Parking Spaces vs Our World’s Green Space

Are cars and parking spaces putting our forests at risk? In this thought-provoking environmental message, Rabbi Yonatan Neril, Founder and Executive Director of the Interfaith Center for Sustainable Development, explores the connection between automobile culture, urban development, deforestation, and Jewish environmental ethics.

Filmed in the Jerusalem Forest, Rabbi Neril examines how the growing demand for parking infrastructure leads to increased concrete construction and the loss of natural spaces. As the number of personal vehicles worldwide continues to rise, he asks an important question: should humanity continue expanding car-dependent cities at the expense of trees, ecosystems, and the health of the planet?

Drawing from Jewish teachings and the story of the Garden of Eden, Rabbi Neril explains that planting and protecting trees is a fundamental spiritual responsibility. He highlights the biblical teaching that “the human being is like a tree of the field,” emphasizing the deep connection between human survival and the natural world.

Trees provide clean air, protect soil, reduce flooding, support biodiversity, and sustain ecosystems that are essential for life. This video encourages viewers to rethink transportation choices, urban planning, and the balance between human needs and environmental protection.

If you are interested in finding out more about sprawl and deforestation, check out our video on building takeover: Sustainability and Sprawl: Buildings Arise, Trees Demise.