Environmental Religion

Earth is a living thing.

Judaism is a living thing and tends to be earth-friendly and environmentally (physically & spiritually) conscious.

Most of the major holidays (If not all) deal with reprisals and consequences, as well as, appreciation for living on this planet.

For example: Yom kippur deals with nullification. Astraying our minds and bodies form earthly matters. Yom kippur is basically Earth’s day off. (AKA Earth day.) On that day we also get a chance to reconnect to our roots and spend time alone with G-d.

Sukkot instructs us to eat outdoors, as if unconsciously telling our bodies to appreciate having a home and to enjoy the warmth we have indoors all winter long. Systematically, we also trim the treetops, helping the tree’s growth and productivity.

Chanukah, my favorite holiday. A time of freedom, peace & love. Justice and equalization. We stood up for ourselves, raising morale worldwide. These days, on top of its spiritual meaning, chanukah has a very significant physical lesson. Chanukah tells us to switch off the lights. Save some energy. Light up an oil menorah, just like they did at the Beis Hamikdash. Spend time with family, read a book, tell each other jokes and stories. (It’s winter time anyways.)

I can go on and on about each holiday, but my point is that Judaism loves Earth. Judaism was given to Earth. It’s Earth’s bluebook and our owner’s manual. Judaism conforms to time and space, working harmoniously with the entire creation. We are all here for the same thing which is one thing. One.

Rabbi Akiva gave a parable about Earth.

A large group of people were traveling on a ship and one of the passenger’s enclosed himself in his room, stuck a drill to the wall and turned it on. People heard this noise and came banging on his door. “What are you doing in there mister?” They inquired. “Is everything all right?” Someone shouted. The man yelled at them. “This is my room. I should do whatever I want.” Alas they opened the door and saw him holding the saw to the wall. “Get out of my room.” He turned the saw towards them. “I just want to get some air into my room.” The people found ways to make him stop and explained to him that there’s plenty of air if he only left his room. “But why kill us because you feel claustrophobic?”

The point to this story was that as human beings we all live on this planet together, as one. This planet is our boat and if someone is being destructive to this “boat”, even if it’s in one’s own vicinity, it is having an affect on all of us as people and passengers on this lovely cruise ship.

We know that everything that happens in this world is mirrored in higher, more spiritual worlds. Therefore one can assume that global warming is also taking place spiritually.

Warmth, generally speaking, is a beautiful thing. It expresses comfort, signifies protection and love. Warmth to a certain extent is considered shelter.

So maybe “global warming” is just another name for the messianic era when all of creation will “warm up” to G-dliness and holiness.

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