Bereshit; Genesis 1:1 – 6:8 By Rabbi Denise L. Eger

We begin the cycle of the Torah over again this week with the celebration of Simchat Torah. In Reform Tradition we celebrate it on the eighth day along with Shemini Azeret. In Conservative and Orthodox tradition they celebrate it on the ninth day following the beginning of Sukkot. But as we end the cycle of reading of the Torah from Deuteronomy, we begin immediately again. And this week the Shabbat is Shabbat Bereshit.

It is this week we read of the origins of the universe and the origins of humanity. It is our pre-history of Judaism. When God creates the unique garden called Eden, we read of its bounty and beauty. Adam, the first human being has a run of the garden and can enjoy its wealth of food and shelter, animals and plants. They are for his use. And yet, we are also told in Genesis 2:15, “The Eternal God took the human, placing him in the Garden of Eden to work it and keep it.” This Garden was a place that was ours to reap and protect.

It is from this very verse that we must understand our role in caring for our planet. Our blue planet is indeed a garden. And all gardens take tending. This has been humanity’s task but we have shirked our duties of late. Our garden planet has been speaking to us loud and clear that all is not well in the garden. We who are supposed to work it and protect it have not taken care of our air, the ground or the water. We have spewed forth so many fluorocarbons and green house gasses that our atmosphere is heating up our globe.

Even this past week, leaders of nations from around the world met at the United Nations to discuss the serious problems our garden planet is facing from global warming and pollution. The time has come for all of us to act with great speed in guarding and keeping and tending to our garden. As we read the accounts of creation we must be reminded of the unique role we human beings have as stewards of the garden. And we must rise to the occasion if we want our garden to thrive.

Then we will be able to say with the Eternal, “This is very good.”

For more information about what you can do to help the environment and stem the tide of global warming. Check out this link. www.coejl.org to find out more about Judaism and the environment.

Posted by Aaron at October 1, 2007 08:54 AM