Compendium of Sources on Halacha and the Environment

Canfei Nesharim, New York, NY
Jewish, Orthodox

The 19th-century scholar, Rabbi Samuel Rafael Hirsch, in his commentary on the book of Genesis (2:4), describes the work of G-d's creation as a whole and perfect circle (kalil), since everything that G-d created found its correct and balanced place in the "circle of creation." Everything has its place in the plan of creation and it is "good."; it becomes "very good" when all the parts are working in unison. (Excerpted from The Unity and Purposefulness of Creation, by Rabbi Gavriel Weinberg, in the Compendium)

At Tu B’Shevat (The New Year for the Trees) for the last three years, Canfei Nesharim has sponsored a Learning Campaign to share with the Orthodox community the Torah and halachot which are connected to environmental issues. This year nine organizations participated in their campaign, reaching tens of thousands of Orthodox Jews:

• Aish - Read "Ecology: A Jewish Perspective" by Rabbi Yehudah Levi and "Judaism and the Environment" by Rabbi Yossi Ives
• My Jewish Learning - Read "Triumph of the Commons" by Rabbi Akiva Wolff and "Green Jews" by Rabbi Yossi Ives
• Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life - Read "Cosmic Consciousness, Man and the Worm" by Rabbi David Sears

• The Jewish Nature Centre of Canada
• Hazon - Read articles under "Jews and Planet Earth"
• Chabad - Read "Ecology and Spirituality in Jewish Tradition" by Rabbi David Sears and "The Unity and Purposefulness of Creation" by Rabbi Gavriel Weinberg
• Jewish Vegetarians of North America
• Hazon - Our Universal Vision
• Kesher Israel Green Group

According to executive director, Evonne Marzouk, “We have had very positive reactions from the organizations that we’ve asked to participate; they are generally in favor of addressing this issue and of putting in an article with a slightly different perspective than they usually have, while still based in Torah.” Canfei Nesharim invites rabbis from across the Orthodox community to contribute to the annual effort. “We are always impressed by the quality of articles and the rabbanim that have written or are willing to write on this topic and contribute their articles.”

The success of this annual campaign has led to the development of the Compendium of Sources on Halacha and the Environment, which is due to be published in spring of 2005. Once it is finished they plan a distribution campaign to interested synagogues, schools, and Canfei Nesharim members. It will also be available for download on their website.