These days with all the distractions we face - radio, TV, computers, smart phones, Alexa - it is difficult to find the proper kavanah (concentration, intention) for teshuvah. Perhaps it was ever thus: Rabbi Mendel of Rimanov (d.1815) often complained:…
Rabbi Lawrence Toster (z”l) was one of the pioneers of ecological Judaism. He died this last year. This is an extract from a sermon: In Jewish theology, abundant rain is an expression of divine blessing and approval, a means of…
Rabbi Andrea Zanardo suggests that in the Rabbinic interpretation, the destruction of the Temple, the end of the most intimate relation between God and the human beings, happened twice as a punishment for not keeping the Sabbatical Year. During the…
It is almost inconceivable that a poem could be written by a committee. This one was - for the tenth anniversary of the Earth Charter in 2010. The Preamble and Way forward of the Charter (also written by a committee!)…
Trees are mentioned in the Bible more than any other living creature, apart from people and God, so it’s not surprising that in our reflections this Elul we have included several passages drawing attention to their importance. This Talmudic story…
In the coming year, we might be inspired by this midrash (from around 500CE) to not only be in the image of God, but to walk in the path of God in 5780 and plant trees. Vayikra Rabbah 25:3 "Rabbi…
This extract (from 13th century Spain) expands again on the idea of ‘bal tashchit’ – not wasting. We talk a lot at the high holy days about archetypes of good and bad – here is another. Are we the architects…
Yesterday we reflected on a piece of Torah reminding us to care for the environment that supports us even when we are destroying with war. This led to a larger rabbinic category known as bal tashchit – insisting we not…
This text from Deuteronomy has for many years been the go to ‘eco text’ of Torah. What can it teach us about our care for the earth even in the midst of war and destruction? Whose interest is it in?…
Rabbi Larry Tabick offers us two texts from the Kabbalist Moses Cordovero to continue our thinking about creation. How are we related, as part of God’s creation, to the rest of creation around us? "For all that exists is…