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Ecology & the Jewish Spirit: Where Nature and the Sacred Meet
Ecology the Jewish Spirit Where Nature and the Sacred Meet Author:Ellen Bernstein The ancient Israelites, like all our ancestors, depended on nature for their daily livelihood. Rain and crops determined their fate Nature was an integral part of their lives and of their faith. — But what is our place in nature, and what is nature's place in our spiritual lives? — In today's modern culture, we've become separated from the spiritu... more »al possibilities of the natural world. "Modern" religion often overlooks nature, focusing instead on history and human drama.
This book offers an alternative...a different, eye-and-soul-opening way of viewing religion: a perspective grounded in nature, and rich in insights for people of all faiths.
Respect for the holiness of Creation, our duty to protect the natural world, reverence for the land--a focus on nature is part of the fabric of Jewish thought. Here, innovators in Judaism and ecology lead us on an exploration of the concepts of sacred space, sacred time, and community. They bring us a richer understanding of the long-neglected themes of nature that are woven through the biblical creation story, ancient texts, traditional law, the holiday cycles, prayer, and mitzvot (good deeds).
Ecology & the Jewish Spirit is the first book in the emerging field of religion and the environment to reflect a Jewish ecological perspective. It describes the wisdom the Jewish tradition has to offer all of us, to help nature become a sacred, spiritual part of our own lives.« less