Overview

In today's modern culture, we've become separated from the sacredness of the natural world. This book offers a different, eye- and soul-opening way of viewing our religion: A perspective grounded in nature, and rich in insights for seekers of all faiths. Respect for the holiness of Creation, our duty to protect the natural world, reverence for the land.a focus on nature is part of the fabric of Jewish thought. Here, innovative contributors bring us a richer understanding of the long-neglected themes of nature that are woven through the biblical creation story, ancient texts, traditional law, the holiday cycles, prayer, mitzvot (good deeds), and community. Ecology & the Jewish Spirit explores the wisdom that the Jewish tradition has to offer all of us, to help nature become a sacred, spiritual part of our own lives.

Full Product Details

Author:   Ellen Bernstein (Ellen Bernstein)
Publisher:   Jewish Lights Publishing
Imprint:   Jewish Lights Publishing
Dimensions:   Width: 15.30cm , Height: 2.10cm , Length: 22.80cm
Weight:   0.001kg
ISBN:  

9781580230827

ISBN 10:   1580230822
Pages:   288
Publication Date:   13 April 2000
Audience:   General/trade ,  General
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   In Print  
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Table of Contents

"Acknowledgments 9 Introduction 11 Sacred Place 15 1 Adam, Adamah, and Adonai: The Relationship between Humans, Nature, and God in the Bible Jeff Sultar 19 2 Befriending the Desert Owl Shamu Fenyvesi 27 3 (Mis)reading Genesis: A Response to Environmentalist Critiques of Judaism Neal Joseph Loevinger 32 4 Is There Only One Holy Land? Bradley Shavit Artson 41 5 How Wilderness Forms a Jew Ellen Bernstein 50 6 A Sentient Universe Everett Gendler 57 7 Practical Kabbalah: A Family History Charles Fenyvesi 69 8 Jewish Perspectives on Limiting Consumption Eliezer Diamond 80 9 New York Is a Girl Robert Sand 88 Sacred Time 95 Cycles of the Jewish Year 10 The Sun, the Moon, and the Seasons: Ecological Implications of the Hebrew Calendar Debra J. Robbins 98 11 ""In Your Goodness, You Renew Creation"": The Creation Cycles of the Jewish Liturgy Lawrence Troster 107 12 Shabbat and the Sabbatical Year Dan Fink 112 13 The Land of Your Soul Marc Sirinsky 121 The Holidays 14 Rain and the Calendar Ellen Cohn 127 15 Sukkot: Holiday of Joy Ellen Bernstein 133 16 Sukkot: Gathering the Boughs Dan Fink 137 17 A History of Tu B'Sh’vat Ellen Bernstein 139 18 The Tu B’Sh’vat Seder Ellen Bernstein 142 19 Purim Rivers and Revels Dan Fink 151 20 The Parsley versus the Potato: A Passover Reminiscence Everett Gendler 153 21 Leaving Egypt Dan Fink 155 22 Grow Your Own—Barley, That Is! Eileen Abrams 157 23 Mountain Paths Dan Fink 160 24 In Search of the Omer Ellen Cohn 162 25 Of Dust, Ashes, Comets, and a Three-Year-Old Dan Fink 167 Sacred Community 169 26 Cosmos and Chaos: Biblical Views of Creation Neil Gillman 172 27 Restoring a Blessing Shamu Fenyvesi 180 28 What Is the Common Wealth? David Ehrenfeld 185 29 Jewish Agricultural Law: Ethical First Principles and Environmental Justice Victor Raboy 190 30 The Blessings of Holiness Lawrence Troster 200 31 Nature, Spirit, Body Shira Dicker 207 32 Judaism’s Environmental Laws Barry Freundel 214 33 Business and Environment: A Case Study Philip J. Bentley 225 34 Between Dust and Divinity: Maimonides and Jewish Environmental Ethics Dan Fink 230 35 What Does the Hour Demand? Environmentalism As Self-Realization David Gedzelman 240 36 Living As If God Mattered: Heschel’s View of Nature and Humanity Marc Swetlitz 244 37 How Community Forms a Jew Ellen Bernstein 250 Notes 257 About the Contributors 269 Index 273"

