Archbishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa Speaking at Interfaith Gathering for Peace in Ukraine
His Beatitude Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Archbishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa is speaking at the Interfaith Gathering for Peace in Ukraine on March 21st 2022. This event was co-organized by The Interfaith Center for Sustainable Development and the Elijah Interfaith Institute. In this address, religious leaders gather to express solidarity with the people of Ukraine amid the suffering caused by war. Emphasizing peace, prayer, and human connection, the speakers call for unity and compassion rather than division and conflict. The message highlights the role of religious communities in building relationships instead of destroying them and urges faith leaders—especially in Jerusalem, Ukraine, and Russia—to work toward peaceful solutions and reconciliation. Framed as a call for moral responsibility and interfaith solidarity, the discussion stresses the importance of dialogue and prayer in response to violence and injustice.
Unleashing the power of religion for ecological change
Rabbi Yonatan Neril shares about religion and ecology at a side event of the UN Stockholm +50 Sustainable Development Conference in June 2022. This side event was co-organized by: Swedish Pentecostal International Relief and Development Agency, LM International, SMC-faith in Development, Faith for Earth Initiative within UNEP. This talk explores the idea that the ecological crisis is fundamentally a spiritual crisis, not only an environmental one. The speaker argues that issues such as climate change, biodiversity loss, ocean acidification, and plastic pollution are symptoms of deeper human problems including greed, apathy, arrogance, and short-term thinking. The discussion emphasizes the unique role faith communities can play in reframing humanity’s relationship with the Earth. Beyond technological solutions like renewable energy and electric vehicles, the speaker calls for a transformation in human values toward humility, compassion, long-term responsibility, and care for both people and other living beings. The video also examines the challenges…
Spiritual sustainability: a Swedish Bishop speaks out
Bishop Andreas Holmberg speaks about spirituality and sustainability at a side event of the UN Stockholm +50 Sustainable Development Conference in June 2022. This side event was co-organized by: Swedish Pentecostal International Relief and Development Agency, LM International, SMC-faith in Development, Faith for Earth Initiative within UNEP. This talk explores the idea that sustainability discussions often focus too narrowly on economic, social, and ecological dimensions while overlooking the deeper need for spiritual sustainability. The speaker argues that human beings are more than biological or socioeconomic entities—we are also spiritual beings shaped by meaning, purpose, and values. The discussion highlights the importance of storytelling within faith traditions and how religious communities have long helped societies imagine what a flourishing and just life can look like. In a world increasingly driven by technology, statistics, and economic systems, the speaker suggests that humanity urgently needs new stories—or the rediscovery of older wisdom traditions—to…
The Climate Crisis and Religious Action: Insights from the UN Climate Conference
Rabbi Yonatan Neril, founding director of the Interfaith Center for Sustainable Development (ICSD), speaks about the essential role religion and faith communities can play in addressing the climate crisis. He explores the spiritual roots of today’s ecological challenges and explains why meaningful climate action requires not only technological and political change, but also a transformation of values, attitudes, and human behavior. Speaking at a multifaith press conference during the United Nations climate conference COP27 in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, Rabbi Neril highlights how religious traditions have long guided moral and spiritual transformation. He argues that climate justice and environmental responsibility depend on a “change of heart” that religions are uniquely positioned to inspire. The video emphasizes the growing role of religious leaders and interfaith collaboration in promoting sustainability, ecological awareness, and collective action to protect the planet for future generations.
Spiritual Environmentalism– Connecting Religion and Ecology
In this interactive conversation, Rabbi Yonatan Neril and Yehonatan Kirsh explore the intersection of religion, ecology, and environmental ethics through a Jewish spiritual lens. The discussion covers a wide range of topics related to sustainability, faith, human responsibility, and the ecological challenges facing the modern world. Topics in the video include Judaism’s teachings on the environment, the ethical treatment of animals, reducing meat consumption, food waste, environmental degradation, climate responsibility, and the spiritual roots of ecological awareness. The conversation also addresses broader philosophical and theological questions about suffering, monotheism, religious pluralism, political identity, and humanity’s relationship with creation. Additional themes include Torah teachings on stewardship, “shepherd consciousness,” ecological leadership, hope in environmentalism, and practical ways to cultivate greater awareness and responsibility in daily life. The session concludes with a personal story, blessings for the world, and a musical jam session.
To End Poverty We Also Must Curb Climate Change
Ending poverty requires that we have a stable planet, as Rabbi Yonatan Neril shares. In order to achieve this, we need to curb climate change. This was recorded during a workshop of the Eco Preacher cohort of the BTS Center. Rabbi Neril is founder and executive director of the Interfaith Center for Sustainable Development.
Greed and Desire: Spiritual Roots of the Climate Crisis
Rabbi Yonatan Neril, founder and executive director of the Interfaith Center for Sustainable Development, discusses how greed and unchecked desire are among the spiritual roots of the climate crisis. He explains that addressing climate change requires more than technological solutions—it also calls for a transformation in human values, attitudes, and behavior. Recorded during a workshop of the Eco Preacher cohort of the BTS Center, this talk explores the connection between spirituality, ethics, and environmental responsibility, emphasizing the role faith communities can play in fostering meaningful ecological change.
Sustainability and Spirituality Go Hand in Hand
Rabbi Yonatan Neril reflects on the profound relationship between religion and ecology, suggesting that the two can be understood as deeply interconnected and even inseparable. He discusses how spiritual teachings and ecological awareness both point toward a more responsible and compassionate relationship with the natural world. This talk was recorded during a workshop of the Eco Preacher cohort of the BTS Center, where participants explored the role of faith traditions in responding to environmental challenges and promoting sustainability.
The Spiritual Power of Blessing our Bread – Rabbi Bill Kaplan
Rabbi Bill Kaplan, Executive Director of the Shalom Institute in Malibu, CA, reflects on how traditional food blessings can deepen awareness of the complex systems behind the food people eat every day. From growing and harvesting to transportation and preparation, the speaker emphasizes that food does not simply appear—it is connected to ecological, ethical, and spiritual processes that deserve mindful attention. Drawing on Jewish teachings and experiences at the Shalom Institute camp, the discussion highlights how blessings before meals can cultivate consciousness about environmental responsibility, ethical food production, animal welfare, and stewardship of the Earth. By understanding where food comes from and how it is produced, individuals and communities can better recognize the ecological challenges embedded within modern food systems. The video encourages viewers to slow down, approach eating as a spiritual experience, and develop both personal and collective awareness around sustainability, mindful consumption, and care for creation.