Ḥoni's Circle

In this week’s special Chanukah episode we study a text from the tractate Shabbat, noting how the Rabbis shift the narrative focus from military victory to the miracle of a single jar of oil lasting eight days. We explore the Menorah as a symbol of energy, drawing a parallel between the miracle of olive oil efficiency and modern technological miracles like LEDs that allow us to move away from fossil fuels. We discuss the difficulty of appreciating such slow developments, emphasizing the need to cultivate "thanksgiving" for slow technological progress. We conclude by celebrating the unnamed heroes—then and now—who take a leap of faith to act despite daunting circumstances, finding that hope is the necessary fuel to fight climate change. Follow along here: https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/694339.1

What is Ḥoni's Circle?

Ḥoni's Circle is a climate chevruta (partner text study), In which Rabbi Paula Rose and Tamar Libicki explore Jewish texts from the Torah, the Talmud, and Commentaries to grapple with climate change. Rabbi Paula Rose is the associate Rabbi at Congregation Beth Shalom in Seattle, Washington. This Podcast is a project of Congregation Beth Shalom and Ahavat V'Avodat HaAdama, our community's environmental group.