Leap of Faith: EcoShabbat
What would The Earth say about COP27?
The first verse of the Torah, Genesis 1:1, introduces The Earth as the place where everything else that matters is going to happen. All life, love, joy, care, satisfaction and beauty is dependent on the proper functioning of The Earth.
The first mitzvah, Commandment, addressed to Adam, the first human being, is in Hebrew p’ru u’r’vu (increase and multiply and fill the earth – Genesis 1:28).
This is the mitzvah, the Jewish duty, to develop, to grow, to build for the future. Those words, though, are only the first half of the verse. The verse continues v’civshuhah u’r’du (dominate and rule over the earth).
This is a tough verse to interpret. Does it mean that we can be irresponsible in the way that human kind uses the earth for our immediate benefit, or does it mean that we need to have a God-like eternal perspective, a sustaining perspective, on how the earth develops?
The direction of Jewish teaching has taken the latter path. If we are given the earth on which and by which to live, then we must do so in a sustainable manner, so that it can be given on from generation to generation.
A midrash pictures God showing Adam around the Garden of Eden and saying, “Look at My works! See how beautiful they are — how excellent! For your sake, I created them all. See to it that you do not spoil and destroy My world; for if you do, there will be no one else to repair it.” (Kohelet Rabbah 7:13)
The Secretary General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres painted a bleak picture of how Adam is treating The Earth in 2022. Speaking at COP27, the annual attempt by nations and NGOs to inspire the changes that will preserve The Earth, he said, “Emissions of greenhouse gasses still continue to grow. We are on a highway to climate hell but our foot is still on the accelerator.”
If The Earth could be asked to respond to COP27, surely it would be pleased that such a gathering does take place every year so that the message of caring for The Earth remains heard, but also it would be devastated that so little action takes place as a result.
Adam is each one of us as well as humanity as a collective. To fulfil the first mitzvah of the Torah we need to make major and permanent changes in the way we behave towards the earth, individually, communally, nationally and internationally.
Last weekend saw EcoShabbat take place, organised by EcoSynagogue to coincide with COP27. It saw communities of all denominations and all over the UK taking part and putting their focus on the climate emergency.
It reminded us that to be a Jew is to care for The Earth if we are to care to our people, our families and ourselves.
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.