Judaism and The Environment – It’s Complicated!Though we often hear people asserting that this or that principle is reflective of “Jewish Values” it’s important to recognize that our tradition is multivocal. Interpretations are truly in the eyes and mind of the beholders. In so many ways, this points to the beauty of Judaism. Its depth and range of thought evokes debate and dialogue that challenges the intellect. Let’s take a look at some of the issues of our day and explore how Jewish sources might challenge us to think and rethink about our own perspectives.It is well known that various principles in the Torah prescribe a particular concern for the environment. We are charged to protect the fruit bearing trees when laying siege to a city. (Deuteronomy 20:19-20) And yet, it should be clear that Judaism has no prohibitions on clear-cutting forests for wood to build homes or even destroying [...]

Tu B’Av – The Jewish Holiday of LoveRabbi Avi Weiss of the Hebrew Institute of Riverdale makes a shocking assertion for a traditional rabbi. As one who believes that the Torah was written by God, he cannot easily dismiss troubling passages. So, he suggests that particular laws which appear to contradict other higher principles of Torah compel us to re-evaluate the offending law “from the prism of broader divine ethical imperatives.”  Among the most profound and comprehensive principals, according to Weiss, is the concept of b’tzelem Elohim – the image of God. His reading of b’tzelem Elohim is that because all humans are created in the image of God, any Torah law that would seem to diminish the stature of another human being must be recognized as a vestige of earlier mores which reflect particular limitations of the more ancient Jewish community. Now that we have evolved beyond those limitations, we should apply these higher standards [...]