Ecological Conversion with Rabbi Yonatan Neril

What does it mean to undergo an “ecological conversion” — and how can this concept, rooted in Catholic teaching, resonate across faith traditions? In this talk, Rabbi Yonatan Neril explores this powerful idea, examining what it truly means to shift one’s inner orientation toward genuine care and responsibility for the natural world. Recorded as part of a longer presentation for a Catholic conference in Rome in 2016, Rabbi Neril’s remarks offer a distinctly interfaith perspective on a term popularized within Catholic environmental theology, demonstrating how the concept of spiritual transformation toward ecological consciousness can bridge different religious traditions.

He frames ecological conversion not as a one-time realization, but as an ongoing spiritual process — one that reshapes how individuals relate to creation, consumption, and their responsibility toward future generations. This talk adds a valuable interfaith dimension to a concept central to contemporary Catholic environmental thought. Viewers interested in exploring related themes in environmental ethics can check out a related video on whether faith can lead to a sustainable world. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-oVt2YOQd4&t=102s