Eitan Press performs at ICSD Interfaith Eco Poetry Slam in Jerusalem

This energetic spoken-word presentation, delivered at an interfaith poetry gathering, blends personal reflection, humor, and spiritual insight with a passionate call for environmental responsibility. The speaker opens by expressing gratitude for the interfaith setting and encourages the audience to engage with one another through simple acts of acknowledgment and welcome, setting a tone of connection and shared presence.

The poem then shifts into a deeper meditation on humanity’s relationship with the natural world. The speaker raises urgent concerns about environmental destruction, asking pointed questions about the treatment of forests, rivers, oceans, and ecosystems. Referencing issues such as deforestation, pollution, and climate change, the performance emphasizes the scale of the ecological crisis facing the planet.

A central theme of the piece is the concept of “spiritual activism.” Rather than separating environmental action from inner life, the speaker argues that ecological harm is rooted in spiritual disconnection. From this perspective, prayer and inner awareness are not passive responses, but part of a deeper process of transformation that can lead to meaningful change in the world.

The performance also reflects on modern consumer culture, suggesting that even everyday products and lifestyles reflect a deeper human longing for meaning and unity. This desire, the speaker argues, points toward a shared spiritual source that underlies all existence.

Ultimately, the piece concludes that environmental crisis cannot be fully understood or solved through external action alone. Instead, it calls for a renewed focus on inner transformation, suggesting that healing the planet requires healing the spiritual disconnect between humanity, nature, and the divine.

For more from this event, please see Michael Dekel’s poem on the human relationship with God!