Social Action >> Conservative Jewish Action Center >> The Environment

The Environment

A Psalm of David. The earth is the Lord’s, and all it contains: The world, and those who dwell in it. (Ps.24:1)

All people have been given their place in the world by God in order to work it and to keep it (Gen. 2:15). It is the obligation of every one of us to protect the world from all that attacks it and to work our hardest to heal it.

In this section, you will find the relevant Jewish texts on this issue, the resolutions passed by United Synagogue, the Rabbinical Assembly, and other Jewish organizations, other educational materials, and a list of actions that you and your synagogue can take to help protect our planet.

Let us all do our share to do tikkun olam - to repair the world – and to make our earth a better and safer place to live.

Relevant Jewish Texts

  1. God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good. [Genesis 1:3]
  2. And God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to work it and to keep it. [Genesis 2:15]
  3. When you besiege a city a long time, to make war against it in order to capture it, you shall not destroy its trees by swinging an axe against them; for you may eat from them, and you shall not cut them down. For is the tree of the field a man, that it should be besieged by you? [Deuteronomy 20:19]
  4. A Psalm of David. The earth is the Lord’s, and all it contains: The world, and those who dwell in it. [Psalm 24:1]
  5. One generation goes and another generation comes; but the Earth remains forever. [Ecclesiastes 1:4]
  6. See my works, how fine and excellent they are! All that I created, I created for you. Reflect on this, and do not corrupt or desolate my world; for if you do, there will be no one to repair it after you. [Midrash Ecclesiastes Rabbah 7:13]
  7. Our rabbis taught: A man should not remove stones from his ground on to public ground. A certain man was removing stones from his ground on to public ground when a pious man found him doing so and said to him, "Fool, why do you remove stones from ground which is not yours to ground which is yours?" The man laughed at him. Some days later he had to sell his field, and when he was walking on that public ground he stumbled over those stones. He then said, "How well did that pious man say to me, 'Why do you remove stones from ground which is not yours to ground which is yours?'" [B. Tractate Bava Kamma 50b]
  8. When a fruit-bearing tree is cut down, its moan goes from one end of the world to the other, yet no sound is heard. [Pirke de-Rabbi Eliezer 34]
  9. In order to serve God, one needs access to the enjoyment of the beauties of nature, such as the contemplation of flower-decorated meadows, majestic mountains, flowing rivers… For all these are essential to the spiritual development of even the holiest people. [Rabbi Abraham ben Moses]
  10. Under the concept of bal tashchit (Thou shalt not destroy) the purposeless destruction of anything at all is taken to be forbidden, so that our text becomes the most comprehensive warning to human beings not to misuse the position that God has given them as masters of the world and its matter by capricious, passionate, or merely thoughtless wasteful destruction of anything on earth. Only for wise use has God laid the world at our feet when He said to man, “Subdue the earth and have dominion over it.” [Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch]
  11. There are three ways in which we may relate ourselves to the world - we may exploit it, we may enjoy it, we may accept it in awe. [Abraham Joshua Heschel]

Statements from the Branches of the Conservative Movement

United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism: Environment (2003)

Generations come and go, political leadership changes, but "haaretz leolam omedet" - the earth is forever. As the matrix for all life, the earth is precious. This is a basic teaching of our Jewish tradition and certainly not that tradition alone. All people have the responsibility to care for the cradle of humanity and the home of future generations.

Thus, United Synagogue calls upon the political leadership of our country to ensure that earth, its air and its seas and bounty, our environment be considered a first priority, to preserve it as a healthy and viable setting for our citizenry, and that any measure enacted be viewed within the perspective of what it will yield in terms of sound environment.

Not unaware of the economic needs of our people, we posit that these needs can be addressed within the confines of sound, healthy, preservative policies. Progress in this generation, which erodes the environment, will be viewed with sadness and anger and as malice by future generations if our forests are denuded, our streams polluted, our air sickening our foodstuffs replete with health questionable substances. Growth of the economy cannot be at the expense of destruction of the natural bounty of our country.

