Teaching #1: Trees, Torah, and Caring for the Earth
An oft-quoted Midrash teaches: “When G-d created the first man He took him and showed him all the trees of the Garden of Eden and said to him ‘See My works, how beautiful and praiseworthy they are. And everything that I created, I created it for you. Be careful not to spoil or destroy My world – for if you do, there will be nobody after you to repair it.'”
Learning Resources:
- Long Version for Deeper Study by Dr. Akiva Wolff and Rabbi Yonatan Neril
- Short Summary Article by Dr. Akiva Wolff and Rabbi Yonatan Neril
- Study Guide with Hebrew-English Sources and Discussion Questions
- View Video
Additional Resources Available for Download
- For schools: Lesson Plan on Trees in Jewish Thought (PDF)
- Adults and Children: Experiential Activities (PDF)
- Listen! Audio Podcast on Trees in Jewish Thought
This resource is part of Canfei Nesharim’s Year of Jewish Learning on the Environment, in partnership with Jewcology.com, with support from the ROI Community, a community of young Jewish innovators founded by Lynn Schusterman, and the Shedlin Outreach Foundation.
Teaching #2: Summoning the Will Not to Waste