 |
 |
 |
|
|
|||||||||||||||
|
|
Eco Bet-Midrash Wednesday Evenings, Nov. 2 - Dec. 21 UJ CE Course Page Ask a person where they feel closer to God, in a synagogue or in a national park, and most prefer nature. To those familiar with Jewish literature, this is hardly a surprise. Elijah hears the “still, small voice” in the Sinai mountains. God replies to Job out of the whirlwind by giving him a desert tour. Truly surprising, however, is how people who do not think of themselves as religious or spiritual also find the experience of wilderness to be awesome, transcendent and sacred. The powerful impact of nature on the human soul did not escape Judaism's greatest spiritual teachers. Abraham Joshua Heschel saw the experience of awe as a necessary antecedent to Jewish faith. Martin Buber began his revolutionary book, I and Thou, with a description of his encounter with a tree. Rabbi Nachman of Bratslav went to the forests to pour his heart out to God. That the Torah was given in the wilderness, then, seems no coincidence. It behooves us to ask: Why do so many people sense God's presence in nature? What is the connection between wilderness and revelation? How do we integrate a trip to Yosemite with Judaism? How does the grandeur of nature guide the yearning of the heart? The second issue concerns public policy and our actions as American and global citizens. Whether the dependence on oil, the struggle to maintain livable cities, the threat of global warming or the challenge of preserving wildlife and wild lands – America's need for a sustainable relationship with the natural world is a critical issue for our generation. What does Judaism contribute to the public policy debates that will shape our future? The Eco Bet-Midrash offers a wide ranging survey of Jewish beliefs, attitudes and practices vis-a-vie the natural world. The course is suitable for both beginning and experienced Jewish learners. While the teaching will draw on current academic research, the focus will be practical. What does Judaism demand of us regarding humanity's relationship with the natural world? How can Judaism be practiced in nature? Does our experience in wilderness have something to contribute to contemporary Judaism? Each session will begin with optional, study time in chevruta (small groups) on the texts that will be discussed in class that night. Expect to be surprised! In addition to classical Jewish texts and Jewish thought, we shall also study the works of nature writers (such as John Muir, Annie Dillard, Terry Tempest Williams), non-Jewish theologians, philosophers and environmental ethicists. Topics include:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
