In this week’s episode we talk about a text from Bereshit Rabah that discusses a quote from the creation story “dominate over the fish of the sea”. We discuss how the text sets up this idea that the one who is created in G-d’s image will dominate while those not created in G-d’s image will fall. While this can be a troubling idea because of the exploitation of the natural world’s resources and a destructive disregard for nature which we’ve seen acted out in the recent past, we see that it can rather refer to the idea that acting like G-d, ie. with foresight, long-term thinking, and love, can promote thriving. When humanity has not done this, we suffer the consequences of climate change at the hands of nature, including increased pandemics and allergies. This can be seen as a call for responsible stewardship in alliance with nature. Follow along with the source sheet here: https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/575996?lang=bi

In this week’s episode we talk about a text from Bereshit Rabah that discusses the trees conversing with each other and with human beings, and then humans talking with each other and praying about the land and the temple. We talk about how now we know that trees do communicate with each other, but that there has always been an idea that nature is trying to communicate to us, and how this can lead to both conserving ecosystems and sustainable resource extraction. We also talk about how, if we miss the opportunity to hear the messages of nature, and we miss the opportunity to talk about nature and ameliorate our harm of it, we will reach the stage of only having prayers left. The book mentioned in the episode that details the means of tree to tree communication is: The Hidden Life of Trees by Peter Wohlleben. Follow along with the source sheet here: http://www.sefaria.org/sheets/576005

In this week’s episode we discuss the section in Bamidbar about the spies who were sent by Moshe to observe the land of Canaan before the Israelites go in to inhabit it. We talk about how the report they bring back emphasizes both the impossibly large fruit but also the seeming impossible task of confronting the giants who live there, and how the negative narrative proves the much stronger message. We talk about how this negativity bias remains in human society today, and how revisiting this story can help us remember to believe in the strength and ingenuity of human communities to fight climate change. Follow along here: https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/576004