Teaching #1: Trees, Torah, and Caring for the Earth
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Jewish tradition teaches us the importance of planting trees, protecting them, and using them responsibly. Jewish teachings help us understand lessons of long-term sustainability which apply not only to trees, but to the natural environment as a whole.
An oft-quoted Midrash teaches: “When G-d created the first man He took him and showed him all the trees of the Garden of Eden and said to him ‘See My works, how beautiful and praiseworthy they are. And everything that I created, I created it for you. Be careful not to spoil or destroy My world – for if you do, there will be nobody after you to repair it.'”
The Midrash singles out the trees of the Garden of Eden – rather than the Garden of Eden itself – to represent the natural world, the work of the Creator. Why should trees be singled out in G-d telling people not to destroy creation? An exploration of this topic will help us understand the deep importance of trees in our tradition, and the lessons they can offer us regarding the serious environmental challenges we face today.
Learning Resources:
- View Video
- Long Version for Deeper Study by Dr. Akiva Wolff and Rabbi Yonatan Neril
- Short Summary Article by Dr. Akiva Wolff and Rabbi Yonatan Neril
- Study Guide with Hebrew-English Sources and Discussion Questions
Additional Resources Available for Download:
- For schools: Lesson Plan on Trees in Jewish Thought (PDF)
- Adults and Children: Experiential Activities (PDF)
- Listen! Audio Podcast on Trees in Jewish Thought
- Video! Trees, Torah, and Caring for the Earth
- Video! Shoftim – Protecting the Rainforests
- Video! Souls Fly In Nature
This resource is part of Canfei Nesharim’s Year of Jewish Learning on the Environment, in partnership with Jewcology.com, with support from the ROI Community, a community of young Jewish innovators founded by Lynn Schusterman, and the Shedlin Outreach Foundation.
Teaching #2: Summoning the Will Not to Waste