twin daughters, Matt has helped create the Needham Cleanup Crew (https://www.facebook.com/groups/1805160079665578) and is here today to encour... Read More →

Sunday June 8, 2025 10:30am - 11:15am EDT
TBA 10 Bethel Rd, Wellesley, MA

SUSTAINABILITY & COLLABORATION, COLLABORATION

11:30am EDT

Empowering Communities: Clean Energy Outreach in Underserved Neighborhoods

Sunday June 8, 2025 11:30am - 12:15pm EDT

TBA

TBD

Speakers

Nathan Scott

Executive Director, Mass Energize

Nathan Kumar Scott is the Executive Director of MassEnergize, a Massachusetts based non-profit empowering communities to engage in climate action. Mr. Scott has spent his career in nonprofit leadership, with close to 20 years as the Executive Director of a variety of organizations focused on education... Read More →

Sunday June 8, 2025 11:30am - 12:15pm EDT
TBA 10 Bethel Rd, Wellesley, MA

BUILDING POWER & COLLABORATION, COLLABORATION

11:30am EDT

How Mothers Out Front Organizes to Win Local and Statewide Campaigns

Sunday June 8, 2025 11:30am - 12:15pm EDT

TBA

We will explain how we organize so others can compare and imagine ways our organizations could collaborate. We'll describe our current, ambitious statewide campaign: Clean Affordable Heat Now.

Speakers

Maxine Hunter

Volunteer, Mothers Out Front

A retired science teacher, I have been a volunteer climate organizer with Mothers Out Front for almost 10 years. I founded an active chapter serving West Roxbury, Roslindale and Hyde Park and work with all the Boston chapters to impact citywide policies. I serve on the statewide... Read More →

Sunday June 8, 2025 11:30am - 12:15pm EDT
TBA 10 Bethel Rd, Wellesley, MA

BUILDING POWER & COLLABORATION, STATE AND LOCAL

11:30am EDT

Climate and the future of Electricity and Natural Gas: Action

Sunday June 8, 2025 11:30am - 12:15pm EDT

TBA

This panel will consider policies worthy of JCAN support, and what we can do to help make them happen.

Speakers

David Schreiber

Greenvest

Marya Axner

JCAN and Fix-the-Grid

Harvey Michaels

MIT Faculty, Energy Business Leader, MIT, XENERGY, CSG

Mark Dyen

Paul Shorb

Sunday June 8, 2025 11:30am - 12:15pm EDT
TBA 10 Bethel Rd, Wellesley, MA

DECARBONIZING & INFRASTRUCTURE, PANEL

11:30am EDT

Deep HVAC decarbonization: Case studies of two local houses of worship

Sunday June 8, 2025 11:30am - 12:15pm EDT

TBA

Two houses of worship were burning system was deteriorating. In this workshop, we'll explain what actions they took, engaging with firms to scope out clean heat retrofits so they were ready and not forced into urgent fossil fuel drop-in replacements. Both institutions considered "total cost of ownership" over the long-term and made principled commitments to clean heat, rather than investing in another 20+ years of burning hydrocarbons. We'll show how they found solutions to provide 85% decarbonization and more.

Speakers

Chris Lewis

Vice President of Engineering, GreenerU

Chris has more than seventeen years of experience in energy efficiency and deep decarbonization. Prior to GreenerU, Chris specialized in projects for higher education, public housing and municipalities with a national energy services company (ESCO) including at housing authorities... Read More →

Eric Grunebaum

Business Development Manager, GreenerU

Eric has a 25 years track record in project management and business development in diverse sectors including developing mixed-income housing, producing and directing documentary films and museums exhibits and project development for energy efficiency and renewables.He pivoted into... Read More →

Sunday June 8, 2025 11:30am - 12:15pm EDT
TBA 10 Bethel Rd, Wellesley, MA

DECARBONIZING ACTIONS, BUILDINGS

11:30am EDT

Boundary-Crossing Organizing: Taking Our Advocacy Up a Notch and Using a Jigsaw Classroom Approach to Lessen Bias, Increase Effectiveness, and Have More Fun While You Do Climate Work!

