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Torah Portion
Our Duty To Environment
Began With Adam And Eve
ognize that we are in a relationship with
the natural world, and that we depend
upon the air, water and the earth for our
most basic survival. Likewise, each
Shabbat provides us with the opportuni-
ty to pause from our daily routines, to
step back and appreciate God's creation.
n Bereshit, this week's Torah por-
Unfortunately, we tend to forget these
don, we are reminded throughout
basic truths as we go about the business
that we are part of a greater com-
of living. We take for granted the air we
munity of life and that humanity
breathe, the water which flows from our
faucets, the fruits and vegetables we buy
is given a special duty to care for God's
at the local grocery. We drive our cars
creation.
and SUVs with no thought to
In the Tosefta Sanhedrin, the
the impact of auto emissions
rabbis asked why man and
woman were not created until
on the atmosphere.
We welcome new develop-
the sixth day of creation. The
ment without considering its
response was that humankind
impact on our ecosystem. We
was created last so we would
are grateful for steady employ-
learn humility.
ment and a stable economy
Bereshit Rabbah 10:7 states:
and have no patience for
"Even those things that you
seemingly unimportant mat-
may regard as completely
ters like endangered species,
superfluous to creation, such as
rain forests or wetlands.
fleas, gnats, and flies, even they
RABBI MARLA
By neglecting our responsi-
too were included in creation;
J. FELDMAN
bility to maintain the fragile
and God's purpose is carried
Special to the
balance of our environment,
out through everything, even
Jewish News
we are failing to fulfill God's
through a snake, a scorpion, a
command to tend to our
gnat, or a frog."
God's first commandment places
world.
humanity in charge of creation: "Be
It was in response to this mandate
fruitful and multiply, fill the earth and
that the national Coalition on the
master it; and rule the fish of the sea, the
Environment and Jewish Life (COEJL)
birds of the sky and all the living things
was established several years ago. The
Southeast Michigan Coalition on the
that creep on earth."(Genesis 1:28).
One might argue that the power to
Environment in Jewish Life (SEM-
rule the rest of creation gives us carte
COEJL) is a new local chapter of this
blanche to use natural resources as we
Jewish environmental initiative. Already
please, yet the rabbis teach us otherwise.
numerous organizations, congregations
Rabbi Hanina said, "If humanity merits
and individuals have joined this organi-
it, humanity will have dominion; but if
zation in order to explore ways we can
they do not merit, they shall descend."
fulfill our duties as the earth's caretakers.
On this Shabbat, as we celebrate the
(Bereshit Rabbah 8:12) In other words,
we only rule the earth as long as we
creation of the earth and the fullness
deserve to do so. If we fail in our respon-
thereof, let us be faithful guardians of
sibilities, we will be supplanted.
this sacred trust, that it may continue for
In the story of Adam and Eve, God
the generations to come. ❑
places Adam in the Garden of Eden in
order to till it and tend it. The rabbis saw
The Southeast Michigan Coalition on the
this as a mandate for humanity to care
Environment in Jewish Life can be reached
for the world around us: When God cre-
at the Jewish Community Council (248)
ated Adam, God led him around the
642-5393.
Garden of Eden and said, "Take care not
to spoil or destroy My world, for if you
do, there will be no one to repair it after
you," (Ecclesiastes Rabbah 7:13).
The festival of Sukkot that just ended
provides a special time for us to reflect
What does it mean to be the
upon the world around us and our rela-
earth's caretaker? Have we appro-
tionship to it. As we make ourselves vul-
priately fulfilled that responsibility?
nerable to the physical elements, we rec-
What can you, your family, or
your congregation do to help pro-
Marla J. Feldman is the assistant director
tect the environment and be faith-
of the _Jewish Community Council of
ful guardians of Creation?
Shabbat Bereshit:
Genesis 1:1-6:8;
I Samuel 20:18-42.
I
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Marcie Ziskind Agauas: (248) 624-0516
Marc Feldman: (248) 865-9886
Shelly Milstein:
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Metropolitan Detroit and executive direc-
tor of the Michigan Board of Rabbis.