For 5 Mondays from July 12-August 9, we'll take an innovative look at a different Jewish topic, presented by talented educators from across Philly.
This Week's Topic: Curb Your Consumerism:
Creating a Jewish Environmental Ethic for Today
with Rabbi Kevin Kleinman
For thousands of years our Jewish ancestors lived in harmony with the natural cycles of the earth. They understood that the imperative to work the land and to protect it was vital to their own survival. Since the Industrial Revolution, our society has found ways to take more from the earth than we need. We have rapidly used and abused the land's abundant resources without thought or care to the damage that is caused both to the earth and to our own bodies. Today, we are returning to the wisdom of our sages and resuming our human responsibility to be good stewards of the created world, to be more mindful of how we grow and harvest crops, produce goods, and dispose of waste. We are cultivating a Jewish Environmental Ethic today, based on both contemporary science and ancient text.
Rabbi Kevin M. Kleinman is the assistant rabbi at Reform Congregation Keneseth Israel in Elkins Park, PA. He has a BA from Brandeis University ('02) and was ordained by HUC-JIR ('09). Prior to entering rabbinical school, Rabbi Kleinman worked as a Jewish environmental educator for the Teva Learning Center where he met his life partner and wife, Chana Rothman.
Co-sponsored by The Collaborative, Birthright Israel NEXT, and Moishe House Philadelphia
