Compendium of Sources on Halacha and the Environment cont.

As in all areas of life, regarding environmental quality the Torah does not merely call for sublime goals. It harnesses halakhah in the service of its noble concepts, thus transforming the abstract vision into a functioning principle in society. It does this on two levels: first, through laws which instill awareness of our obligations toward society and the environment; second, through other mitzvot which train us in self-control, and thus to sanctity and acceptance of divine service. These mitzvot change our selfish orientation, and teach us to be guided by ideals and not simply by desires. (excerpted from Ecology: A Jewish Perspective by Rabbi Yehudah Levi, in the Compendium)

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