The Way Into Judaism and the EnvironmentAt a time of growing concern about environmental issues, Dr. Jeremy Benstein, founder and associate director of the Heschel Center for Environmental Learning and Leadership, explores the relationship Jews have with the natural world, the ways in which Judaism contributes to contemporary social-environmental issues, the extent to which Judaism is part of the problem and how it can be part of the solution. Drawing from the Bible, rabbinic literature, midrash, the Jewish prayer book, and Jewish theology and philosophy, Benstein examines the dilemma of having dominion over the earth while serving and preserving it; what the Jewish calendar, including Shabbat and holidays, teaches us about our relationship with nature and the environment; and how contemporary environmental challenges present new and mind-opening opportunities for growth in Jewish thought and spiritual life. |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
Abraham Joshua Heschel animals anthropocentric B’Shvat bal tashchit basic Bava becomes bein adam berachot Bible biblical biodiversity blessing central challenges chapter commandments connection consumption contemporary context created Creation creatures culture cycle Deut Deuteronomy divine earth eat meat ecological economic environment environmental eternal ethical expression festival fruit Genesis global God’s halachic Hanukkah heaven Hebrew Heschel holiday holy human idea ideal important Israeli issues Jewish value Jews Judaism Kabbalah kashrut Land of Israel liturgy lives Maimonides means midrash Mishnah mitzvah mitzvot modern moral Nachmanides natural world Nezikin olam one’s Pesach Pirkei Avot pollution population pp,Quality PB prayer Quality PB question Rabbi rain relationship relevant religious responsibility ritual ronmental Rosh Hashanah Sabbath says Shabbat shacharit Shavuot shmitah social society sources species spiritual story Sukkot sustainability Talmud things tikkun tion Torah tractate trees urban vegetarian verse well-being wilderness Zionist