Sunday June 8, 2025 11:30am - 12:15pm EDT

TBA

This will be about the work of the nonprofit Climate Change Recovery (CCR) to help people of all ages take action on the climate crisis with the urgency our situation requires. A major focus of our work is bringing people together from many backgrounds to address the threat to our peoples’ joint existence and that of all our relatives.

Speakers

Pam Vergun

Sunday June 8, 2025 11:30am - 12:15pm EDT
TBA 10 Bethel Rd, Wellesley, MA

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE & HEALING, COLLABORATION

11:30am EDT

Laughtivism: A workshop in protecting democracy with humor

Sunday June 8, 2025 11:30am - 12:15pm EDT

TBA

This is a workshop in Laughtivism.
Laughtivisim is the use of humor to undermine authority and open minds. Satire and humorous events or social media have been used effectively to combat regimes around the world. Examples are Birds Aren't Real, Yes Men, the Singing Revolution, etc. When people laugh they feel more brave and less alone.
There will be a short explanation of Laughtivism, followed by breaking into work groups based on specific subjects to brainstorm and refine ideas. At the end of the workshop, groups report back to each other.

Speakers

Audrey Schulman

Executive Director, HEETlabs

• Founded HEET in 2008 and helped lead it for 16 years.* Now working at HEETlabs, a new nonprofit climate solutions incubator• Created the first-in-the-nation statewide map of natural gas leaks.• Initiated a research study that discovered a method for gas utilities to iden... Read More →

Sunday June 8, 2025 11:30am - 12:15pm EDT
TBA 10 Bethel Rd, Wellesley, MA

RESILIENCE

11:30am EDT

Bal Tashchit and Waste

Sunday June 8, 2025 11:30am - 12:15pm EDT

TBA

Speakers

Rabbi David Seidenberg

Creator of NeoHasid, NeoHasid

David Seidenberg is the creator of nenohasid.org and author of Kabbalah and Ecology. He has smikhah (ordination) from JTS and Reb Zalman, and lives in Northampton MA. David is also an avid dancer and a composer of Jewish and classical music... Read More →

Sunday June 8, 2025 11:30am - 12:15pm EDT
TBA 10 Bethel Rd, Wellesley, MA

SPIRITUAL VALUES AND ACTIVISM

11:30am EDT

Transition Your Lawn: Plant Hope

Sunday June 8, 2025 11:30am - 12:15pm EDT

TBA

30-40% of all land, world wide, is privately owned. Water and carbon sequestration, fertility, biodiversity, and nutritious food can all be nurtured plot by plot by plot. What if we plot owners, home, business, and institutional, took responsibility for protecting our living climate while simultaneously feeding both our neighbors and ourselves? This workshop is a blueprint for invigorating your community, at all levels, to take responsibility by tending to this beautiful earth that we humans were given "dominion" over.

Speakers

Judith Black

Boss-Storyteller/Teacher/Writer, Tidal Wave Productions

I am a mommy and grand mother, professional storyteller, climate activist, and fanatic regenerative gardener. Most interested in helping people create compelling stories linking their lives to the climate crisis, and sharing those tales to promote change.

Sunday June 8, 2025 11:30am - 12:15pm EDT
TBA 10 Bethel Rd, Wellesley, MA

SUSTAINABILITY & COLLABORATION, POETRY/STORYTELLING

2:30pm EDT

Transportation and Climate

Sunday June 8, 2025 2:30pm - 3:15pm EDT

TBA

Discussion of how transportation policy and climate change intersect, plus strategies to address challenges

Speakers

Ari Ofsevit

Sunday June 8, 2025 2:30pm - 3:15pm EDT
TBA 10 Bethel Rd, Wellesley, MA

DECARBONIZING & INFRASTRUCTURE, TRANSPORTATION

2:30pm EDT

Greening Your Finances

Sunday June 8, 2025 2:30pm - 3:15pm EDT

TBA

In this workshop, you'll learn about divestment from support of fossil fuel industry in all aspects of financial life

Speakers

David Schreiber

Greenvest

David Way

Financial Advisor, Greenvest

David’s most important value is to leave the world around him better than when he found it. After graduating from Colby College with a B.A. in Philosophy and Psychology, David spent three years in the AmeriCorps Victim Assistance Program in New Hampshire where he worked with victims... Read More →

Sunday June 8, 2025 2:30pm - 3:15pm EDT
TBA 10 Bethel Rd, Wellesley, MA

DECARBONIZING ACTIONS, DIVESTMENT

2:30pm EDT

All Our Might: Building the Jewish climate movement through effective campaigns

Sunday June 8, 2025 2:30pm - 3:15pm EDT

TBA

This session will cover how Dayenu strengthened our movement of Jewish climate activists through strategic, outsized campaigns;, the specific lessons we learned that you can replicate on any campaign; and how you can join us in this profound work.

