What does the Bible say about ecology? The Bible – the best-selling book on the planet, ever and now – is full of explicit guidelines and implicit teachings regarding the custody of the earth and humanity’s responsibility, previously undiscovered. The groundbreaking Eco Bible shines new light on how the Old Testament and great religious thinkers have urged human care of nature as a central message of spiritual wisdom. Eco Bible has been a #1 bestseller on multiple Amazon Kindle categories.
In this first-of-its-kind compilation, Eco Bible brings together 450 Bible verses with commentary from over 100 rabbis, whose ecological insights were previously scattered across hundreds of books. The commentary also incorporates scientists’ understanding of human health, biodiversity, and environmental protection of air, land and water.
“Applying Hebrew Bible teachings to stewardship of our global environment is not just an idea for today—but essential for a future in which we achieve a balanced, worldwide ecosystem and thrive on a planet viable for all life,” says Rabbi Yonatan Neril, coauthor and founding director of the Interfaith Center for Sustainable Development (ICSD), the Jerusalem-based NGO publishing the book. “At a time of both ecological and spiritual crisis, understanding the Hebrew Bible can have profound impact on human behavior toward God’s creation, since billions of people worldwide consider it a holy book.”
ICSD is celebrating its 10th anniversary by publishing Eco Bible Volume 1—Genesis and Exodus in hardcover on December 15, 2020 and Volume 2—Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy in 2021. The Julia Burke Foundation is funding 800 free books for pastors, priests, rabbis, and theological school professors.
Publishers Weekly called the book an “insightful analysis,” which “will inspire contemplation on how to live in harmony with nature and the power of conservation. Ecologically minded readers interested in the Hebrew Bible will love this.”
Bill Brown, Professor of Old Testament at Columbia Theological Seminary, calls Eco Bible “a rich repository of insights…for people of faith to move forward with wisdom, inspiration, and hope, all for the sake of God’s good creation.”
“Meeting the critical environmental challenges that humans now face will take more than scientific and ecological knowhow. Protecting all life on Earth from devastating threats—like vast forests on fire, plastic pollution in the ocean, and rapid climate change—will also take strong spiritual commitment and actions,” according to Rabbi Neril.
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Rabbis Yonatan Neril and Leo Dee are Eco Bible’s co-editors and lead contributors. Yonatan Neril founded and directs ICSD and its Jewish Eco Seminars. He speaks internationally on religion and the environment, and co-organized 12 interfaith environmental conferences. Leo Dee served as a community rabbi for six years in the UK, and as ICSD’s director of programs.
ABOUT THE INTERFAITH CENTER FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
ICSD connects current and future faith leaders to advance and teach faith-based environmental sustainability. The Center publishes on religion and ecology, including Eco Bible and Report on Faith and Ecology in North American Seminaries, and organizes interfaith environmental conferences.
Learn more at www.interfaithsustain.com. Contact: Rabbi Yonatan Neril, yneril@interfaithsustain.com