A Jewish Ecological Conversation with Rabbi Yonatan Neril
In this wide-ranging and thought-provoking discussion, Rabbi Yonatan Neril joins Stephen Shalowitz for an inspiring conversation about Judaism, environmental responsibility, spirituality, and sustainable living. Hosted in connection with Tu Bishvat and International Holocaust Remembrance Day, the event explores how ancient Jewish teachings can offer guidance for today’s ecological challenges.
Why I Go Into Nature
In this thoughtful conversation, Joshua Spodek speaks with Rabbi Yonatan Neril about the importance of reconnecting with nature in a modern, screen-driven world. Rabbi Neril shares how a simple daily commitment — spending an hour walking in nature near his home in Jerusalem — transformed his emotional well-being, creativity, and spiritual awareness.
Greening our Church in Los Angeles
Rev. Dr. Pat Langlois, Senior Pastor of MCC United Church of Christ in the Valley, discusses her congregation’s environmental initiatives in North Hollywood, Los Angeles. Across the city, faith communities are building active green teams that are helping lead local responses to climate change, sustainability, and environmental justice.
Biodiversity and Eco Bible
What does the Bible teach about biodiversity, environmental stewardship, and humanity’s relationship with the natural world? In this video, the co-authors of Eco Bible explore how ancient Biblical teachings can offer guidance for today’s ecological challenges. As the world confronts accelerating environmental crises — from rainforest destruction to coral reef bleaching and biodiversity loss — Eco Bible presents a fresh and deeply researched ecological reading of scripture. Drawing from more than 3,500 years of Jewish and religious ethical tradition, the book demonstrates how care for creation is woven throughout the Bible and its interpretive history. Available here on Amazon: Eco Bible on Amazon The book combines spiritual insight with practical environmental awareness, encouraging readers to rethink humanity’s role as caretakers of the Earth. By connecting Biblical teachings with modern scientific understanding of climate, biodiversity, human health, and conservation, Eco Bible offers a meaningful bridge between faith and sustainability. Volume 1…
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…
“Food, Faith, Ecology: Grounding and Gratitude”
This video examines the connections between food ethics, sustainability, and spiritual eating through Jewish, Christian, and Muslim perspectives. Hosted by The Interfaith Center for Sustainable Development, the discussion brings together faith leaders and environmental thinkers to explore how religious traditions can contribute to healthier, more sustainable communities.
Leadership and the Environment Interview
In this episode of the Leadership in the Environment Podcast, host Joshua Spodek speaks with Jonathan Neril about the intersection of religion, environmental ethics, and ecological sustainability. The conversation explores how ancient biblical teachings can inform modern responses to today’s environmental crises. Neril shares the origins of his work, including his early experiences with nature, Jewish education, and environmental studies, which eventually led to the founding of the Interfaith Center for Sustainable Development. His work focuses on revealing the deep ecological wisdom found within religious traditions and mobilizing faith communities to take meaningful environmental action. A central theme of the discussion is the Eco Bible, an ecological commentary on Genesis and Exodus. The book highlights how scriptural texts and centuries of rabbinic interpretation contain powerful teachings on stewardship, responsibility, and care for the natural world. Rather than introducing new ideas, the Eco Bible emphasizes re-discovering and applying long-standing wisdom to…
What the Bible Can Teach Us About Environmentalism
If you were raised in a traditional Jewish household, this scene might feel familiar: it’s a weekday dinner, you’ve served yourself a little too generously, and your plate comes back half-finished. A parent looks at you and says, “Bal Tashchit!” “Bal Tashchit,” one of the 613 commandments in the Hebrew Bible, means “do not destroy” or “do not waste.” Over time, it has become a key principle in Jewish thought around responsible consumption, resource use, and environmental care. In this episode, we’re joined by Rabbi Yonatan Neril, co-author of Eco Bible, a work exploring what biblical texts and Jewish tradition say about ecology and care for creation. We discuss how ancient teachings intersect with modern environmental challenges like climate change, and what it means to live responsibly in a time of ecological strain. Together, we explore how these ideas can inform everyday choices—and what it might look like for people…
Native Americans & the Future of US Rivers
Native American communities have long held deep cultural, spiritual, and practical connections to the rivers of the United States. This video explores the future of these waterways, focusing especially on the American Southwest, and highlights the role Indigenous groups have played—and continue to play—in river protection and restoration efforts. For more informative environmental videos, please check out our recent wind energy video!