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Tara and Rachel present Jewish Environmental Ethics

Magdalene Catholic High School
Magdalene Catholic High School

The document discusses some key concepts in Jewish environmental ethics as derived from teachings in the Torah and other Jewish texts. It outlines two perspectives: an initial view that humans have dominion over nature, and a contemporary view that this dominion is conditional on cultivating and protecting the environment. It also discusses how the Sabbath tradition places limits on human manipulation of the environment. Finally, it notes that Jewish law contains specific provisions aimed at preserving and protecting the natural world.

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Jewish Environmental Ethics Tread lightly on the earth By Tara and Rachel
Anthropocentric Worldview Subdue [the earth]; have dominion over every living thing Genesis 1.28 . . . and placed him in the Garden of Eden to cultivate it and to guard it Genesis 2.15
Genesis 1.28 and 2.15 are the fundamental framework for Judaisms teachings on environmental ethics. While they initially seem contradictory, contemporary interpretations of the Torah understand them to be complementary. Genesis 1.28 is no longer regarded as a command, but a blessing. Humanity only has dominion over creation if they obey the command to cultivate and guard it.
Sabbath And on the seventh day God finished the work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all the work that he had done. So God blessed the seventh day and hallowed it, because on it God rested from all the work that he had done in creation Genesis 2:2-3
The dominion of humanity over the earth is restricted dramatically by the laws contained in the Torah. One of these is the Jewish prohibition of melacha or work, on the Sabbath. Melacha does not relate to physical effort, but the result of this behaviour. For example, one may rearrange ones furniture, but not drive a car. The point of he prohibition of melacha on Sabbath is to teach that productive manipulation of the environment is not an absolute right.
Law When in your war against a city you must not destroy its trees Deuteronomy 20:19-20 If your gift for a burnt-offering is from the flock, from the sheep or goats, your offering shall be a male without blemish i.e. Dont kill women. We are life givers.
Laws for the preservation of the environment can be found on a practical level also. There are many laws which regulate in great detail how Jews ought to treat the environment.

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Tara and Rachel present Jewish Environmental Ethics

  • 1. Jewish Environmental Ethics Tread lightly on the earth By Tara and Rachel
  • 2. Anthropocentric Worldview Subdue [the earth]; have dominion over every living thing Genesis 1.28 . . . and placed him in the Garden of Eden to cultivate it and to guard it Genesis 2.15
  • 3. Genesis 1.28 and 2.15 are the fundamental framework for Judaisms teachings on environmental ethics. While they initially seem contradictory, contemporary interpretations of the Torah understand them to be complementary. Genesis 1.28 is no longer regarded as a command, but a blessing. Humanity only has dominion over creation if they obey the command to cultivate and guard it.
  • 4. Sabbath And on the seventh day God finished the work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all the work that he had done. So God blessed the seventh day and hallowed it, because on it God rested from all the work that he had done in creation Genesis 2:2-3
  • 5. The dominion of humanity over the earth is restricted dramatically by the laws contained in the Torah. One of these is the Jewish prohibition of melacha or work, on the Sabbath. Melacha does not relate to physical effort, but the result of this behaviour. For example, one may rearrange ones furniture, but not drive a car. The point of he prohibition of melacha on Sabbath is to teach that productive manipulation of the environment is not an absolute right.
  • 6. Law When in your war against a city you must not destroy its trees Deuteronomy 20:19-20 If your gift for a burnt-offering is from the flock, from the sheep or goats, your offering shall be a male without blemish i.e. Dont kill women. We are life givers.
  • 7. Laws for the preservation of the environment can be found on a practical level also. There are many laws which regulate in great detail how Jews ought to treat the environment.