Bringing the Light: Joanna Kobylivker’s Journey to Founding Adamah ATL

For Joanna Kobylivker, tikkun olam—the Jewish call to repair the world—is more than an aspiration. It’s a mission she lives daily as the Founding Director of Adamah ATL, a new hub dedicated to environmental education, climate action, and empowering Atlanta’s Jewish community to embrace sustainability.

Joanna’s journey to this vital work is deeply personal. As a Jewish mother, community organizer, and environmental advocate, she embodies the Jewish values of responsibility, humility, and gratitude while tackling one of humanity’s most urgent challenges: the climate crisis.

From Project Manager to Environmental Leader

Joanna’s professional path began in project management, where she honed her skills at Emory Healthcare and Emory University for over a decade. She also earned degrees in economics from Barnard College and public health from Emory University. But despite her success in healthcare, Joanna found herself drawn to sustainability work through volunteer roles in the Atlanta Public Schools system and her synagogue, Congregation Shearith Israel.

What began as small steps—encouraging her children to reduce food waste and packing reusable lunch containers—soon grew into larger-scale initiatives. At her synagogue, Joanna spearheaded the creation of sustainable Shabbat gatherings, where compostable serveware and energy-efficient practices were introduced. She was inspired by Jewish teachings like bal tashchit, the prohibition against wastefulness, to bring these values to life in her community.

Finding Her Voice as a Jewish Climate Advocate

Joanna’s reflections from a 2018 Jewish Women’s Connection (JWC) trip to Israel reveal her evolution as a Jewish mother and climate leader. Amid the joy of connecting with family and participating in communal learning, she experienced a powerful moment of clarity: her role as a Jewish mother was to be a guiding light for her family and community.

That clarity crystallized when she began noticing the pervasive waste in spaces where her family lived, learned, and worshipped. “What kind of values are we exemplifying to our children,” she thought, “when we toss untouched food and plastic into the garbage without a second thought?”

Joanna didn’t stop at questions—she took action. At Shearith Israel, she piloted sustainable practices like composting and hybrid Kiddush lunches, which combined reusable utensils with compostable plates. These efforts not only reduced waste but also demonstrated that sustainability could align with Jewish traditions and values.

Building a Movement with Adamah ATL

Joanna’s passion for combining Jewish values with environmental action led her to join Georgia Interfaith Power and Light (GIPL) in 2021 as a community organizer for the Jewish community. She helped synagogues and other institutions reduce their carbon footprints by adopting practical climate solutions, such as installing LED lighting and improving insulation.

But Joanna wanted to do more. Inspired by Adamah, she envisioned a local hub in Atlanta that could deepen the impact of Jewish environmental education and action. In 2023, with seed funding from the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta, Joanna launched Adamah ATL in partnership with GIPL.

A Vision Rooted in Tradition and Innovation

At Adamah ATL, Joanna and her team are weaving Jewish tradition and sustainability into the fabric of Atlanta’s Jewish community. They teach young people to notice the natural world, explore the agricultural cycles embedded in Jewish holidays, and appreciate Israel’s innovations in sustainable agriculture.

“We’re modeling our values of humility, gratitude, honor, and continuity,” Joanna explains. “It’s about teaching our community to slow down, reconnect with the earth, and recognize our responsibility to care for it.”

L’dor v’ dor — Joanna Kobylivker and her family plant a tree

Programs like tree planting for Tu B’Shvat, river cleanups for Reverse Tashlich, and solar panel installations at Jewish institutions exemplify Adamah ATL’s commitment to practical solutions. Joanna’s work also reflects her resilience: even in the wake of the October 7th attacks in Israel, she continues to lead with hope and determination, ensuring her two sons wear their Jewish stars with pride and purpose.

Inspiring the Next Generation

Through her leadership, Joanna is empowering a new generation of Jewish environmental stewards. By connecting Jewish youth, families, and institutions to the urgent work of climate action, she is showing that tikkun olam isn’t just a lofty ideal—it’s a tangible, achievable goal.

Joanna Kobylivker is a passionate environmental leader. Photo provided courtesy of Adamah ATL.

Adamah ATL’s mission is clear: to connect people and planet through Jewish environmental education, climate action, and youth empowerment. With Joanna at the helm, this vision is becoming a reality, one sustainable Kiddush, compostable plate, and tree planting at a time. Joanna’s story is a reminder that one person’s determination can spark meaningful change. She saw darkness—in landfills, waste bins, and indifference—and chose to bring the light. For more information about Adamah ATL and its programs, contact atlanta@adamah.org.