Reviews

Highly readable deftly crafted a treasure-trove of tools and insights for following the deep roots of Judaism in the soil of this planet. Steve Curwood, host of National Public Radio's Living on Earth A rich collection of thinking and practices.... Challenges people of all faiths to examine their own traditions. Rev. Lynne West, Environmental Justice Office, National Council of Churches Pioneering.... A winning, eclectic mix linking Judaism and ecology.... This book comes as a blessing. Rabbi Irving Greenberg, Founding President of CLAL; President, Jewish Life Network For the first time, a book that illuminates the guiding role that nature plays in human affairs . A welcome and powerful voice is now added to all those dedicated to preserving the integrity and sacred quality of the planet earth. Thomas Berry, author, The Dream of the Earth A great resource for anyone seeking to explore the connection between their faith and caring for God's good creation, our environment. Paul Gorman, executive director, National Religious Partnership for the Environment This timely collection, bringing out the ecological soul of Judaism, is a cause for celebration. Its many refreshing voices call Jewish spirituality to reawaken to its own glad reverence for Earth. Joanna Macy, author, World as Lover, World as Self Ellen Bernstein s pathbreaking work helps us to rethink the meanings of Judaism s ancient texts as we struggle to find ways of resolving today s ecological dilemmas. Carolyn Merchant, professor of environmental history, philosophy, and ethics, University of California at Berkeley; author, Earthcare

Highly readable deftly crafted a treasure-trove of tools and insights for following the deep roots of Judaism in the soil of this planet. Steve Curwood, host of National Public Radio's Living on Earth A rich collection of thinking and practices.... Challenges people of all faiths to examine their own traditions. Rev. Lynne West, Environmental Justice Office, National Council of Churches Pioneering.... A winning, eclectic mix linking Judaism and ecology.... This book comes as a blessing. Rabbi Irving Greenberg, Founding President of CLAL; President, Jewish Life Network For the first time, a book that illuminates the guiding role that nature plays in human affairs .A welcome and powerful voice is now added to all those dedicated to preserving the integrity and sacred quality of the planet earth. Thomas Berry, author, The Dream of the Earth A great resource for anyone seeking to explore the connection between their faith and caring for God s good creation, our environment. Paul Gorman, executive director, National Religious Partnership for the Environment This timely collection, bringing out the ecological soul of Judaism, is a cause for celebration. Its many refreshing voices call Jewish spirituality to reawaken to its own glad reverence for Earth. Joanna Macy, author, World as Lover, World as Self Ellen Bernstein s pathbreaking work helps us to rethink the meanings of Judaism s ancient texts as we struggle to find ways of resolving today s ecological dilemmas. Carolyn Merchant, professor of environmental history, philosophy, and ethics, University of California at Berkeley; author, Earthcare