Speakers

Rachel Mandelbaum

Dayenu

Rachel Mandelbaum has been an organizer and campaigner in the climate movement for over a decade. She got started in this work doing campus organizing at American University around fossil fuel divestment, and since then has gone on to work at 350.org, Chesapeake Climate Action Network and the Maryland Democratic Party. She joins Dayenu after seven years at the Sierra Club, building their federal organizing program and working on campaigns ranging from stopping oil and gas leasing on public lands, to passing the Inflation Reduction... Read More →

Sunday June 8, 2025 2:30pm - 3:15pm EDT
TBA 10 Bethel Rd, Wellesley, MA

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE & HEALING, COLLABORATION

2:30pm EDT

From Anxiety to Climate Action: Cultivating Jewish Spiritual Resilience

Sunday June 8, 2025 2:30pm - 3:15pm EDT

TBA

The climate crisis is not only an ecological, racial justice, and economic crisis, it’s an issue of the soul. There is much Jewish wisdom that can help us to face fear, cultivate courage, and take action for a just, livable future. This session, based on Dayenu’s Spiritual Adaptation work, will include exercises to help us metabolize the climate realities before us and draw on Jewish texts of resilience and imagination for the work ahead.

Speakers

Rabbi Laura Bellows

Dayenu

Rabbi Laura Bellows serves as the Director of Spiritual Activism & Education at Dayenu: A Jewish Call to Climate Action, where she supports American Jews to cultivate courage and take bold action to build a thriving world for all. An experienced educator, facilitator, and activist... Read More →

Sunday June 8, 2025 2:30pm - 3:15pm EDT
TBA 10 Bethel Rd, Wellesley, MA

RESILIENCE

2:30pm EDT

Rethinking our practices and connection to fossil fuels to be more consistent with Jewish values.

Sunday June 8, 2025 2:30pm - 3:15pm EDT

TBA

We'll discuss the existential threat impacting us and future generations reflecting on three Jewish principles/ values that dictate why Jews must respond to climate crisis. We will talk about concrete and practical sustainable changes we can make as individuals and organizations. Systemic problems demand systemic solutions. Since all credible decarbonization scenarios include leaving most fossil fuels in the ground, we will conclude with the three pillars of climate action.

Speakers

Phyllis Blumberg

Sunday June 8, 2025 2:30pm - 3:15pm EDT
TBA 10 Bethel Rd, Wellesley, MA

SPIRITUAL VALUES AND ACTIVISM, ADVOCACY

2:30pm EDT

Rare Earth Minerals and a Just Transition

Sunday June 8, 2025 2:30pm - 3:15pm EDT

TBA

We will explore the realities and implications of the rare earth mineral mining needed for renewable energy devices as well as phones, and how we can use that information to create a just transition

Speakers

Jeremy Williams

Instructor, Georgia State University

Dr. Jeremy Williams is a Product Specialist and Application Scientist who has extensive experience in Research and Development (R&D) and the Geosciences. He works in multidisciplinary investigations with biologists, chemists, engineers, physicists, anthropologists, and archaeologists... Read More →

Sunday June 8, 2025 2:30pm - 3:15pm EDT
TBA 10 Bethel Rd, Wellesley, MA

SUSTAINABILITY & COLLABORATION, SOCIAL JUSTICE

3:30pm EDT

Housing and Climate Change: What’s the Connection?

Sunday June 8, 2025 3:30pm - 4:15pm EDT

TBA

This presentation is about:
- The impact of climate change on housing--particularly housing costs and migration.
- The impact of housing on climate change—particularly smart growth vs. sprawl; and how we can change zoning laws to reduce GHG emissions and save trees.

