Source: Jewish Education News (JEN), Summer, 2008, (28:1)
The summer 2008 issue of Jewish Education News which was published online for the CAJE 33 conference was dedicated to Eco-Judaism, the relationship between the environment and Judaism. This theme was also one of the central themes of CAJE 33, attracting many participants to its numerous sessions. The articles in the issue range from analysis of Jewish text to personal reflections to practical guidelines for educational programs to descriptions of how various institutions are implementing ecologically aware practices that also resonate with core Jewish values.
The following articles appear in this issue:
THE HUMAN PLACE IN NATURE by Ellen Bernstein
A meditative reflection on Jewish and secular sources on environmentalism.
BETWEEN THE GENERATIONS: BECOMING ELIJAH by Arthur Waskow
Prophetic sources are the basis for a program to encourage environmental awareness.
GUARDIANS OF THE EARTH: TO TILL AND TO TEND by Jamie Korngold
The author offers personal reflections on her experiences of nature and the Jewish texts that provide meaningful insights into our relationship to nature.
ECO-JUDAISM: HOW TO MAKE IT EFFECTIVE by Gabe Goldman
An overview of issues and elements in Jewish ecological studies, with an emphasis on experiential education.
SUSTAINING THE QUEST FOR SUSTAINABILITY: THE ROLE OF SPIRITUAL TEACHING AND PRACTICE IN JEWISH ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION by Jonathan Slater
This article illuminates rabbinic sources in developing an affective understanding of the ecological imperative in Jewish tradition.
EXPERIENTIAL, ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION: A NATURAL CONNECTION by Barbara Lehrman-Golomb
The author, Director of Community Relations at Hazon, considers the power of connecting Jewish values and ecological knowledge and action to our awareness of nature and its cycles.
CREATIVE WAYS TO TEACH SUSTAINABILITY AND ENVIRONMENTALISM by Dov Peretz Elkins and Yoni Stadlin
Some examples for using Jewish sources and ideas to bring environmental issues to life in Jewish settings.
CLASSICAL RABBINIC STEPS TOWARD A THEOLOGY OF ENVIRONMENTAL TORAH by Jonah Steinberg
This textual and mishnaic study offers a grounding for environmental awareness.
JEWISH WISDOM FOR OUR WORLD by Evonne Marzouk
An overview of the work of Canfei Nesharim, an organization focused on environmental programming in the Orthodox community.
SHEMITA AND ITS EDUCATIONAL POTENTIAL by Nati Passow
Passow suggests a focus on shemita as a topic suited to ecological awareness.
ENVIRONMENTALISM AND CREATION by Nancy Sohn Swartz
This rumination on Genesis draws on the creation story as a basis for our connection to the environment.
LOW HANGING FRUIT: SIMPLE CONGREGATION PROJECTS TO RAISE ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS by Marla Feldman
Using the Jewish calendar as a guide, this article offers programmatic ideas for congregational settings.
THE EARTH ON YOUR FORK: AN ECOLOGY OF KASHRUT by David Seidenberg
The laws of kashrut are read in terms of ecological underpinnings.
THE GENESIS OF DIVERSITY by Michael Cohen
The essence of diversity in nature according to Biblical sources.
ECO-JEWISH EDUCATION – MOTIVATING FOR CHANGE by Daniel Ziskin
Ziskin offers a series of practical methodological suggestions for implementing ecological programs.
NATIONAL JEWISH ENVIRONMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS by Liore Milgrom-Elcott
A list provided by the Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life (COEJL)