Ḥoni's Circle

In this week’s episode we study a section from Bereshit Rabah about how different aspects of the natural world were created by the divine for specific purposes. We discuss how this passage, about the creation of plants for the sake of pharmacology as well as the constellations controlling certain growth-phases of the plant, acknowledges the complex inter-relationships between different aspects of nature. We discuss how themes of humility, discernment, and awe can all play a part in the fight to maintain a livable climate. Follow along here: https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/603556.1?lang=en&with=all&lang2=en 

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.