By Bill Parkus, Temple Beth Emeth Member
Taking action against global warming is at the heart of what it is to be a Jew. It fits in so well to our liturgy that recognizes the importance and grandeur of God’s creation of the universe and our stewardship responsibility to care for our planet throughout time. God’s preference for natural creation is a testament to God’s power, wisdom, and divine order. Our efforts to modify and change God’s great works is where we have strayed and gotten into trouble. We have destroyed too much of God’s creation – killed too many trees and other natural land cover. On the sixth day, God created humans after God’s likeness and made us the stewards of the earth. We have used that designation far too long as permission from the heavens to plow under natural areas and convert them to pavement and structures.
Psalm 19:1-2 illustrates God’s creative process of speaking the world into existence until humans were created on the sixth day. “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge.”
The Evening Shabbat Service, Kabbalat Shabbat: “Welcoming Shabbat” is a “cycle of six psalms that represent the six days of creation, enjoining all creation to sing out the praises of God. God’s creative power is revealed in the world around us; God’s sovereignty is over all nature and all nations.”
The Evening Service, Maariv Aravim: “Who brings on evening” is a prayer to Adonai recognizing the grandeur of God’s creative design, spoken into being, which controls the movement of darkness and light, and sets the courses for the stars and heavenly bodies.
The role of religious services in fostering climate action cannot be overemphasized. It can help establish a higher personal value for protecting the environment and promoting the reduction of climate warming. Let our Jewish liturgy guide you in your climate activism.