Nature, the Outdoors, and Summer Camps
To what extent do summer camps educate about ecology, and sustainable living? Most camps do so minimally, if at all. While overnight camps are surrounded by nature, most do not foster camper experiences with and within nature, and even fewer connect religious teachings and values to nature and ecology. For those that offer nature programming, it often involves fishing (usually catch and release, which leave a gash in the fish’s mouth), cooking meat or smores over a camp fire or gas fire, or making artwork about nature. To what extent do camps foster powerful experiences in nature? And how can they do more of it? Rabbi Yonatan Neril shares some insights.
Have You Ever Cut Down a Tree?
How much wood do we use each year? And how much of it comes from trees that we have personally cut down? Rabbi Yonatan Neril explores these questions in this engaging video.
London Eco Synagogue: Insights from Rabbi Jonathan Wittenberg
Rabbi Jonathan Wittenberg shares about his London synagogue’s ecological leadership, as part of their involvement in Eco Synagogues.
Ecology and Theology: More in Common than You Think
Professor Tommy Givens of Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California speaks to integrating ecology in the training of clergy. He spoke at the Los Angeles Symposium on Ecologically Informed Theological Education: Implications for Teaching, Learning and Seminary Life. The L.A. Symposium was held as part of The Seminary Environmental Leadership Initiative, which was funded through a grant from the Luce Fund for Theological Education, an initiative of the Henry Luce Foundation’s Theology Program. Additional support was provided by The Julia Burke Foundation.
A Jewish Ecological Conversation with Rabbi Yonatan Neril
Coming off the popularity of JNF’s past Reading Series, we’re continuing with a fabulous line-up of books and guests for you to enjoy over the next few months. Join IsraelCast host, Steven Shalowitz, as he chats with Rabbi Yonatan Neril about his book 𝘌𝘤𝘰 𝘉𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘦: 𝘈𝘯 𝘌𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘊𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘺 𝘰𝘯 𝘎𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘌𝘹𝘰𝘥𝘶𝘴. More from Jewish National Fund: Website – https://jnf.org Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/jewishnationalfund/ Twitter – https://twitter.com/JNFUSA Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/jnfusa/ YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/user/jewishnationalfund/ Vimeo – https://vimeo.com/jewishnationalfund Blog – http://jewishnationalfund.blogspot.com/ Linked In – https://www.linkedin.com/company/jewish-national-fund/
Why I Go Into Nature
This Leadership and the Environment conversation with Rabbi Yonatan Neril and Joshua Spodek focuses on the significance of going into nature, and also relates to an ecological understanding of the Biblical injunction ‘be fruitful and multiply.’ The podcast version is available at https://joshuaspodek.com/
Greening our Church in Los Angeles
Rev. Dr. Pat Langlois, Senior Pastor of MCC United Church of Christ in the Valley, shares about the greening efforts by her church in North Hollywood, Los Angeles. Vibrant, active green teams in some Los Angeles houses of worship are taking a leading local role in responding to the urgent issues of climate change and sustainability. This individual and congregational engagement in environmental justice, pollution reduction, education and advocacy is encouraging and has the potential to build a faith-based movement commensurate with the scale and urgency of the climate crisis. This video was record as part of the LA Faith and Ecology Network. To learn more, go to https://www.interfaithsustain.com/los-angeles-faith-ecology-network/
Biodiversity and Eco Bible
What can the Bible say about biodiversity? The co-authors of Eco Bible share their insights in this video! As people face huge ecological challenges—including rainforest destruction and coral reef bleaching—the groundbreaking Eco Bible dives into this question. It’s available on Amazon at this link: https://www.amazon.com/Eco-Bible-Ecological-Commentary-Genesis/dp/173533880X/ Drawing on 3,500 years of religious ethics, it shows how the Bible itself and its great scholars embrace care for God’s creation as a fundamental and living message. Eco Bible both informs the reader and inspires spiritual commitment and action to protect biodiversity. Eco Bible has been a #1 bestseller on multiple Amazon Kindle categories. This ‘earth Bible’ is a great read for those interested in Jewish and Christian social issues and biodiversity. It also represents an important contribution to eco theology, and to the spiritual ecology movement. Publishers Weekly called the book an “”insightful analysis,”” which “”will inspire contemplation on how to live in…
Eco Bible and Climate Change
What can the Bible say about climate change? The co-authors of Eco Bible share their insights in this video! As people face huge ecological challenges—including growing hurricanes, floods, forest fires, and plastic pollution—the groundbreaking Eco Bible dives into this question. It’s available on Amazon at this link: https://www.amazon.com/Eco-Bible-Ecological-Commentary-Genesis/dp/173533880X/ Drawing on 3,500 years of religious ethics, it shows how the Bible itself and its great scholars embrace care for God’s creation as a fundamental and living message. Eco Bible both informs the reader and inspires spiritual commitment to curb climate change. Eco Bible has been a #1 bestseller on multiple Amazon Kindle categories. This ‘earth Bible’ is a great read for those interested in Jewish and Christian social issues, and climate change. It also represents an important contribution to eco theology, and to the spiritual ecology movement. Publishers Weekly called the book an “”insightful analysis,”” which “”will inspire contemplation on how…