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At a time when Israel is often misrepresented in schools, communities, and online, “Green Rebels” will help change the way people think about one of the world's most innovative and humanitarian countries…this movie will infuse people with a new sense of pride in the only Jewish country on the planet. - Roz Rothstein, CEO, StandWithUs International Abramowitz's article on his journey as a Jewish solar pioneer: Of Marshmallows and Covenant: The Uphill Battle in Africa to be a Renewable Light Unto the Nations Director Harvey Stein’s recent Times of Israel blog post: Kaptain Sunshine, Builder of Almost Impossible Bridges |
You can host an exciting "Green Rebels" Impact Screening Event in your community We bring our powerful short version of "Green Rebels" (40 minutes) - our story about solar energy and tikkun olam - to Jewish and other communities in the United States and elsewhere. After our short screening, we lead an energetic discussion on all the movie's issues - designed to educate, inspire and motivate to action and change. "Green Rebels" - directed by Harvey Stein, produced by Jerusalem NewYork Productions To help us finish our movie, you can also contribute any amount here. (All contributors get a gift). Thanks! Our Impact Events can be scheduled anytime starting October 1, 2023 |
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Green Rebels
Bringing Solar Energy to Africa Can an ambitious American-Israeli guy living in Jerusalem bring solar generated electricity to millions in neighboring Africa? “Green Rebels”, our feature documentary project, is an Israel/Africa story. We follow the struggles of American-Israeli solar energy visionary and impact businessman, Yossi Abramowitz - AKA “Kaptain Sunshine”, and his African partners, to provide on the ground solutions to both global climate change, and to inequality in Africa. Can they work with the power brokers of their worlds, and try to close successful business deals on solar fields costing upwards of $25 million each - without losing their souls? Our story is shot primarily in Israel, Rwanda, and Burundi. Abramowitz and his family immigrated to Israel from Boston in 2006, and soon after, Arava Power, his first Israeli solar energy company, inked the first deal to sell solar-generated electricity to Israel’s electric grid. His vision? For Israel to be a “sustainable Light unto the Nations.” Kaptain Sunshine had arrived. |
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A few years later, his company finished the first commercial scale solar field in sub-Saharan Africa (in Rwanda) – it now supplies 6% of the nation’s energy needs. Touchingly, it is situated in Agahozo Youth Village (which benefits from the sale of electricity), where several hundred orphans of Rwanda’s own genocidal war have studied and lived. Abramowitz’s Jerusalem company is now negotiating with 10 additional African countries for solar fields (everywhere from Burundi to Ethiopia to northern Nigeria).
We have been filming Abramowitz’s adventures for over five years, and have exclusive filming access to all of his activities. Our team shot video throughout Burundi in 2022 - where Abramowitz successfully finished his second African solar field last year. Burundi has tested Abramowitz and his company: can obstacles of government corruption, violence, terrorism, and entrenched energy interests be overcome – Burundi is one of Africa's poorest nations. Can Abramowitz and his African allies bring solar energy to a substantial number of Africa’s 600 million people without electricity - and win the competition against the highly polluting gas and coal electric plants planned by the greedy multinational petro interests? Right now, “energy poverty” in many African countries means most schools and health clinics have no electricity. Most homes don’t either – so all cooking and lighting comes from burning wood or charcoal in the home. Such “indoor air pollution” in Burundi causes more than 10,000 deaths (mostly children) every year. And there may be no trees left in Burundi by 2040, because of the huge numbers of trees cut down yearly. Abramowitz’s work, and our movie, can be a powerful model for a major way to fight climate change globally. “Green Rebels” also focuses on several African supporting characters, including: Patrick Nzitunga, Abramowitz’s company’s articulate Burundian staff member; Zambian Bishop Scott Mwanza, a major ally of Abramowitz; and a practicing Burundian Jew (many Burundians of the Tutsi tribe consider their ancestors Jewish, who migrated southward from Ethiopia many centuries ago). How do they all work together with the power brokers of their worlds, including assorted African ex-dictators - without losing their soul? |
At the Rwanda solar field
w. Sarah Silverman, his wife Susan Silverman, & Shimon Peres
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Abramowitz talks about Golda Meir visiting five African countries, in 1958, and that she later wrote: “Independence had come to us, as it was coming to Africa, not served up on a silver platter, but after years of struggle.” And he regularly quotes Ben Gurion, “The largest source of energy in our world, a source so unused by man – is the sun.” |
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With Bono at the Rwanda solar field, 2015
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“Green Rebel” is a universal story of the power of solar energy to change peoples’ lives in positive ways.