We urge, too, that our government make all efforts to inform the citizenry through objective and clear dissemination of information as to any policy changes, plans projected, activities anticipated where the environment and mother earth are concerned. Too, information on environmental happenings, from whatever causation or event, known to the government should be candidly shared with the populace... not alarmist but not reassuring when circumstance warrants full disclosure and cautionary measures in the interests of the citizenry.

And we call upon our government to take the lead in international forums and other modes as well to convince other governments to this posture. For we all know that we are but sojourners on the earth, a blessing from God.

Rabbinical Assembly (June 2007)

Since 1991, the Rabbinical Assembly has endorsed 14 resolutions on various aspects of the environment. These include: the conservation of energy and recycling, support for the Endangered Species Act, clean air standards, the relationship between global poverty and environmental degradation, global warming, environmental justice, the environment and human health, and energy, decreasing our dependence on volatile sources of oil and the security of the United States and Israel. These resolutions reflect the long-standing support by the RA for action to protect the environment.

What is Needed

Women's League for Conservative Judaism

Women’s League for Conservative Judaism supports (WLCJ Resolution 2006):

Relevant Online Resources

What You Can Do - 10 Ways To “Green” Your Synagogue

Partially based upon materials from COEJL: The Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life. Compiled by Eytan Kenter.

  1. Use Compact Fluorescent Bulbs - Compared to general service incandescent lamps that give the same amount of visible light, compact fluorescent bulbs use less power and last far longer. Every synagogue should use these bulbs whenever possible in order to lower their energy bills as well as help the environment.
  2. Limit Air Conditioning/Heating - Often in our synagogues, we heat and cool areas of our buildings that we are not using. By restricting our use of heat and air conditioning only to the areas where it is necessary and only to the level required, the synagogue will reduce its energy output significantly.
  3. Limit Waste - Whenever possible use reusable items for kiddushes and other synagogue functions. By using reusable utensils, cups, and plates, your synagogue can dramatically reduce its waste.
  4. Limit Paper Usage - There are many ways to save paper in our synagogues. When distributing papers, do not have one for every person. Allow people to share. This also will help people get to know one another. Additionally, all materials that can be sent electronically should be in order to limit paper use and expenses.
  5. Plant a Synagogue Garden - There are many hands-on programs that your synagogue can do to teach about the environment. One that is easy and fun is planting a synagogue garden using native plants. These plants will require less direct care because they are indigenous and also will flourish and brighten your synagogue’s property.
  6. Deliver Sermons on Environmental Issues - The Jewish tradition often speaks on the environment and people’s obligation to protect it. Encourage your synagogue leaders to speak on these issues from the pulpit and to incorporate them into their synagogue messages.
  7. Carpool to the Synagogue - Limit carbon emissions by organizing carpools to and from all synagogue functions. This will serve the added bonus of building community among the different constituencies that attend synagogue functions.
  8. Use Energy Star Appliances - Energy Star is a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy that helps us all save money and protect the environment through energy efficient products and practices. By using appliances that adhere to energy star standards your congregation will use less energy, thereby saving both the environment and money on energy expenses.
  9. Advocate for Environmental Concerns - We face many environmental concerns today, including global warming, endangered species, and limited natural resources, among many other issues. Pick an issue or two as a synagogue and advocate for reform in those areas with your local representatives to bring about real change.
  10. Recycle - glass jars, plastic containers, metal cans, aluminum foil, soda bottles and cans, newspapers, magazines, catalogs, telephone books, and corrugated cardboard (flattened boxes) can be recycled in many cities. White paper is usually recyclable in offices and in some neighborhoods. Talk to your city's department of sanitation to learn more about the recycling program in your area. If none exists, contact your city council to urge that one be started.

“See my works, how fine and excellent they are! All that I created, I created for you. Reflect on this and do not corrupt or desecrate my world; for if you do, there will be no one to repair it after you.” (Midrash Ecclesiastes Rabbah 7:13)

Addicott Web Design and Consulting