🎧 The Connection Between Sustainability and the Bible: with Rabbi Yonatan Neril
In this episode of 15 Minutes To Go, host Anna Bakhash speaks with Rabbi Yonatan Neril, founder and executive director of the Interfaith Center for Sustainable Development, about the environmental wisdom of the Hebrew Bible and the inspiration behind Eco Bible. The conversation explores how ancient biblical teachings can help shape modern responses to climate change and environmental degradation.
Rabbi Neril explains that Eco Bible brings together hundreds of biblical verses and centuries of Jewish commentary to demonstrate that ecological responsibility has always been an integral part of Jewish thought. Rather than viewing environmental stewardship as a contemporary concern imposed on religion, he argues that the Hebrew Bible consistently presents care for creation as a fundamental spiritual and ethical obligation.
The discussion examines how religious values can inform sustainable living by encouraging moderation, responsibility, and respect for the natural world. Rabbi Neril highlights the connection between environmental ethics and broader Jewish principles, showing how scriptural teachings provide practical guidance for protecting ecosystems, reducing waste, and preserving resources for future generations.
Throughout the interview, Rabbi Neril emphasizes that the climate crisis is not only an environmental challenge but also a moral and spiritual one. By rediscovering the ecological dimensions of the Hebrew Bible, he suggests that faith communities can play a significant role in fostering environmental awareness, inspiring collective action, and promoting a more sustainable relationship between humanity and the Earth.
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