A Jewish Perspective on Caring for the Earth

by Richard Golden, member Chavurat Shir Hayam

“You need only ask the beasts, and they will teach you,

the birds in the sky they will tell you,

or speak to the earth it will teach you,

the fish of the sea will tell you stories.

Job 12:7-8

In the beginning, when God thought to create the universe, he prepared vessels filled with holy light.  In the cataclysmic “Big Bang” God’s divine energy shattered the vessels, like dishes falling on the floor, scattering sparks of creation throughout everything in the universe.  These sparks of light are embedded in the material world, present in all matter.  There is nothing in the world that does not contain sparks of holiness, giving it existence.   The air we breathe, the water we drink, the land we till to provide our food, all are filled with holy sparks of creation. Everyone and everything is holy and should be treated with reverence.

Yet the vessels that contained the infinite light are broken.  Our world is not whole.  The Kabbalists use the word “tikkun olam” – repair the world.   We need to gather the vessel shards together so that once again they may hold the holy light of God’s presence.   This is the path we must follow if we are to perfect ourselves and restore the world to wholeness. 

We fight wars with one another – we should end them.  We pollute our rivers and oceans; the air we breathe; the earth that sustains us – we should cleanse them.  We treat each other with arrogance and disrespect – we should learn to treat one another with decency and humility.    In this way we will take care of the world and repair creation.

There is a Jewish prayer that goes, “Elohai neshama she na ta ta be te hora he”.  “Beloved God, the soul you have given me is perfect.”  Our souls are perfect reflections of spirit.  There is truly nothing to gain, nothing that is not already ours.  Our souls are already perfect.  It is through “tikkun olam—repairing the world“, by respecting and caring for the earth, by treating each other with love and kindness, that we manifest within ourselves, our true soul nature – perfect reflections of spirit. 

God bless you all…