Core Teaching #9: Passing the Test of Wealth
Passing the Test of Wealth: A Challenge for Our Time
By Rabbi Yonatan Neril[1]
The Talmud teaches that money is what stands a person on their feet.[2] The holy, conscious use of the physical world is a key means to serving G-d. Wealth can provide us with food, clothing, shelter and other needs. For one who is wealthy, proper use of wealth can be a force for positive change in the world.
The Talmudic sage Rabbi Ilai teaches that a person is revealed through actions in three areas, one of ...
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Core Teaching #9: Passing the Test of Wealth
Passing the Test of Wealth: A Challenge for Our Time
By Rabbi Yonatan Neril[1]
The Talmud teaches that money is what stands a person on their feet.[2] The holy, conscious use of the physical world is a key means to serving G-d. Wealth can provide us with food, clothing, shelter and other needs. For one who is wealthy, proper use of wealth can be a force for positive change in the world.
The Jewish tradition does not call for living as ascetics or in poverty. However, wealth can also be a corrup...
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Core Teaching #9: Passing the Test of Wealth
The challenge that wealth-driven over-consumption poses is of both a spiritual and physical nature. The spiritual challenge is to overcome wealth's pull towards self-gratification and a sense of entitlement,or be overcome by it. The physical challenge manifests in environmental problems like species loss and pollution.
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Core Teaching #8: Spiritual Roots of the Environmental Crisis
Enjoy this video on the topic of Spiritual Roots of the Environmental Crisis!
These materials are posted as part of Jewcology’s Year of Jewish Learning on the Environment, in partnership with Canfei Nesharim. Jewcology thanks the Shedlin Outreach Foundation and the ROI community for their generous support, which made the Jewcology project possible.
See all Core Teaching Spiritual Roots of the Environmental Crisis Materials!
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Core Teaching #8: Spiritual Roots of the Crisis
Click here to hear Jewcology's podcast on Spiritual Roots of the Crisis.
These materials are posted as part of Jewcology’s Year of Jewish Learning on the Environment, in partnership with Canfei Nesharim. Jewcology thanks the Shedlin Outreach Foundation and the ROI community for their generous support, which made the Jewcology project possible.
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Core Teaching #8: Spiritual Roots of the Environmental Crisis
Enjoy this Hebrew/English source sheet and study guide on the topic of Spiritual Roots of the Environmental Crisis. Discussion questions provided!
These materials are posted as part of Jewcology’s Year of Jewish Learning on the Environment, in partnership with Canfei Nesharim. Jewcology thanks the Shedlin Outreach Foundation and the ROI community for their generous support, which made the Jewcology project possible.
See all Core Teaching Spiritual Roots of the Environmental Crisis ...
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Core Teaching #8: Spiritual Roots of the Environmental Crisis
Spiritual Roots of the Environmental Crisis
By Rabbi Yonatan Neril
Human beings believe, in their arrogance, that if they continue developing the world on the basis of an ever-expanding science and technology, they will eventually achieve an environment that will afford everyone unlimited gratification of the senses and a life of untrammeled ease and pleasure. There can be no greater error than this.
-Rabbi Eliyahu Dessler[1]
In our times we are beginning ...
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Core Teaching #8: Spiritual Roots of the Environmental Crisis
Spiritual Roots of the Environmental Crisis
By Rabbi Yonatan Neril [1]
In our times we are beginning to witness the planet's ecological balance weakening due to human influence: rainforests shrinking, deserts expanding, hurricanes intensifying, the planet heating. What is driving the deterioration of the natural world? To be sure, there are physical reasons, yet to answer 'fossil fuels' or 'wood use' or even 'consumerism' would provide only partial answers. In ...
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Core Teaching #8: Spiritual Roots of the Environmental Crisis
Our environmental crisis stems from a spiritual root. We can address the problem with the Jewish values of taking responsibility, being satisfied, focusing on the present and being conscious of the future.
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We give thanks on Shabbat, we dedicate time to family and friends and we reflect on our week.
Shabbat is a time to lessen our impact on our earth, and to let it rest as well.
Shabbat Shalom!
