🎧 Can Religions End Climate Change? ft. R’Yonatan Neril
In this special Tu Bishvat episode of Contact Chai, Rabbi Lizzi speaks with Rabbi Yonatan Neril, founder and executive director of the Interfaith Center for Sustainable Development in Jerusalem, about the relationship between religion, environmental stewardship, and the global climate crisis. Together, they explore whether faith traditions can play a meaningful role in inspiring climate action and fostering a more sustainable future.
Rabbi Neril explains that caring for the Earth is not a peripheral concern, but a core spiritual responsibility rooted in Jewish teachings and shared across many of the world’s religions. Drawing on insights from his book, Eco Bible, he discusses how the stories and commandments in Genesis and Exodus reveal enduring principles of stewardship, moderation, and respect for creation that remain deeply relevant in the face of today’s ecological challenges.
The conversation also reflects on the significance of Tu Bishvat, the Jewish “New Year of the Trees,” as an opportunity to reconnect with nature and renew a commitment to environmental responsibility. Rabbi Neril argues that addressing climate change requires more than technological innovation and public policy—it also calls for a transformation in values, encouraging individuals and communities to cultivate greater compassion, gratitude, and responsibility toward the natural world.
Throughout the episode, Rabbi Lizzi and Rabbi Neril examine how faith communities can become powerful catalysts for climate action by integrating ecological awareness into religious life, education, and communal practice. The discussion highlights the unique ability of religious traditions to inspire hope, ethical leadership, and collective action in the pursuit of a healthier, more sustainable planet.
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