JEWISH ECOLOGICAL AWARENESS PROGRAM
When G-d created Adam, He led him around the Garden of Eden and said to him: “Behold my works! See how beautiful they are, how excellent! All that I have created, for your sake did I create it. See to it that you do not spoil and destroy my world; for if you do, there will be no one to repair it after you.”
Ecclesiastes Rabbah 7:13
KE's Academic Expeditions is please to present our “Judaism & Nature” outdoor educational programming. When traveling the earth Jewish values constantly surround us. When we see nature in its most pristine element in Alaska or the power of nature when we raft a river in the Grand Canyon we are in awe of the Creator. For some it may be the first time they feel this ‘Ahavat HaShem’ (Love of G-d) and for some those experiences may remind us of our mortality and of the fact that we are infinitely small compared to the creations of the universe called ‘Yirit Shemayim’ (Fear of Heaven). No matter what each of us experiences nature has a way of opening us up spiritually, making exploring and traveling through new and unique regions a perfect venue to explore what this means to us as Jews as part of our heritage, teachings and culture. With this vision in mind we created a unique hands-on educational experience that any group or tour can add to enhance their travel experience. Tours include interactive seminars and discussions on “Nature & Judaism,” on-site native wilderness training, “Tikkun Olam” social action programming, visits to historical Jewish sites, Jewish environmental study, and interaction with local indigenous and Jewish communities.
Thousands of years before the word “environmentalism’ was coined, Jewish tradition was teaching the importance of taking care of the earth and treating animals with compassion: Genesis (2:15) “And the Lord took Adam and placed him in the Garden of Eden, to work it and to guard it”. Thousands of years before the first landfill appeared, the Torah was teaching Jews not to waste anything. Earth care has always been important in Judaism, partly because nature is so integral to Jewish life. Nature imagery fills our prayers and enhances many of our holiday celebrations. Our rabbis of old recognized that they could better understand the Creator by observing the creation. To this end, they spent many hours in the outdoors watching the sun rise and set, noting the phases of the moon, delighting in the changing of the seasons.
The following categories we explore during our adventures offers a look at Jewish cosmological beliefs (beliefs about how the world was created) and the primary categories of Jewish environmental law. These beliefs and principles will be referenced throughout your tour and integrated into the activities, and projects we will partake in.
G-d’s Oneness - All of Creation is inter-connected, having been made by a single Creator. All living things and their environments are part of the Web of Life: whatever happens to one part of the Web affects all parts of it.
G-d Created the Universe - G-d created the world, which makes G-d its rightful owner. We are the caretakers of the world. Our right to use natural resources is tempered by our responsibility to protect them for use by all future generations.
World Created with Purpose - Jewish tradition tells us that G-d created the universe with purpose. Nothing was created by “accident” or without a reason.
Prohibition Against Waste - Called bal tashchit in Hebrew, this commandment is the basis of the prohibition against wasting or destroying anything needlessly.
Prohibition against Causing Animals Unnecessary Pain - Called tza’ar ba’alei hayyim in Hebrew, this prohibition tells us not to cause animals and unnecessary physical or emotional pain.
Land Rest and Renewal - Care of the land.
Environment Care Leads to Spiritual Development
Jewish Ethics towards Animals
The Nature of Spirituality in Judaism - ‘Ahavat HaShem’ (Love of G-d) & ‘Yirit Shemayim’ (Fear of Heaven).
Sample Judaism & Nature Programming
1. Mah rabu ma-asehkah Ha shem – How Magnificent are Your Creations
These are the words we find in our morning prayers and this edible/medicinal plant walk is a wonderful way to bring the words alive. Long before there were supermarkets and drugstores, our ancestors turned to nature to provide them with food and medicine. From pine needle tea (with more vitamin C than an orange) to acorns (a poison ivy treatment that works in 2 days), nature’s magnificence is revealed in this activity.
2. Ancient Fire-making Techniques and Fire in Jewish Tradition
Once upon a time, our ancestors knew how to make fire by rubbing sticks together. Each Shabbat and Jewish holiday, we start by the lighting of candles. This session features a demonstration of the bowdrill technique of rubbing sticks together (a technique that recently stumped participants on Survivor) and a real understanding of the gift of fire.
3. On the Fourth Day, Creator Made the Sun, the Moon and the Stars
This program takes place as a night walk/hike focusing attention on the fourth day of Creation by demonstrating how to use night sky to find direction, identification of constellations and their Jewish “counterparts”, awareness skills learned from nocturnal animals and Alpha Wolf – a safe opportunity for participants who choose to be by themselves for 15 minutes in the dark. Informal discussion will focus on sources of energy, Middrashim on the heavenly bodies and possible New Moon celebration.
4. Shabbat Animal Track Candles
What better “memento” to bring back from a trip than a pair of Shabbat candles made from the tracks you find on your hikes? Each candle is kosher to use on Shabbat even if it comes from Big Foot! (Now that’s going to take a lot of wax).
5. Magen Ha Adamah – Shield of the Earth
This project combines the Native American dream-catcher with the Jewish concept of being Shomrei Adamah – Keepers of the Earth. Participants use natural materials and yarn or fiber to make dream catchers from which they hang objects from nature that will remind them to make earth stewardship a part of their Jewish lives.
6. Organizational Development and Group Dynamics through Campfire Building
This activity involves groups of participants successfully building a campfire. Success is defined by the having the people in each group, with the least confidence in their fire-making ability, becoming confident they know how to make one. Follow up discussion focuses on how the construction of a campfire is an excellent model for the development of programs and organizations. This activity is conducted in a game form with “artificial” competition.
7. Contemporary Environmental Issues as Seen through the Eyes of Jewish Tradition
This discussion introduces participants to the three primary areas of Jewish ecological/environmental traditions and practices by focusing on contemporary environmental issues. These issues might reflect participants’ concerns/interests or include such topics as treatment of animals, living in a society of waste, environmental issues facing Israel, etc.
8. Sukkah Making – the Old Fashioned Way
Today, one almost needs to have an engineering degree to construct a sukkah. Before the advent of self-locking screws and sheets of plywood, our great-grandparents threw together whatever they had to work with. Participants will learn about the purpose of the sukkah by constructing one from natural resources and enjoying a meal in it. This is an excellent opportunity to discuss the role of nature in Jewish life.
9. It is a Tree of Life to All Who Take Hold of It
Our teachers of old could have chosen any metaphor to describe the Torah but they chose the tree. This nature walk focus on the trees in the area with emphasis on their ecological value, their dollar value, their utilitarian use for making cordage or providing flour to make a Shabbat challah. Participants will learn to “meet a tree,” discover a basic truth about life through the observation of trees and make a “living tree.” Our trees will only remain as meaningful metaphor for the Torah so long as they remain healthy and viable creations.
10. It is the Water of Life
This session will help to bring into focus the incredible beauty and life-giving gift of water. While participants explore the living creatures that make water their home, they will also take a look at the serious environmental problems that threaten the quality of water where they are and back in the United States. Informal discussion will focus on the spiritual healing and “cleansing” quality of water and its use in Jewish practices.
11. Circle of Life Bracelets
Participants learn an ancient technique for weaving plant and tree fiber into beautiful and strong ropes to make into Circle of Life bracelets. These bracelets represent each person’s commitment to be an earth steward and to feel a part of a circle of people across the world that wear these bracelets and are doing what they can to help take care of the earth. Learn what famous Biblical character used the same cordage-making technique to bring about the downfall of one of Israel’s greatest heroes!
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