Their motivation:
"God’s circle of concern extends far beyond ‘us.’ It includes untold future generations of humans, who face a doubtful future due to our actions. It includes billions of God’s children, alive and suffering even today from poverty, injustice, environmental degradation, and other social ills. And it includes tens of millions of species, many under threat today, all of which are part of the intricate and sacred and “very good” (Gen. 1:31) web of Creation.

Judaism has specific sacred language for all these concerns, which are not only God’s, but ours as well. We speak of transmitting that which matters l’dor vador, from generation to generation. We promise to follow tzedek tzedek tirdof, the commandment to pursue justice (Deut. 16:20). And we claim to be enlightened stewards of the seder and ma’aseh beresheet, the Divine order and the integrity of the works of Creation.

Synagogue life is about many things. We come to our batei knesset to create community, praise God, educate adults and children, celebrate simchas and mourn sorrows, heal ourselves, heal the world, connect with Israel and with Jews around the world, observe holidays, and much more (including the volunteer and financial infrastructure which enables all the rest to take place). Within that larger context, "the environment" may seem like one small piece of one piece.

But in fact, ecological concern is not something we can opt out of. Minimizing our environmental footprint is a communal, a Jewish, a civic, and a theological imperative. All streams of American Jewish religious life acknowledge this, through their involvement in COEJL ... As Martin Buber wrote, "real relationship to God cannot be achieved on earth if real relationships to the world and to [hu]mankind are lacking. Both love of the Creator and love of that which [God] has created are finally one and the same." And a popular new saying puts it succinctly: 'no planet, no Torah.'''

Their shared beliefs: Caring for the earth is a religious value. Environmental stewardship is a moral responsibility. Our programs are built around these three core values: Spirit, Justice and Stewardship in relation to the earth.

Spirit - We grow spiritually through our relationship with the earth.
Justice - Everyone has the right to live in a clean, safe environment.
Stewardship - People of faith have a vital role to play in restoring healthy ecosystems around the world.

* The first of these is outdoor physical challenge; the best-known part of our work in this area is a series of Jewish Environmental Bike Rides, in the US and Israel.
* The second is looking at food through the double prism of Jewish tradition and contemporary life. Our work in this area includes the first CSAs (Community-Supported Agriculture programs) in the American Jewish community, as well as educational curricula, work in schools, an annual conference, and an award-winning blog.

Students at the Arava Institute explore a range of environmental issues from a regional, interdisciplinary perspective while learning peace-building and leadership skills. The studies are international in scope, with a student body comprised of Jordanians, Palestinians, Israelis, North Americans as well as other nationalities.

The Arava Institute gives Jewish, Arab and other students a unique opportunity to study and live together for an extended period of time; building networks and understanding that will enable future cooperative work and activism in the Middle East and beyond. Here, the idea that nature knows no political borders is more than a belief. It is a fact, a curriculum, and a way of life.

Their Programs: The Arava Institute offers several accredited environmental studies programs. All programs are conducted in English:

Arava Program (one semester or one year program)
Master's in Desert Studies, with an Environmental Focus
Summer Program--Israel and the Environment: Development Challenges in the Southern Arava Desert