Speakers

Dan Ruben

Dan Ruben teaches Contemporary Issues in Hospitality Sustainability at B.U. He taught Sustainable Hospitality (Missouri State U, U of Southern Maine), Sustainable Tourism (Temple U), and Workforce Development for Indigenous Tourism (George Washington U). He wrote the textbook, “Sustainable... Read More →

Sunday June 8, 2025 3:30pm - 4:15pm EDT
TBA 10 Bethel Rd, Wellesley, MA

DECARBONIZING & INFRASTRUCTURE, BUILDINGS

3:30pm EDT

Particulars for Persistent Community Climate Action Now: Decarbonize Loud and Quiet!

Sunday June 8, 2025 3:30pm - 4:15pm EDT

TBA

We’ll provide new info, new stats that climate activists want to know mid-2025: Are we working together fast enough to achieve ambitious climate goals? How about where I live? Are there enough electric vehicles in the town? How many heatpumps are needed next year? During these next critical years for climate, can we keep decarbonizing adequately, even amidst political chaos?

We are well into a middle era of decarbonization, far enough from the early “bleeding edge” but still far from saturation. The latest numbers demonstrate these predictable stages of market adoption, and activist strategies now must shift accordingly. We’ll review the newest tools and techniques, what will endure and indeed succeed in the second half of this decade. The best approaches will de-emphasize top-down, and instead actively promote peer influence, to "say little and do much" (Pirkei Avot 1:15). אֱמֹר מְעַט וַעֲשֵׂה הַרְבֵּה

Massachusetts must meet its ambitious goals for 2025 and 2030; this talk will help make those targets more real than ever. Included: a SNEAK PEAK of Consolidated Climate Goals (not yet public), a powerful new tool to help local implementation throughout Massachusetts communities.

Speakers

Fred Davis

Clean Energy Professional, MCAN

Fred is currently President of Massachusetts Climate Action Network, and recent Past President of JCAN. Fred is a leading authority on rapidly transitioning communities to a low-carbon future. He has been a leader in energy efficiency and climate action for over 40 years. His professional... Read More →

Sunday June 8, 2025 3:30pm - 4:15pm EDT
TBA 10 Bethel Rd, Wellesley, MA

DECARBONIZING ACTIONS

3:30pm EDT

Antisemitism and Climate Workshop

Sunday June 8, 2025 3:30pm - 4:15pm EDT

TBA

Combatting antisemitism in the climate movement, as well as what *isn't* antisemitism.

Speakers

Marya Axner

JCAN and Fix-the-Grid

Sunday June 8, 2025 3:30pm - 4:15pm EDT
TBA 10 Bethel Rd, Wellesley, MA

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE & HEALING, SOCIAL JUSTICE

3:30pm EDT

Developing Your Skills at Countering Climate Misinformation and Disinformation

Sunday June 8, 2025 3:30pm - 4:15pm EDT

TBA

When we hear stories, our responses differ depending on if we think it is misinformation or disinformation. We will discuss effective responses to inoculate people against disinformation. We will discuss how the words we use matter when responding to someone spreading mis/disinformation and which words are preferable. These same skills can used when writing letters to the editor, or comments to elected or appointed officials who are using disinformation to manipulate people into taking actions against our individual and collective best interests.

Speakers

Phyllis Blumberg

Sunday June 8, 2025 3:30pm - 4:15pm EDT
TBA 10 Bethel Rd, Wellesley, MA

RESILIENCE, ADVOCACY

3:30pm EDT

Feedback Loops

Sunday June 8, 2025 3:30pm - 4:15pm EDT

TBA

FEEDBACK LOOPS is a story about trying to save the livability of our planet. Despite science, logic, and a deep desire for our children and grandchildren to live long healthy lives,

Speakers

Judith Black

Boss-Storyteller/Teacher/Writer, Tidal Wave Productions

Sunday June 8, 2025 3:30pm - 4:15pm EDT
TBA 10 Bethel Rd, Wellesley, MA

SPIRITUAL VALUES AND ACTIVISM

3:30pm EDT

Climate Impact on Food

Sunday June 8, 2025 3:30pm - 4:15pm EDT

TBA

Speakers

Michael Gribov

Jewish Vegan Life

Sunday June 8, 2025 3:30pm - 4:15pm EDT
TBA 10 Bethel Rd, Wellesley, MA

SUSTAINABILITY & COLLABORATION