Open publication - Free publishing - More challah
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Core Teaching #7: Holy Use: Relating to Resources Sustainably
In this video, Rabbi Yonatan Neril argues that our forefathers have been reusing objects and elevating the physical for thousands of years, a path we must try to follow in today's disposable society.
These materials are posted as part of Jewcology’s Year of Jewish Learning on the Environment, in partnership with Canfei Nesharim. Jewcology thanks the Shedlin Outreach Foundation and the ROI community for their generous support, which made the Jewcology project possible.
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Core Teaching #7: Holy Use: Relating to Resources Sustainably
Click here to hear Jewcology's podcast on Holy Use: Relating to Resources Sustainably.
These materials are posted as part of Jewcology’s Year of Jewish Learning on the Environment, in partnership with Canfei Nesharim. Jewcology thanks the Shedlin Outreach Foundation and the ROI community for their generous support, which made the Jewcology project possible.
See all Core Teaching Holy Use: Relating to Resources Sustainably Materials!
Learn more about the Year of Jewish ...
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Core Teaching #7: Holy Use: Relating to Resources Sustainably
Enjoy this Hebrew/English source sheet and study guide on the topic of Holy Use: Relating to Resources Sustainably. Discussion questions provided!
These materials are posted as part of Jewcology’s Year of Jewish Learning on the Environment, in partnership with Canfei Nesharim. Jewcology thanks the Shedlin Outreach Foundation and the ROI community for their generous support, which made the Jewcology project possible.
See all Core Teaching Holy Use: Relating to Resources Sustainably ...
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Core Teaching #7: Holy Use: Relating to Resources Sustainably
Holy Use: Relating to Resources Sustainably
By Rabbi Yonatan Neril [1]
We live within a society transformed by the consumer revolution. In the mid- and late 20th century, consumer products became widely available in the United States and Europe. When something breaks, the question may arise, repair it, or get rid of it and buy a new one? If it is cheaper to buy a new one, many people are reluctant to go through the hassle of trying to repair it. With material goods so abundant and ...
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Core Teaching #7: Holy Use - Relating to Resources Sustainably
Holy Use: Relating to Resources Sustainably
By Rabbi Yonatan Neril [1]
When something breaks, the question may arise, repair it, or get rid of it and buy a new one? We can answer a question with a question: If it is cheaper to buy a new one, why should I go through the hassle of trying to repair it? With material goods so abundant and cheap today, it is easy to throw things away. We discard clothing and appliances and buy new ones instead of repairing them, or throw away useable ...
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Core Teaching #7: Holy Use - Relating to Resources Sustainably
People living in consumer society relate to material objects in a vastly different way than people did in previous times. Age-old Jewish teachings reveal a Jewish vision for 'holy use' of the material world and relate deeply to today’s need for sustainable resource use.
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Elements of our environment are often referred to as "the commons" – resources such as land, air and water that are shared, used and enjoyed by all. In 1968 scientist Garrett Hardin first published an influential article titled "The Tragedy of the Commons". This term signifies a dilemma arising from the situation in which multiple individuals, acting independently and rationally consulting their own self-interest, will ultimately deplete a shared limited resource, even when it is clear that it is not in anyone's long-term interest for ...
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The Bible tells the story of men working together to build a giant tower that will reach the sky. God decides to sabotage the project by “confusing” their language which brings the project to a standstill. One of the questions that have intrigued commentators throughout the ages is what exactly was the problem with the construction of the tower that prompted God to halt the project? Did the people sin? And if so, how? Was the “confusing of the languages” a punishment or the logical outcome of a mistaken ideology. Many different interp...
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Core Teaching #6: Countering Destruction - Lessons from Noah
Countering Destruction: Lessons from Noah
By Rabbi Yonatan Neril [1]
“And God saw the earth and behold it was corrupt (Genesis 6:11). R’ Hiyya adduced the following text: And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way (Jonah 3:10). See now, he said, when the sons of men are righteous and observe the commands of the Torah, the earth becomes invigorated, and a fullness of joy pervades it, because then the Shechinah rests upon the earth, and there is thus gladness ...
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