Yossef Ben-Meir, Ph.D. is a sociologist and is also president of the High Atlas Foundation, based in Marrakech.Manon Burbidge is a post-graduate studying Human Ecology at Lund University, Sweden, and currently interning at the High Atlas Foundation.
The theme of this portion of the story is that the people, the public, any witnesses or observers, and anyone willing to listen had years of warning that a calamity, in this case utter destruction, was on its way. [Yossef Ben-Meir]
Biblical Story of Noah Should Serve as an Environmental Warning Read More »
International, Jewish Religion, Opinion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Yossef Ben-Meir
I sincerely internalized lessons from his experience and that signpost, coming to understand the needs that communities determine and express and the responsibility of development agencies to respond accordingly. This primary tenet of sustainability is so simple, and yet it has taken decades for prior generations worldwide (and still may require generations going forward) to truly forsake the destructive control of central planning in lieu of people’s own decision-making as it impacts their lives. [Yossef Ben-Meir]
The local initiatives that emerge from the intensive personal and community analyses are strongly associated with sustainability because they reflect the objectives of the participants. [Yossef Ben-Meir]
In the wake of the devastating earthquake that struck central Morocco in September 2023, the High Atlas Foundation (HAF) has remained steadfast in its commitment to supporting affected communities through water, sanitation, and agricultural initiatives aimed at food recovery, benefitting around 3,350 people. [Yossef Ben-Meir]
High Atlas Foundation Aids in Recuperation after Morocco Earthquake Read More »
International, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Technology, Yossef Ben-Meir
It has been more than six months since that calamitous night in the High Atlas Mountains in the Kingdom of Morocco. [Yossef Ben-Meir]
Rebuilding Lives in Earthquake-Devastated Morocco Read More »
International, Lifestyles, Middle East, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food, Yossef Ben-Meir
The actions Egypt took in its survival to avoid an apocalyptic famine as described in the Bible have applicable relevance to help us avoid climate catastrophe in our time. [Yossef Ben-Meir]
Applying Biblical Egypt’s Actions to Today’s Climate Emergency Read More »
International, Jewish Religion, Middle East, USA, Yossef Ben-Meir
As Morocco rebuilds in the aftermath of a horrifying earthquake that struck High Atlas Mountain ranges last month, this article considers the guiding premises for sustainable societies established in the first chapter of the Torah, “In the Beginning.” [Yossef Ben-Meir]
‘In the Beginning’ in Morocco Read More »
International, Jewish Religion, Opinion, Yossef Ben-Meir
In early July, I set out with colleagues of the High Atlas Foundation—a U.S. and Moroccan non-for-profit organization—to meet with agricultural cooperatives in Morocco to understand their needs and goals and create action plans toward lasting development. Along the way, we visited Jewish and Christian cemeteries, and met their caretakers and neighboring community members to discover their heritage stories. [Yossef Ben-Meir]
Moroccan Cemeteries Waiting to be Visited and Remembered Read More »
International, Jewish History, Travel and Food, Yossef Ben-Meir
By Yossef Ben-Meir, Ph.D MARRAKECH, Morocco — Twenty-seven years ago, I lived in a village called Amsouzerte in the Tifnoute Valley, the south side of the High Atlas Mountains, closeby to the burial location of the Moroccan-Hebrew saint David-Ou-Mouche. The Tifnoute community and its region long desired for the building of a fruit tree nursery
The Significance of the New Signage at the Ouarzazate Tree Nursery in Morocco Read More »
Middle East, Yossef Ben-MeirMorocco’s relationship with Israel can be a gateway for Moroccan-Jewish people – along with other members of Morocco’s diaspora – to return to the land of their origins and join this national effort to restore long-held sacred locations that epitomize the country’s embracing of its intercultural self. Collaborations are crucial to sharing knowledge lest it be ever forgotten, to inspiring the world, and to making the lives and livelihoods of the Moroccan people better today. [Yossef Ben-Meir, Ph.D]
Israel-Morocco Ties May Lure Moroccan Diaspora Home Read More »
International, Middle East, Yossef Ben-MeirFarming communities of Morocco’s countryside combine to require some billions of fruit trees and medicinal plants as they transition away from the traditional practice of growing barley and corn. In order for communities to generate the trees they need, they require the gift of land to grow seeds in local nurseries because they cannot forego their own land and not harvest food every year to survive. The Moroccan Jewish community, next to their 600 cemeteries throughout the nation, has empty lands they are willing to lend without cost to local agricultural associations and cooperatives to help them meet their tree and plant needs. [Yossef Ben-Meir, Ph.D]
Fruit trees grown on Moroccan Jewish land transplanted to Muslim-owned farms Read More »
Business & Finance, International, The World We Share, Travel and Food, Yossef Ben-MeirBy Yossef Ben-Meir MARRAKECH, Morocco — October 17 marks the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. The commemoration of this day suggests that the way to end poverty is not a matter shrouded in mystery. In fact, its celebration denotes that, at a minimum, the manner to end poverty is most likely established knowledge.
OpEd: Bringing Poverty to Heel Read More »
Business & Finance, International, Lifestyles, Yossef Ben-Meir
By Yossef Ben-Meir and Ellen Hernandez MARRAKECH, Morocco — Harnessing the experiences and the history of religious and ethnic groups in Morocco must be a priority before the holders of that knowledge are lost to time. Moroccan-based civil associations, with the right support, are in an ideal position to gather and disseminate this knowledge for
Preserving Morocco’s multicultural identity Read More »
International, Jewish History, Middle East, Yossef Ben-Meir
Today, the people-driven approach to development is widely considered a way to create sustainable projects to advance economic growth, education, and health. However, it is not without its challenges and limitations, and has therefore been met with several pervading criticisms. For those of us who support and encourage participatory development (PD), we must ask ourselves what we need to do in order to ensure maximally productive and life-enhancing experiences for the communities with which we work, in the time we are in. (Yossef Ben-Meir, Ph.D)
Five challenges to participatory development Read More »
International, Lifestyles, Middle East, Yossef Ben-Meir