|
At this very tough 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 |
"Green Rebels" paints a picture that is both humorous and very uplifting, ultimately transforming audiences in their connection to both Israel and Africa." - Rabbi Riqi Kosevske, Beit Ahavah Synagogue |
An IMPACT FEATURE DOCUMENTARY PROJECT
(that will have global premieres in Sept. 2025)
- and POWERFUL EXCERPTS especially designed
for screening/discussion events
(that are available anytime starting April, 2025)
(that will have global premieres in Sept. 2025)
- and POWERFUL EXCERPTS especially designed
for screening/discussion events
(that are available anytime starting April, 2025)
You can host an exciting
"Green Rebels"
Impact Screening/Discussion Event
in your community
We bring our powerful excerpts of "Green Rebels" (about 40 minutes total) - our story about solar energy visionary Yosef Abramowitz and his partners - to Jewish and other communities in the United States and elsewhere. After each short excerpt, we lead an energetic discussion or workshop activity on all the movie's issues - designed to educate, inspire and motivate to action and change.
"Green Rebels" is a positive Israel story - about the fantastic work of an Israeli company bringing solar energy throughout the Middle East.
And please consider donating any amount here - to help us finish "Green Rebels" on schedule.
"Green Rebels"
Directed byHarvey Stein
Produced by Jerusalem NewYork Productions
"Green Rebels"
Impact Screening/Discussion Event
in your community
We bring our powerful excerpts of "Green Rebels" (about 40 minutes total) - our story about solar energy visionary Yosef Abramowitz and his partners - to Jewish and other communities in the United States and elsewhere. After each short excerpt, we lead an energetic discussion or workshop activity on all the movie's issues - designed to educate, inspire and motivate to action and change.
"Green Rebels" is a positive Israel story - about the fantastic work of an Israeli company bringing solar energy throughout the Middle East.
And please consider donating any amount here - to help us finish "Green Rebels" on schedule.
"Green Rebels"
Directed byHarvey Stein
Produced by Jerusalem NewYork Productions
Update: We are working on a brand new excerpt of “Green Rebels”:
about Yossi Abramowitz’s amazing work with a Gazan woman activist – together they built Gaza’s FIRST solar field, working without much support from either government. They recently co-wrote this Newsweek article on their challenges – that encapsulates Abramowitz’s belief that on-the-ground work bringing solar energy to needy communities, can be a global inspiration to peace and better relations between ALL peoples.
Our excerpt will use exclusive footage shot of the solar field, including after its tragic destruction (unclear by whom) in November, 2023:
about Yossi Abramowitz’s amazing work with a Gazan woman activist – together they built Gaza’s FIRST solar field, working without much support from either government. They recently co-wrote this Newsweek article on their challenges – that encapsulates Abramowitz’s belief that on-the-ground work bringing solar energy to needy communities, can be a global inspiration to peace and better relations between ALL peoples.
Our excerpt will use exclusive footage shot of the solar field, including after its tragic destruction (unclear by whom) in November, 2023:
|
|
|
|
Green Rebels
Bringing Solar Energy to Africa Can an ambitious American-Israeli guy living in Jerusalem successfully integrate his dual passions for tikkun olam (Hebrew: “healing the world”), and for risky, business chutzpah - to bring solar-generated electricity to millions in Africa and the Middle East? How do he and his African and Arab partners work with the power brokers of their world - assorted extremist groups, ex-dictators and corrupt governments, and undependable global financial institutions - without losing their souls? 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? As Abramowitz says, for Israel to be a “sustainable Light unto the Nations.” Kaptain Sunshine had arrived. |
|
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 is one of Africa's poorest nations - where every year, more than 10,000 people, mostly women and children, die from conditions related to "indoor air pollution" (caused by indoor fires being the only means of cooking and heating). “Green Rebels” also focuses on several of Abramowitz’s pivotal African partners - including Patrick Nzitunga (Abramowitz’s company’s Burundian staff member, who lives part of the year in Israel, with his Israeli wife and child). Nzitunga tells us, “For somebody that never had light in their life - at night, to see the light, is like a miracle - and it shouldn’t be a miracle in the 21st Century!” Other characters in our story are Zambian Bishop Scott Mwanza - who led the campaign in 2021 for 12 African nations to nominate Abramowitz for the Nobel Peace Prize. In one scene, Mwanza strongly praises Abramowitz’s work, “Israel is becoming a physical Light Unto the Nations!”. We also shot twice in a Burundian village completely without electricity (left), interviewing members of one family on their difficult situation, and on their dreams of a better future (including the dreams of their teen daughter). The mother told us, “We cannot even hope to have electricity - if God doesn’t bring it to us.” After our first visit, a young child of that family drowned in a large flood - increasingly frequent floods which most analysts believe are a direct symptom of global warming in Africa. On our second visit, the mother reflected on that tragic outcome. 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.” |
At the Rwanda solar field
w. Sarah Silverman, his wife Susan Silverman, & Shimon Peres
|
With Bono at the Rwanda solar field, 2015
|
“Green Rebels” 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 Rebels" 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 Rebels” excerpts 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. After we partner to plan an event, we have a zoom a few weeks before the event:
to tailer-make your event to your community and your vision.
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 Rebels” excerpts 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. After we partner to plan an event, we have a zoom a few weeks before the event:
to tailer-make your event to your community and your vision.
Our Menu and Fees:
To contact us for more info or to see more excerpts:
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 646-640-7887, WhatsApp: 972-50-212-8132
We are looking for a few additional investors: who 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 May, 2025. Email us for more info or to see a Business Plan.
- We are available to present an impact event for your community in the United States or Canada, anytime starting April, 2025.
- Our cost to present an Impact Screening/Discussion Event, based on various factors, is $500-$1000 (plus transportation to your location from New York City).
To contact us for more info or to see more excerpts:
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 646-640-7887, WhatsApp: 972-50-212-8132
We are looking for a few additional investors: who 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 May, 2025. Email us for more info or to see a Business Plan.
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. He presented 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 - in over 50 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, co-directing Jerusalem New York Productions (http://www.jerusalemny.com) . She co-produced Jerusalem New York'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. Fleury Kid Ineza (Burundi producer) - Jewish in his soul and Burundian at heart, he lives in Burundi, and works as a communications expert in the East African community, where he also heads a consultancy group called "TIKKUN OLAM CONSULTING GROUP". Fleury firmly believes in the positive impact that "Green Rebels" can make. |