Abramowitz’s vision and longterm commitment make our movie a perfect vehicle for a deep and actionable impact on green, Jewish, and a variety of other communities. As a solar trailblazer, he was named one of CNN’s six Green Pioneers. And in 2021, members of parliaments from 12 African countries, together nominated him for the Nobel Peace Prize. |
Our "Green Rebel" Impact Screening/Discussion events can include:
Short opening videos made by teens in your community: We can work with you online, to supervise several teens in your community to make short (2-minutes or less) videos on any aspect of sustainability/green issues - both global issues, and how these issues manifest locally where you live. Our event can open with several of these short videos, galvanizing your community and helping bringing them to the event.
Screening of “Green Rebel” and discussion: Stein will facilitate a discussion (with participation by all there, including your rabbi, pastor, or other community leaders) that includes: How does Abramowitz draw on specific Jewish/religious wisdom in his work? How does his work impact global sustainability and green development issues? What are some of your community’s local issues related to sustainability? What local partners can your community work with, to accomplish some of its significant goals? Your event can also include an action plan: what specific activities or goals might community members commit to in the next months?
A screening/discussion event lasts about 80-90 minutes in total.
Short opening videos made by teens in your community: We can work with you online, to supervise several teens in your community to make short (2-minutes or less) videos on any aspect of sustainability/green issues - both global issues, and how these issues manifest locally where you live. Our event can open with several of these short videos, galvanizing your community and helping bringing them to the event.
Screening of “Green Rebel” and discussion: Stein will facilitate a discussion (with participation by all there, including your rabbi, pastor, or other community leaders) that includes: How does Abramowitz draw on specific Jewish/religious wisdom in his work? How does his work impact global sustainability and green development issues? What are some of your community’s local issues related to sustainability? What local partners can your community work with, to accomplish some of its significant goals? Your event can also include an action plan: what specific activities or goals might community members commit to in the next months?
A screening/discussion event lasts about 80-90 minutes in total.
Our Menu and Fees:
To contact us for more info:
Email: jerusalemnewyork@gmail.com
Phone: 646-823-2228
- We are available to present an impact event for your community in the United States or Canada, anytime starting October 1, 2023.
- Our cost to present an Impact Screening Event is $600 (plus transportation to your location from New York City).
To contact us for more info:
Email: jerusalemnewyork@gmail.com
Phone: 646-823-2228
The ”Green Rebel” preview I saw paints a picture that is both humorous and very uplifting, and ultimately transforms audiences in their connection to both Israel and Africa.
- Rabbi Riqi Kosovske, Beit Ahavah Synagogue, Greater Northampton, MA
- Rabbi Riqi Kosovske, Beit Ahavah Synagogue, Greater Northampton, MA
BIOGRAPHIES of key members of our team:
Harvey Stein (director, producer) is an Israeli-American filmmaker/teacher from New York City, now living in Jerusalem, where his impact film company, Jerusalem New York Productions (http://www.jerusalemny.com) is based. His last feature documentary, “A Third Way - Settlers and Palestinians as Neighbors”, about Rabbi Menachem Froman (the notorious “settler rabbi for peace”), Ali Abu Awwad, and others, has been shown extensively in impact screenings in both in the United States and Western Europe. It has also been shown in multiple Jewish Film Festivals. Stein is also a licensed high school teacher, experienced in working with teens and others in educational settings.
Vered Post (producer, co-writer) is an Israeli-American producer, writer and educator. She co-produced Stein's last documentary, "A Third Way", including supervising the impact campaign. She has co-written several Israeli feature films, was a co-writer for the original Israeli/Palestinian Sesame Street, and has presented a variety of workshops using films and filmmaking, in Israeli schools and other institutions, as well in New York State.
Kid-Fleury Ineza (Burundi producer) - lives in Bujumbura, Burundi, where he is a member of both ATSA Creative (a production company) and PNUD Burundi (an NGO dedicated to sustainable development in Burundi). Kid-Fleury considers himself a descendant of the Jews who migrated south from Ethiopia many centuries ago. He is very happy to be working on “Green Rebel”, and helping tell the story of green development in Burundi.
Jeff Turboff (co-editor) is a multi-award-winning veteran freelance editor, who has worked in many areas, including documentary, narrative, TV/news, and music videos. His awards include five Emmy, one Peabody, and one Genesis award. His last feature documentary was “Modworld”. His last feature narrative was the award-winning drama, "The Pack" (a.k.a. "Smoking/Non-Smoking") starring Lucie Arnaz. His music video (that he both shot and edited) "Fools Parade" by Trumpeter Swan, garnered immense press, due in part to his early use of iPhoneography.
Investor inquiries welcome. Business Plan available.
Investors can subsidize impact events, or also invest in us finishing our feature length version of "Green Rebel" - to premiere in theaters and streaming services in February, 2024. Email us for more info.
CONTACT:
Email: jerusalemnewyork@gmail.com
Phone/WhatsApp: 972-50-212-8132
