🎧 Episode 430: Rabbi Yonatan Neril, part 1: The Eco Bible
In this episode of the This Sustainable Life, host Joshua Spodek speaks with Rabbi Yonatan Neril, founder and executive director of the Interfaith Center for Sustainable Development, about the environmental teachings of the Bible and the inspiration behind his book, Eco Bible: An Ecological Commentary on Genesis and Exodus. The conversation explores how ancient Jewish wisdom can provide practical and ethical guidance for addressing today’s ecological challenges.
Rabbi Neril shares his personal journey, from growing up in Northern California with an organic garden and attending a Jewish summer camp that introduced him to the relationship between Judaism and nature, to studying environmental issues at Stanford University and spending years immersed in Jewish learning in Israel. These experiences led him to recognize that the Torah contains profound ecological teachings that have often been overlooked in modern religious discourse.
A central theme of the discussion is that environmental stewardship is not a new concept being added to scripture, but one that has always been present. Rabbi Neril explains that Eco Bible highlights hundreds of biblical passages related to ecological sustainability, drawing on centuries of rabbinic interpretation to show that caring for creation is a core spiritual responsibility. He argues that many clergy and faith communities simply need to rediscover these longstanding teachings in light of today’s environmental crisis.
The conversation also examines the biblical concept of human “dominion” over nature, challenging common interpretations that justify exploitation of the natural world. Rabbi Neril explains that Jewish tradition understands dominion as responsible stewardship, where humanity’s authority is inseparable from its obligation to protect and preserve creation. Using the COVID-19 pandemic as an example, he reflects on the consequences of humanity’s broken relationship with the natural world and emphasizes that a sustainable future depends on restoring balance between people, animals, and the environment.
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