Yosef Abramowitz

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Yosef Abramowitz
יוסף אברמוביץ
Abramowitz in 2020
BornMay 1964 (age 61)
Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
NationalityAmerican-Israeli
EducationBoston University (BA) Columbia University (MA)
OccupationSolar energy entrepreneur Environmental acitivist
Organization(s)Gigawatt Global (co-founder, CEO)[1]
SpouseSusan Silverman (1992-present)
Children5
AwardsNobel Peace Prize (nominated)

Yosef Abramowitz (Hebrew: יוסף אברמוביץ; born 1964) is an Israeli-American environmentalist, solar energy pioneer and activist. He is president and CEO of Gigawatt Global/Energiya Global Capital as well as co-founder of the Arava Power Company and the NGO Gigawatt Impact.[2] Through fighting for the rights of various groups he has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize 3 times.[3]

Business career

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Sustainable Energy Development

In 2025 Abramowitz co-founded the NGO Gigawatt Impact.[4]

In 2011, Abramowitz co-founded and currently serves as the CEO of Energiya Global Capital / Gigawatt Global.[2] A company which finances green energy projects in Sub-Saharan Africa. Gigawatt global has established renewable energy projects around the world including projects in Rwanda, Burundi as well as the United States.[5]

In 2006 Abramowitz co-founded the Arava power company with David Rosenblatt and Ed Hofland on Kibbutz Ketura and was the president of the company until 2013.[6] In 2008 Siemens project ventures acquired a 40% stake in the company through a $15 million investment.[7] In 2010 Arava power gained government funding which allowed the company to build 8 projects in the Negev Desert that supplied 58.5 MW.[8]

Journalism and writing

Abramowitz has extensive experience as a columnist, working for The Daily Free Press (1983–86), Israel Scene Magazine (1988–90), Moment Magazine (1993-95), The Chronicle of Philanthropy (2004-2006), Ha’aretz (2010) and the Jerusalem Post (2013-2021)[9]

Along with his wife Abramowitz wrote Jewish Family and Life: Traditions, Holidays, and Values for Today's Parents and Children, which was published in 1998.[10] Furthermore, he has received writing credits for What Israel Means to Me (2006), How Americans Feel About Israel (1984) and Jews, Zionism, and South Africa (1984).

Activism

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Soviet Jews

Abramowitz was deeply involved in campaigning for the protection of Jews who lived in the Soviet Union. From 1997 – 2007 He was the president of the Union of Councils for Soviet Jews,[11] which has earned him three separate Nobel Peace Prize nominations.[3]

In his fight for the protection of Soviet Jews he took direct action which resulted in legal troubles. In October 1985 he was arrested while protesting for the release of Boris Lifshitz but his case was overturned by the supreme court.[12] Abramowitz also led a 2 week long hunger strike for the release of soviet prisoner Alexei Magarik. Also in February 1987 Abramowitz, organized 23 demonstrations around the world on Jewish Student Solidarity Day for Soviet Jewry.

South Africa

Abramowitz was heavily involved in the anti-apartheid and divesture movement at Boston University. He took part in direct action in the form of a 14 day strike that protested Boston University’s investments into apartheid South Africa.[13] These actions ultimately got Abramowitz banned from pre-democratic South Africa.[14]

Bedouin Climate Justice

Abramowitz has fought for the rights of the Bedouin community and their inclusion in renewable energy solusions through the NGO Shamsuna[15]. He is both a co-founder and co-chair of the company and through his involvement he has managed to facilitate successful projects such as the Al-Furra School which has brought renewable energy and education to over 350 students[16].

Other activism

In 1997 he was part of the successful campaign to reinstate $7 billion to the United States as a correction to the Welfare Reform Act.[17]

Abramowitz helped to establish the Ethiopian Atid Ehad political party in Israel.

He is also an active advocate for collaboration between Israeli-Arabs and Jewish Israeli’s over renewable energy.

