Food insecurity, water scarcity, dwindling energy sources: these crises are real. But through developing applied research capacity and exchanging relevant knowledge and experience between Jewish National Fund-USA, the University of Arizona, and the Arava Valley, the Kasser Joint Institute will have a positive impact on vulnerable communities, especially in arid lands, and will make the world a better place. Come join Temple Beth El and JNF-USA to hear from Tania Pons Allon, Director of the Joint Institute, on cutting-edge solutions for a sustainable future to address the increasing number of vulnerable communities and people living extreme poverty due to the growing global population.⁠

Tania Pons Allon is a native of Kibbutz Ketura, which is located in the Arava Region along Israel’s border with Jordan. After leaving the periphery of Israel to work in Tel Aviv as a designer, she returned to the Central Arava with her husband – a full-time farmer – and her child, to raise her family in the desert. Tania has dedicated her life to making the Negev habitable for the next generation of Israelis, and previously served in the resource development department of the Central Arava Regional Council. Today, Tania continues her important work as the Director of the Kasser Joint Institute for Food, Water and Energy Security.