Ecology is a highly practical branch of science - nothing could be more "down to earth" than preservation of the planet. Yet there is a facet of ecological awareness that is often overlooked: the spiritual dimension
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Unfortunately, since in Torah it states that we, the Jewish people, are told we are a chosen people, selected by G-d to be a nation of priests, many Jews believe in our superior status and have a tendency to demean all others. Even with respect to the subject of tzedakkah, at a women's book club meeting I recently attended, at which we discussed the book "Rambam's Ladder," an opinion expressed by a few of the women was that our obligation is to contribute to the needs of only our fellow Jews, Jewish organizations, and to Eretz Israel. I took exception to that point of view and based on the statements here of the Ba'al Shem Tov I feel my position, which is that we also have to demonstrate compassion for non Jews, animals, and of the natural world in general, is validated.
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As a child, I was always bemused that my grandfather Rav Baruch Azulay (1908 - 1983) never bought flowers for my grandmother, until he explained one day that to give someone a bunch of flowers means that the flowers have to be cut, which is not fair to the flowers. His explanation made me smile, but it was not until I read this story that I understand how profoundly he meant it - he was a student of Rav Kook, whose signature appears on my grandfather's smicha certificate that hangs in my house.
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I have many pets, and they are adopted, as if they are my children. One is sick, Adela, and I cry out to God for her. I pour salt into her tank for her. I gather plants for my aquariums; plant grass for my kitties; grow algae for Adela.
For my household, I plant three plants, and for God I plant a tree. -no rocks intended-
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I always told men not to buy me flowers because I did not want them to hurt & kill the flowers (thank you 4 your comment Anonymous, London, UK)
R. Sears - I have 2 of your books & I just found this article. I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart. It is only because of authors like you, that I feel any hope 4 Judaism. When I read books by Orthodox authors who perpetuate vegetarianism, compassion for humanity & environmental awareness then I feel that I want to be Jewish. Without people like you I think I would have cut my connection with Judaism years ago, which would have been sad, because Judaism has so much good underneath. U r what Judaism is supposed to be. Jews r supposed to be compassionate towards animals & human beings, not to exploit them.
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Vegetarians love life! It's also best for our health, long life, and conservation. Carbon dioxide pollution from animal wastes, and land used to feed animals can be changed by "Jewish heads!"
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Thank you for a beautiful commentary that truly says it all. I think to write about love in this way, about all creation, about all creatures within, is to sing the poetry of being.
For me, too, the celebration of all things, great and small, animate and inanimate, is to hear the singing in the rock, the singing of wave and wind. All nature, of which we are part, takes up the chant, this melody and it's a song that is prayerful being about prays and praise.
Once we see this unity, once we are on our knees contemplating this unity, we want to keep writing, keep singing, doing art, preserving and protecting, succoring and supporting, because we know, deeply, that this is what we are here to do, and it's in so doing, in doing what we are gifted, this expression of love, that brings us to the song, of which we are, in singing, song itself.
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