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Sermon for Sidra Vayishlach
Caring For The Environment - December 2009
by Rabbi Geoffrey Hyman

This Wednesday, the 9th December, the nations of the world will be gathered in Copenhagen to decide on measures to protect the earth’s environment.

The faith leaders, including our Chief Rabbi, signed a statement that will be brought to the conference by the British Government, expressing our support for commitment to measures that will protect the environment.

Putting to the side the conflict between scientists, if global warming is caused by human action or not, let us just reflect on the theme of this forthcoming world conference; the issue that we as humans have a mission to look after the welfare of the earth.

To us as Jews, the obligation to look after G-d’s creation, namely earth, stems from the very commandment or instruction given to Adam in the Garden of Eden: “L'ovdo ul'shomro” – “to work it and preserve it”. Since the human was told (as stated in Bereshis), “Pru urvu” - “Multiply and increase; fill the earth and have dominion over it”; man also had to be told to balance that with a sensitivity, so as not to destroy G-d’s creation.

In fact there is a prohibition in the Torah of “Bal tashchis”, (not to destroy), which means that we are forbidden to wantonly destroy useful items.

The Midrash (Koheles Rabbah, 7:13) puts it the following way:-

“When G-d created the first man, he took him, and showed him all the trees of the Garden of Eden and said: Behold my works, how beautiful, how splendid they are. All that I have created, I created for you. Take care, therefore, that you do not destroy my world, for if you do, there will be no one left to repair what you have destroyed.”

We are taught to take delight in G-d’s creation. We make Berachos, blessings, on even the most simple things in life: on making a Berochoh on a lechayim; on produce developed from G-d’s creation; on natural phenomena, such as thunder and lightning; on seeing a rainbow, reminiscent of the promise G-d made to Noah never again to destroy the entire life on earth through flood.

The natural beauty and wisdom of G-d’s Creation is reflected in Psalm 104, “Borchi nafshi”, which we appropriately recite on Rosh Chodesh, the New Moon, which is in fact a day dedicated to the recognition and appreciation of the magnificence of G-d’s Creation.

The Shabbat, the focal point of the week, is a day when we remember that G-d is the Creator and that G-d gives us the right to develop this Creation but we must remember – that since He is the Creator and we are but His servants, we are instructed to live our lives according to these Commandments which include a sensitivity to the beauty of creation and not to destroy it.

Development versus conservation is often in conflict, but it is up to the world leaders to find the right balance, so we don’t end up destroying what G-d has given us.

May G-d inspire the world leaders to deliberate with humility and integrity – so that our generations can pass on the “fullness” of G-d’s Earth to the generations of the future.