About

My journey following the connection between humans, communities, and the benevolent nature began in 2008. It has taken on depths, shades, and shapes ever since.

Between 2009-2012, I co-managed, together with Prof. Yosef Katan, the Annual Training Program in Welfare and Service Organization Management, in the Continuing Studies Unit, School of Social Work, Tel Aviv University. During the same period (2010-2012), I also completed my training in Nature Therapy Group Facilitation in the same unit, under the guidance of Dr. Ronen Berger.

In 2013, during my doctoral studies on Israel’s Clean-tech industry at the Faculty of Management, I founded the Inter-faculty Forum for Sustainability Science at Tel-Aviv University. Hosted by the Porter School of Environmental Studies, the forum was the first of its kind in Israel and offered a wide range of activities, seminars, and interdisciplinary round tables open to the public. The ideas of a sustainable society, a sustainable academia, and sustainability-oriented research guided me from the very beginning.

That year and until 2020, I joined the legendary steering team of the Nature and adventure Conference. This conference became a central hub and an annual meeting place for a rapidly growing professional community in Israel whose work integrates nature—education, therapy, facilitation, consulting, and more.

In 2016, I sought to integrate multidisciplinary knowledge and insights which led to the conceptual development of the Eco-Appreciation Model (EAP). The model is grounded in an eco-centric approach, extensive time in nature alone and with groups, in-depth academic research, and a close connection to practice.

In 2022, I returned to postdoctoral research at the School of Social Work at Tel Aviv University, ffocusing on Eco-Appreciation in later life within the contexts of socio-ecological wellbeing and eco-epistemic justice.
 

In the same year, I completed advanced studies in phototherapy for practitioners at Musrara school in Jerusalem. My love for nature and photography gained new depth as I explored the powerful and meaningful intersection between phototherapy and nature-based therapy.

A significant outcome of my work in recent years is the book Leshomra: Sustainable and Ecological Communities in Israel, which I co-edited and which was published by Resling in 2023. The book brings together 23 chapters written by 32 authors and serves as an accessible resource in Hebrew for those working with, supporting, and accompanying communities in Israel

These days, I continue to deepen the study of Eco-Appreciation through diverse collaborations and through direct engagement with nature-based well-being, resilience resources, sustainable communities, ecological consciousness, and thriving socio-ecological systems.

I lecture at various academic institutions in Israel and around the world and I teach, guide, and accompany professionals in applying the pedagogical–therapeutic dimensions of the Eco-Appreciation Model.

I also know that the path continues to unfold., the field is gaining recognition and its knowledge base is expanding, becoming more accessible and integrated across diverse disciplines and professional practices

 

Those wishing to deepen their understanding of the Eco-Appreciation approach and explore ways to apply it in everyday life, communities, and organizations is welcome to contact me.