Adamah Detroit

Adamah Detroit lives out Adamah’s global mission at a local scale: connecting people and planet in Detroit by enriching Jewish communities with nature-connected environmental education, stewardship, and action. We inspire and empower Jewish youth, teens, families, leaders, and institutions through programs interweaving Jewish tradition and sustainability, building inclusive communities, and cultivating hope for a better future.

Adamah Detroit provides unique and critical resources, coaching, support, partnership, and programming to over 40 local Jewish organizations working to integrate environmental values into Jewish life and cultivating the next generation of Jewish environmental leaders.

Detroit Programs

Our programs include lay-leadership capacity building and leadership development through the Seal of Sustainability and the Jewish Climate Leadership Coalition regional communities of practice, Jewish Outdoor Food and Farming Education for children and families, Jewish teen environmental leadership programming, and convening impactful community-wide events. 

Shomrei Adamah

Our Shomrei Adamah (Guardians of the Earth) initiative builds community and connection through rich dialogue about Judaism, Jewish identity, and the climate crisis. Following an initial dialogue session, participants are encouraged to work together to create a climate action initiative for their Jewish organization. The Shomrei Adamah program can help to develop and strengthen your organization’s Green Team, cultivate connection and engagement for groups of lay-leaders, educators, and/or staff, and provide engaging and activating content for your teen programming!  

This program is run in partnership with Michigan Interfaith Power and Light. To learn more, reach out to Julia Cunnien (julia.cunnien@adamah.org) who can tailor the program to best support your organization. 

Nature Chuggim

Nature Chuggim (electives) is a new Jewish environmental education series available to Hebrew and Religious School partners in the Metro-Detroit community, designed for K-5th grade students. Our nature programs connect students to the earth through experiential learning, fostering a deep connection to the earth and Jewish identity. Our activities and programs are integrated with the Jewish calendar, and evolve with the seasons, so children can explore and learn from nature in new and exciting ways all throughout the year.

To bring Nature Chuggim to your organization, please contact Carly Silverman, Education and Program Manager. 

Jewish Environmental Education and Stewardship 

Adamah Detroit integrates Jewish outdoor experiences, environmental education, and earth stewardship into Jewish life in Detroit through collaborations with synagogues, congregations, camps, and other youth-serving organizations. Additionally, Adamah Detroit coordinates environmental stewardship programming in partnership with local Jewish organizations and local environmental organizations.  

To coordinate an environmental education and action event with your community, reach out to Ari Cohen, Program Coordinator.

Seal of Sustainability & Jewish Climate Leadership Coalition

Adamah Detroit supports a network of more than 40 Jewish institutions – representing over 43,000 people – integrating sustainability education and action into their institutions. Seal membership has grown to represent Detroit’s extensive, rich, and diverse array of Jewish institutions and this cohort of institutions is the foundation for Adamah Detroit’s partnership-based work. Sustainability initiatives impact culture, inspire and energize community members, and make a meaningful collective environmental impact. Adamah Detroit staff provide coaching, consultation, training, and technical support to sustainability initiatives and programs with Seal Site partners. Projects include recycling and composting efforts, gardening programs, educational initiatives, habitat restoration, power and water saving measures, and climate impact investments. Seal of Sustainability partners can apply for mini-grants to expand the impact of their sustainability initiatives. 

We are grateful to our partners and collaborators. Together, we are building vibrant Jewish community, cultivating Jewish environmental leadership and making a meaningful collective environmental impact through our sustainability initiatives:  

Adat Shalom Synagogue | BBYO | Beth Israel Congregation | Clover Hill Park Cemetery | Congregation B’nai Moshe | Congregation Beth Ahm | Congregation Shaarey Zedek |Congregation Shir Tikvah |  Congregation T’chiyah | Detroit Jews for Justice | Dor Hadash | Farber Hebrew Day School – Yeshivat Akiva | Frankel Jewish Academy | Habonim Dror Camp Tavor | Hillel Day School | Hillel of Metro Detroit | Isaac Agree Downtown Synagogue | JARC | Jewish Family Service of Metro Detroit | Jewish Ferndale | Jewish Senior Life | Metro Food Rescue| Michigan Hillel | Repair the World: Detroit | Tamarack Camps | Temple Beth El | Temple Emanu-El | Temple Israel | Temple Kol Ami | Temple Shir Shalom | The Jewish Community Center of Metropolitan Detroit | The Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit | Young Israel of Southfield | Yad Ezra 

To learn more about joining the Seal of Sustainability in Metro Detroit email Julia Cunnien, Program Manager.

Jewish Climate Leadership Coalition

Powered by Adamah, the Jewish Climate Leadership Coalition is a network of Jewish community organizations that recognize the existential threat and moral urgency of climate change and are committed to taking action. The Adamah Detroit team is working to build upon the powerful foundation of the Seal of Sustainability program and work with staff, clergy, and lay leaders to support Detroit Seal of Sustainability sites in joining the Coalition and focusing their sustainability efforts on climate impact. 

Jewish Youth Climate Movement

Adamah Detroit supports and works to expand the impact of the JYCM in Southeast Michigan. The Jewish Youth Climate Movement is a Gen Z-led movement integrating Jewish identity and leadership development with community building and climate stewardship. JYCM supports and empowers the next generation of Jewish youth to be leaders in the work to build a sustainable and equitable world for all. 

Community Events

Adamah Detroit cultivates vibrant Jewish life in Detroit through integrating Jewish outdoor experiences, environmental education, and earth stewardship into collaborative community events and programs. Our community events, including the Michigan Jewish Food Festival, celebrate Jewish traditions, community, and climate action via opportunities for connection, environmental education, stewardship, and action. With our community partners, we help identify opportunities for deepened Jewish identity development, community building, and environmental connection through the coordination of immersive experiences and events.