Award nominations for Work
Year Category Institution or publication Result Notes Ref.
2004 Excellence in Jewish Education Covenant Award Won The Covenant Foundation [18]
2012 Developing the Solar Industry Person of the year award Won Israel Energy and Business Convention [19]
2014 Entrepreneurship and Technology Bonei Zion Won Nefesh B’Nefesh [20]
2016 Green Globe Israeli Parliament Won Life and Environment [21]
2021 Nobel Peace Prize Nobel Nominated Union of Councils for Soviet Jews [3]

Biography

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Abramowitz was born the United States to a Jewish family. He lived in Israel as a child from 1969 to 1972, before returning to Boston. While living in Massachusetts, he attended the Solomon Schechter School of Greater Boston, and graduated in 1980 from Hebrew College Prozdor and in 1982 from Brookline High School.[citation needed] He received a Bachelor of Arts in Jewish Public Policy from Boston University in 1986, where he studied under Elie Wiesel, Howard Zinn and Hillel Levine, and a Master of Arts in Magazine Journalism from Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism in 1991, which he attended on a Wexner Graduate Fellowship.[22] He is married to Rabbi Susan Silverman with whom he has five children.[2]

In 2006, he moved from Newton, Massachusetts to Kibbutz Ketura.[23]

References

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  1. ^ Solomon, Shoshanna. (2 June 2016) Israel solar guru promises more plants in US, Africa. Times of Israel. Retrieved on 15 October 2024.
  2. ^ a b c Friedson, Felice (28 April 2021). "Israel Could Be a 'Superpower of Goodness,' Says Presidential Hopeful Yosef Abramowitz". Jewish Journal. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
  3. ^ a b c Shavit, Ilan (21 April 2013). "Three-Time Nobel Peace Prize Nominee, Yosef Abramowitz, Is The First Israeli To Appear On CNN's Program "The Next List"". Jewish Business News. Retrieved 14 September 2025.
  4. ^ "Gigawatt Impact Inc". GuideStar. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
  5. ^ EEP Africa Trust Fund : Annual Report 2020
  6. ^ "Arava Power launches Israel's first solar field - Enviro-Tech - Jerusalem Post". The Jerusalem Post. 5 June 2011.
  7. ^ "Siemens invests $ 15 million in Israeli solar company Arava Power". Siemens. 28 August 2009. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
  8. ^ Roca, Marc (13 December 2010). "Arava Power Sings Israel's First Solar Power Financing". Bloomberg. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
  9. ^ "Yosef I. Abramowitz". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
  10. ^ "Jewish family & life : traditions, holidays, and values for today's parents and children". Internet Archive. 1997. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
  11. ^ "Union of Councils for Soviet Jews (UCSJ)". SOVIET JEWRY MOVEMENT ARCHIVES PROJECT. Retrieved 21 September 2025.
  12. ^ "Abramowitz v. Kimmelman". Justia U.S. Law. Retrieved 21 September 2025.
  13. ^ SELIGSON, SUSAN (9 October 2014). "Civil Disobedience, a Love Story". Bostonia. Retrieved 21 September 2025.
  14. ^ Alexander, Greg (21 November 2024). "Temple Israel hosts 'Captain Sunshine' for Shabbos". South African Jewish Report. Retrieved 21 September 2025.
  15. ^ "Board of Directors". Shamsuna. Retrieved 28 September 2025.
  16. ^ The Arava Institute for Environmental Studies (15 December 2024). The Al-Furaa Off-Grid Hub. Retrieved 28 September 2025 – via YouTube.
  17. ^ "'To Restore America'". Ronald Regan Presidential Library & Museum. 31 March 1976. Retrieved 21 September 2025.
  18. ^ "Covenant Award Recipient Yosef I Abramowitz". The Covenant Foundation. Retrieved 28 September 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  19. ^ Sara, Viva (31 October 2012). "SOLAR PIONEER YOSEF ABRAMOWITZ NAMED PERSON OF THE YEAR". Israel21c. Retrieved 28 September 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  20. ^ "Bonei Zion Prize", Wikipedia, 17 May 2025, retrieved 28 September 2025
  21. ^ "8 days of olim shining their light on Israel: Yossi Abramowitz | The Jerusalem Post". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. 16 December 2017. Retrieved 29 September 2025.
  22. ^ "Yosef Abramowitz Profile". 16 August 2004. Retrieved 10 July 2011.
  23. ^ Troy, Gil (14 June 2011). "Is Israel bright enough to become a renewable Light unto the Nations?". Comments and Features. The Jerusalem Post. Jerusalem, Israel. Archived from the original on 17 July 2011. Retrieved 29 June 2011.