🎧 Uri L’Tzedek: Orthodox Social Justice Podcast – Why is Collaboration Between Faiths Key to a Sustainable Future?
Rabbi Yonatan Neril is the founder and executive director of the Interfaith Center for Sustainable Development (ICSD), an organization dedicated to highlighting the relationship between faith and environmental stewardship while inspiring religious communities to take meaningful action. Through ICSD’s Jewish Eco Seminars initiative, he works to educate and engage the Jewish community by exploring the connections between Jewish values, the land of Israel, and ecological responsibility.
Yonatan serves on the World Economic Forum’s Faith in Action working group and is the author of the bestselling book Eco Bible: An Ecological Commentary on the Hebrew Bible. He is a sought-after international speaker on the intersection of religion and sustainability, having presented at the World Economic Forum in Davos, United Nations climate conferences, and the Parliament of the World’s Religions.
At ICSD, he has helped pioneer innovative digital storytelling efforts focused on faith and the environment in partnership with Nas Daily’s 1000 Media, a leading video production company. Since 2024, this collaboration has produced more than 80 videos that have collectively generated over 10 million views.
In 2023, Yonatan played a key role in launching and co-organizing the first Faith Pavilion at a United Nations climate summit, held during COP28 in Dubai. The pavilion featured 70 sessions and brought together 325 speakers from diverse backgrounds. He has also co-led the organization of twelve interfaith environmental conferences across the United States and Israel.
Originally from California, Yonatan earned both his B.A. and M.A. from Stanford University. His academic work included research on renewable energy development in India and genetically modified corn in Mexico. After moving to Israel, he received rabbinical ordination and now lives in Jerusalem with his wife, Shana, and their two children. Outside his professional work, he enjoys hiking and spending time in nature.
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