Isaac Hametz

Isaac Hametz blogged Trees @ The Contemporary Jewish Museum in San Francisco

I just came across this fascinating exhibit at The Contemporary Jewish Museum in San Francisco. The exhibit is titled, "Do Not Destroy: Trees, Art, and Jewish Thought" and is a meditation on Ba'al Tashchit and the role of trees in Jewish culture. In addition to the works on display inside the museum, there is an interesting installation in the museum's courtyard that attempts to engage and foster an awareness and appreciation for the spatial and material qualities trees p...more...

Isaac Hametz commented on blog post: Community is the Missing Piece

Evonne, I continue to be impressed with your ability to develop new and meaningful initiatives for your target audience. In your blog you mentioned that a light bulb went off when conceiving of the Sustainability Circle. Can you tell me more about that moment? As much as community is critical in sustaining inspired action, personal creativity and imagination often spark the necessary flames for a warm gathering.

Isaac Hametz blogged Jewish Environmentalism or Jewish Ecology?

As a member of the self described ‘Jewish environmental movement’, I find it necessary from time to time to ask myself what it means to be a Jewish environmentalist. Having covered that in my last blog post, I want to ask a follow up question. As Jewish environmentalists, are we operating ecologically? Do our organizations, institutions, and members observe, interact with, and learn from the multivalent relational systems present in the world? If we examine the biblical nar...more...

Isaac Hametz commented on blog post: Cisterns or Trees...?

Rabbi Cardin, the story you shared proposes an interesting dichotomy - civilization versus nature. However, I wonder if this dualism serves to obfuscate a more nuanced, hybrid reality in which humanity is a part of nature. If we can accept this condition of human nature, how do we interpret social contracts like property laws in the framework of natural laws? If our social contracts follow Rabbi Yossi's opinion, what are we saying about our relationship to natural laws? It would seem to me th...more...

Isaac Hametz posted in community: JAC

Isaac Hametz commented on blog post: No Free Lunch- Not Even a Data Snack

David, I am not taking the class (I chose to take a course that explores how decommissioned military sites can be reused as sites for ecological and social defense), however, a good friend of mine is and I will certainly keep you posted. In terms of your question about focus, the course is intended to explore the spatial dynamics and allied systems associated with information technology. It is not solely focused on environmental impact, but on the broader impact these centers have and can hav...more...

Isaac Hametz commented on blog post: No Free Lunch- Not Even a Data Snack

David, it just so happens that this fall at the University of Virginia School of Architecture a professor name Michael Beaman is teaching a studio course on the design, use, and maintenance of Data Centers. He is specifically looking at the TJ Watson Research Center in Yorktown Heights, New York. This is course description: "In 1911 the Computing Tabulating Recording Corporation was founded, by 1922 it had become IBM. In 1985 at the age of 22 Garry Kasparov became the youngest World Chess Cha...more...

Isaac Hametz commented on blog post: Dream Big

Evonne, I think the point you are making is critical for Jewcology and worthy of a little unpacking. As you note, it is probably not enough to gather a random group of people together and expect to foster innovation and generate change. For that to happen, members of a group need to be diverse and able to compliment each others strengths and weaknesses, as well as, effectively and openly communicate through challenging and supportive dialogue. However, that is not all. Group members must be a...more...

Isaac Hametz commented on blog post: Growing Forests In The Desert

An interesting subtext of this article is that the TAU professors last name 'Eshel' is also the Hebrew word for the Tamarix tree. On a more practical note, I would love to know if there are any urban trials in process or in plan to see what species might be useful in purifying and rehabilitating industrial soils, air, etc. Have you heard any news about that?

Isaac Hametz commented on blog post: What is Jewish Environmentalism?

Jesse, I appreciate your comment. I also agree with you that most anyone who identifies themselves as a Jewish Environmentalist is in fact just that - a Jewish Environmentalist. The thing that gets me, and the major point I was trying to make in my post is that we always seem to analyze what people are doing. Then we decide if they fit in to our view of Jewish, Environmentalist, or Jewish Environmentalist. Sadly though that conversation often deteriorates in to a simplistic discussion about l...more...