Highly readable...deftly crafted ... a treasure-trove of tools and insights for following the deep roots of Judaism in the soil of this planet. --Steve Curwood, host of National Public Radio's Living on Earth A rich collection of thinking and practices.... Challenges people of all faiths to examine their own traditions. --Rev. Lynne West, Environmental Justice Office, National Council of Churches Pioneering.... A winning, eclectic mix linking Judaism and ecology.... This book comes as a blessing. --Rabbi Irving Greenberg, Founding President of CLAL; President, Jewish Life Network For the first time, a book that illuminates the guiding role that nature plays in human affairs.... A welcome and powerful voice is now added to all those dedicated to preserving the integrity and sacred quality of the planet earth. --Thomas Berry, author, The Dream of the Earth A great resource for anyone seeking to explore the connection between their faith and caring for God's good creation, our environment. --Paul Gorman, executive director, National Religious Partnership for the Environment This timely collection, bringing out the ecological soul of Judaism, is a cause for celebration. Its many refreshing voices call Jewish spirituality to reawaken to its own glad reverence for Earth. --Joanna Macy, author, World as Lover, World as Self Ellen Bernstein's pathbreaking work helps us to rethink the meanings of Judaism's ancient texts as we struggle to find ways of resolving today's ecological dilemmas. --Carolyn Merchant, professor of environmental history, philosophy, and ethics, University of California at Berkeley; author, Earthcare Highly readable deftly crafted a treasure-trove of tools and insights for following the deep roots of Judaism in the soil of this planet. Steve Curwood, host of National Public Radio's Living on Earth A rich collection of thinking and practices.... Challenges people of all faiths to examine their own traditions. Rev. Lynne West, Environmental Justice Office, National Council of Churches Pioneering.... A winning, eclectic mix linking Judaism and ecology.... This book comes as a blessing. Rabbi Irving Greenberg, Founding President of CLAL; President, Jewish Life Network For the first time, a book that illuminates the guiding role that nature plays in human affairs . A welcome and powerful voice is now added to all those dedicated to preserving the integrity and sacred quality of the planet earth. Thomas Berry, author, The Dream of the Earth A great resource for anyone seeking to explore the connection between their faith and caring for God's good creation, our environment. Paul Gorman, executive director, National Religious Partnership for the Environment This timely collection, bringing out the ecological soul of Judaism, is a cause for celebration. Its many refreshing voices call Jewish spirituality to reawaken to its own glad reverence for Earth. Joanna Macy, author, World as Lover, World as Self Ellen Bernstein s pathbreaking work helps us to rethink the meanings of Judaism s ancient texts as we struggle to find ways of resolving today s ecological dilemmas. Carolyn Merchant, professor of environmental history, philosophy, and ethics, University of California at Berkeley; author, Earthcare Highly readable deftly crafted a treasure-trove of tools and insights for following the deep roots of Judaism in the soil of this planet. Steve Curwood, host of National Public Radio's Living on Earth A rich collection of thinking and practices.... Challenges people of all faiths to examine their own traditions. Rev. Lynne West, Environmental Justice Office, National Council of Churches Pioneering.... A winning, eclectic mix linking Judaism and ecology.... This book comes as a blessing. Rabbi Irving Greenberg, Founding President of CLAL; President, Jewish Life Network For the first time, a book that illuminates the guiding role that nature plays in human affairs . A welcome and powerful voice is now added to all those dedicated to preserving the integrity and sacred quality of the planet earth. Thomas Berry, author, The Dream of the Earth A great resource for anyone seeking to explore the connection between their faith and caring for God's good creation, our environment. Paul Gorman, executive director, National Religious Partnership for the Environment This timely collection, bringing out the ecological soul of Judaism, is a cause for celebration. Its many refreshing voices call Jewish spirituality to reawaken to its own glad reverence for Earth. Joanna Macy, author, World as Lover, World as Self Ellen Bernstein s pathbreaking work helps us to rethink the meanings of Judaism s ancient texts as we struggle to find ways of resolving today s ecological dilemmas. Carolyn Merchant, professor of environmental history, philosophy, and ethics, University of California at Berkeley; author, Earthcare

Author Information

Ellen Bernstein is the founder of Shomrei Adamah—Keepers of the Earth, the first institution dedicated to cultivating the ecological thinking and practices integral to Jewish life. She is author of Ecology & the Jewish Spirit: Where Nature and the Sacred Meet and currently works as director of community building at the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia. Ellen Bernstein is available to speak on the following topics: Reading the Bible Ecologically Prayer from an Ecological Perspective Why Judaism Needs Ecology and Why the Environmental Movement Needs a Spiritual Approach Creation Theology Why (and How) to Start a Synagogue Garden or Farm! Ellen Bernstein is the founder of Shomrei Adamah—Keepers of the Earth, the first institution dedicated to cultivating the ecological thinking and practices integral to Jewish life. She is author of Ecology & the Jewish Spirit: Where Nature and the Sacred Meet and currently works as director of community building at the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia. Ellen Bernstein is available to speak on the following topics: Reading the Bible Ecologically Prayer from an Ecological Perspective Why Judaism Needs Ecology and Why the Environmental Movement Needs a Spiritual Approach Creation Theology Why (and How) to Start a Synagogue Garden or Farm!

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