OUR AMERICAN FRIENDS
Friends of Israel's Environment
Through advocacy and legal actions―as well as persistence, creativity and subject-matter expertise―Adam Teva V’Din has been critical in developing Israel’s environmental policies over many decades.
We at American Friends of Israel’s Environment are proud to provide financial and policy support to Adam Teva V’Din as they work tirelessly to ensure a safe and healthy environment for all.
Meet our American Friends below
Friends of Israel's Environment in action
“Adam Teva V’Din is working tirelessly to rebuild Israel in a way that is smart and sustainable.” Read Brian D. Israel’s letter and appeal in the aftermath of Ocober 7.
Whether you missed it, or want to re-watch our most recent webinar, “Rebuilding Israel’s South after October 7”, watch the recorded webinar here.
Friends of Israel’s Environment mourns the passing of Alan Sieroty, Honorary Member of the FIE Board, and former State Senator of California, known to many as the ‘father of the coastline’. May his memory be a blessing.
Brian D. Israel, Chairman
Brian Israel is Chair of Arnold & Porter’s Environmental Practice Group, as well as co-lead of the firm’s Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance (ESG) working group. He focuses on environmental litigation and counseling—including climate-related issues—and he is one of the nation’s leading lawyers for Natural Resource Damages (NRD) claims. Over the course of his career, he successfully resolved over one hundred environmental matters. Prior to joining Arnold & Porter, Brian was an Honors Trial Attorney in the Environmental Enforcement Section of the US Department of Justice (DOJ). Brian has spoken and written extensively about environmental law issues including ESG, climate change law, environmental enforcement, corporate liability, regulatory reform, trial strategy, and environmental justice.
Myla Kaplan, Treasurer
Myla Kaplan has served on the FIE Board since 2019 and as Treasurer since 2021. Myla is a long-time member of Adam Teva V’Din and served on the Israeli board from 2001-2011. During her 20-year residency in Haifa, Israel, a city with severe industrial pollution, Myla was an active participant in environmental campaigns. Myla lives in Exton, Pennsylvania, and works as an in-house legal counsel at Virbac Corporation, a veterinary pharmaceutical company. She spends as much time as possible outdoors ad enjoys hiking, biking and kayaking.
Mike Gildesgame
Mike has been engaged in developing and implementing environmental policies and managing natural resource programs in the US and overseas. He has worked with private companies, government agencies and nonprofit groups to develop solutions to natural resource problems facing developing countries and domestic communities. Mike is a trained mediator and works with social justice organizations in the Boston area.
Art Krieger
Arthur Kreiger has more than 30 years of experience as an environmental, land use and municipal lawyer. He is a partner and co-founder of Anderson & Kreiger LLP, a leading environmental law practice in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Arthur graduated cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania and earned his JD with honors from Columbia Law School.
Ethan Shenkman
Ethan Shenkman is a partner at Arnold & Porter’s Environmental Practice Group. He is known nationally for his work with climate change policy and regulation. He earlier served as Deputy General Counsel at the EPA where he was responsible for Clean Air Act regulations and litigation. Prior to that, he was Deputy General Counsel at the US Department of Justice’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. Ethan lives in the Washington DC area.
Gary Skulnik
David Meshoulam
David Meshoulam is Executive Director of Speak for the Trees, Boston, an organization he co-founded in 2018. The organization focuses on “tree equity”, the notion that all residents deserve the numerous economic, social, and health benefits that trees provide. Working together with community members, the organization plants, preserves, cares, and advocates for trees to expand the tree canopy in environmentally marginalized Boston neighborhoods. He holds a BA in Philosophy of Science from Columbia University, an MA in History of Science, and a PhD in Curriculum & Instruction (Science Education), both from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Honorable Henry Waxman, Former Congressman, U.S. House of Representatives
Henry Waxman served for 40 years a leading environmental lawmaker in the U.S. House of Representatives. Along with building some of the USA’s strongest, most enduring environmental laws, he brought much-need vision to the House of Representatives and to public dialogue about the overarching environmental issues of our time. As an Honorary Friend of Friends of Israel’s Environment, he has shared his vision, insights and experience with Adam Teva V’Din advocates, particularly in relation to maintaining a strong and enduring Clean Air Law for Israel.
