JUDAISM AND THE ENVIRONMENT A MARVELOUS, INSIGHTFUL BOOK

Jewish Lights Publishing is one of the more remarkable success stories of the past decade-plus. Located in tiny Woodstock, Vermont of all places, it has published dozens and dozens of fine, often essential works, on subjects ranging from Biblical study to children's books, Jewish holidays to Kabbalah, ritual and spirituality, never falling for the cheap or vulgar, and often scholarly, as seen by the several excellent volumes of Rabbi Elyse Goldstein's anthologies of rabbinical comment. Its series, "The Way Into" has covered topics such as Torah and Jewish Prayer to Time, Zion, the Relationship between Jews and Non-Jews, and more. In 2006, Jewish Lights published this superior study, The Way Into Judaism and the Environment, by Jeremy Benstein, once of the U.S. but long the leader of the Heschel Center for Environmental Learning and Leadership in Tel Aviv. If one cares about the survival of our fragile planet--and recognizes that without humanity's existence, there will be none available to do mitzvot (good deeds) into the future, then this low-price paperback should be in every Jewish home.

Millions of Jews and non-Jews have been aware for centuries that Judaism has much admirable to say about charitable giving, life-long study--and for women as well as men--love of others, and so much more. But when it comes to the environment, I sense that most people, among them most Jews, first think of the unfortunate Creation story ordering the first couple to "have dominion" over God's planet and its animals, which appears to suggest the right to "chop down whatever you want and eat almost anything, because You Humans Are the Crown of Creation." But through the scholarship of Dr. Benstein, we are enriched through nearly 250 pages of quotations from the Tanach, Midrash, Talmud and more, only some of them familiar, which make us realize that our grand faith had much to say about "sustainability" which is far more satisfying than merely avoiding the mixing of milk and meat, or eating pork and shellfish. The deeply ethnical and moral Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel (who enraged many of every faith when he marched with Dr. Martin Luther King and publically challenged the Viet Nam War) wrote movingly over six decades ago, "As civilization advances, the sense of wonder declines. . . . We will not perish for want of information, but only for want of appreciation."

Sadly, there has been a three-millennium struggle between Judaism and paganism, since the latter worships Nature, while a strict monotheism is central to Jewish belief. But as the author wisely points out, "the natural world does not have to be worshiped in order to be nurtured or protected as God's creation." It is so helpful to know that Adam and Eve are never told to eat animals, but to "serve and preserve." So vegetarianism and the growth of eco-Kashrut is logical and not hippie-ish or alien to traditional Jewish thought. One third of the way into this lovely book, Dr. Benstein poetically points out his key message: that we can and must "overcome" the alienation we often feel from Nature, "strengthen the bridge in both directions, and deepen the relationship between Judaism and the world." (Please note, the Israeli-based author does not ignore the agonizing dilemma of his chosen State's having to often destroy fruit trees--breaking an important mitzvah--in its struggle against an enemy which often hides behind them.)

Several of the exquisite midrashim quoted throughout this superb text are worth the price of admission alone, but it is also good to see the author's awareness of hatzala--to not stand by idly when harmful acts are occurring (Lev. 19:16). "An essential Jewish teaching" he quotes from Rabbi Saul Berman, "is that the entire world belongs to God. If then we love God, we are duty-bound to protect and preserve God's property--this entire Earth." What a beautiful thought. And what a powerful argument for "Environmental Zionism." And how happy I was to come across one of my own favourite midrashim (from Kohelet Rabbah): God took the First Man throughout the Garden of Eden, warning him, "See My works, how lovely they are. All I have created, I created for you. Take care not to corrupt and destroy My world, for if you ruin it, there is no one to come after you to put it right." There is a quote which should be written on every blackboard of every religious classroom--Jewish and Gentile--around the world.
Buy and read this book; it is a very important document.