Jewish Teachings on the Environment (Part 1)
by Richard Schwartz
With Earth Day approaching (April 22), it is a good time to consider some of Judaism’s powerful teachings on the environment.
Some people argue that humankind has been given a license to exploit the earth and its creatures, because God gave us “dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that creeps upon the earth” (Genesis 1:28). However, the Talmudic sages interpret that dominion as one of guardianship or stewardship, serving as co-workers with ...
