Rabbi
Michael M. Cohen
Rabbi Emeritus, Israel Congregation of
Manchester
Rabbi Michael M.
Cohen is a graduate of the University of Vermont where he
received the History Award, and graduated in 1980 with
honors for his work on Lenin’s Theory of Self-Determination
and the Muslims of the Soviet Union.
After graduating from UVM he
worked for the American Zionist Youth Foundation for two
years. Over the years he participated in a number of
programs in Israel: NFTY Archeological Seminar; CAY on
Maale HaChamisha; KABAK on Tirat Tzvi; Sherut La’am; Marva
(was Hanich
Mitztiyan);
Hebrew University; Machon Meir.
Rabbi Cohen received ordination from the Reconstructionist
Rabbinical College in 1990. He was the Rabbi of the Israel
Congregation in Manchester Center, Vermont from 1990-2000.
He also served as the President of the Reconstructionist
Rabbinical Association. In 1993 he was awarded the Unsung
Hero Award by the Town of Manchester. Rabbi Cohen was a
founding faculty member of The Arava Institute for
Environmental Studies (www.friendsofarava.org)
located on Kibbutz Ketura in 1996 while on sabbatical from
the Israel Congregation. The Arava Institute is the premier
environmental teaching and research program in the Middle
East preparing future Arab and Jewish leaders to
cooperatively solve the regions environmental challenges.
He returned to the Arava Institute in 2000. From 2001- 2006
he served as the Executive Director of The Arava Institute
North America. In 2002 he co-founded the Green Zionist
Alliance, the first Environmental Zionist party to run in
the World Zionist Congress elections. He returned to the
Arava Institute for 2004-06. At the Institute he worked on
Palestinian Student recruitment, development, and other
projects. He also teaches two classes at the
Institute: Genesis
As a Key to Environmental Thought and Moses: A Study of Leadership and
Environmental Wisdom. Rabbi Cohen is presently the Director of
Special Projects for the Friends of the Arava Institute
working on development and student recruitment issues for
the Arava Institute in North America. He is also the VP
Global Resource Development for the Arava Power Company
which is working to make Solar Power the main energy source
for southern Israel and Jordan. He is the author if numerous articles in
Haaretz, the Jerusalem Post, the Jerusalem Report, The
Palestine Times, the Israel-Palestine Journal, The Jordan
Times, the Rutland Herald, etc, a VPR Commentator,
and is
completing writing a novella, "Einstein's
Rabbi." He presently serves on the Board of the Burr
& Burton Academy and the Energy and Trees Committees of
the Town of Manchester.
Related articles:
Fostering Peace in a Land of
War
Feeding the Enemy
Omer Teaching: Beyond the Human
Perspective
phone/fax: (802) 362-2432
E-mail Rabbi Michael
www.arava.org
