PODCAST · religion
Canfei Nesharim
by Canfei Nesharim
Releases from the Year of Jewish Learning on the Environment
Episodes
-
Genesis and Human Stewardship of the Earth
In the first chapter of Genesis, twice in three verses, G-d speaks of humans ruling over other living beings. In the second instance, after creating Adam and Eve, G-d blesses them, saying "Be fruitful and multiply, fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over...
-
The Glory in Creation: Valuing Biodiversity
We live in an amazingly diverse world, with approximately 8.3 million unique species described by scientists, and likely twice that number that have not yet been discovered. Jewish sources teach that G-d has joy in the diversity and continuity of creation, and that G-d sees a purpose in each of...
-
Guard Yourselves Very Well: Protecting Our Health
The Jewish tradition places a strong value on being healthy. The Torah states, “Guard yourself and guard your soul very much" and “You shall guard yourselves very well." The Jewish Sages explain that these verses refer to the mitzvah (commandment) of protecting one’s physical body and health.…
more -
Being a Good Neighbor
Living in this world means being a neighbor. This fundamental principle is found in the very roots of the Hebrew language. According to Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch: "[The Hebrew word] shachan means both to dwell, and also to be a neighbor... In Jewish thought,to dwell means to be a neighbor. When…
more -
Toward a Wiser Use of Energy
Today’s energy technologies have greatly increased material standards of living among human societies. But they also have driven significant environmental changes which are beginning to have noticeable impacts worldwide, including climate change, the BP oil spill, and Japan’s nuclear crisis. What...
-
Let the Land Rest: Lessons from Shemita, the Sabbatical Year
Shemita, the Sabbatical Year, comprises a number of the 613 commandments (mitzvot) of the Torah . With today’s environmental challenges, these mitzvot may be more relevant and needed today than at any time in Jewish and world history. We will explore each of these commandments in an attempt to...
-
We are How We Eat: A Jewish Approach to Food and Sustainability
Rebbe Nachman of Breslov identifies the desire for food and drink as the central desire of the human being, and the one from which other desires emanate. In Rabbi Tzadok Hacohen’s “A Treatise on Eating,” he cites the mystical book of the Zohar, which calls the moment of eating “the time of…
more -
Praying for a Sustainable World
Today’s environmental movement seems to focus strongly on doing. There are things to buy, actions to take, petitions to sign, policies to advocate. It is rare for environmentalists to think of prayer as a tool for change. Many people in today’s society think of prayer as a passive, contemplative...
-
Water - Appreciating a limited resource
Human beings depend on a sufficient supply of high quality fresh water for their survival. Because of this essential dependence, Jewish sources equate water with life. By recognizing our dependence on water, and ultimately our dependence on G-d, we can strengthen our appreciation and protection…
more -
Passing the Test of Wealth: A Challenge for Our Time
For one who is wealthy, proper use of wealth can be a force for positive change in the world. However, wealth can also be a corrupting influence. Money and wealth, meant to be in service of higher aspirations and lofty deeds (such as charity), can instead become the aspiration itself. The means...
-
The Spiritual Roots of the Environmental Crisis
Beyond the physical causes, the widespread degradation of the natural world indicates that our way of life is out of balance. Thus the environmental crisis also reflects a spiritual crisis. Human-caused disruptions to the natural world emerge from the inner imbalance within billions of human...
-
Holy Use: Relating to Resources Sustainably
People living in consumer society relate to material objects in a vastly different way than people did in previous times. Age-old Jewish teachings reveal a Jewish vision for 'holy use' of the material world and relate deeply to today’s need for sustainable resource use. Link to resources
-
Countering Destruction: Lessons from Noach
The ancient story of Noah and the flood relates to many ecological issues facing the modern world. For example, the preservation of our environment depends on individuals taking accountability for their deeds. Link to resources
-
Slowing Down on Shabbat - A Remedy for Modern Times
In modern society, we are running, speaking, and thinking at an exceptional rate. Oftentimes we continue all week long without slowing down. We can get so caught up in the doing that we could spend our whole lives on the go. If being too busy is a malady of modern man, slowing down on Shabbat may...
-
Sustainability in Settling the Land
Before the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 C.E., the Jewish and gentile population expanded to about 2.1 million inhabitants. During the period before and after the destruction of the Second Temple (20 C.E. to 200 C.E., also known as the Mishnaic period), the people living in the Land of...
-
Compassion for All Creatures
A basic rule of Jewish ethics is the emulation of God's ways. In the words of the Talmud, "Just as He is merciful, so shall you be merciful" (Tractate Sotah 14a). Therefore compassion for all creatures is not only God's business; it is everyone’s. Moreover, rabbinic tradition describes God's…
more -
Summoning the Will Not to Waste
The commandment of Bal Tashchit-- do not destroy or waste-- has long been considered central to a Jewish environmental ethic. Indeed, Rabbi Norman Lamm understands it to be “the biblical norm which most directly addresses itself to the ecological situation.” What is the basis for the commandment...
-
Trees, Torah, and Caring for the Earth
An oft-quoted Midrash teaches: “When G-d created the first man He took him and showed him all the trees of the Garden of Eden and said to him 'See My works, how beautiful and praiseworthy they are. And everything that I created, I created it for you. Be careful not to spoil or destroy My world -...
We're indexing this podcast's transcripts for the first time — this can take a minute or two. We'll show results as soon as they're ready.
No matches for "" in this podcast's transcripts.
No topics indexed yet for this podcast.
Loading reviews...
ABOUT THIS SHOW
Releases from the Year of Jewish Learning on the Environment
HOSTED BY
Canfei Nesharim
CATEGORIES
Loading similar podcasts...
Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Canfei Nesharim have?
Canfei Nesharim currently has 18 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Canfei Nesharim about?
Releases from the Year of Jewish Learning on the Environment
How often does Canfei Nesharim release new episodes?
Canfei Nesharim has 18 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Canfei Nesharim?
You can listen to Canfei Nesharim on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Canfei Nesharim?
Canfei Nesharim is created and hosted by Canfei Nesharim.
URL copied to clipboard!