From Milken
Questions to begin
What is your connection with nature? How do you interact with nature?
"Nature is very healing and relaxing for me when I’m stressed out."
-Noa
"Being in Nature makes me feel joyful and connected."
-Arielle
"Nature is an escape from the big city noise."
-Samantha
"Nature lets me take a break from all the stressful things."
-Naomi
"Nature is a wonderful testament of God´s creations."
-Esther
"For me, nature is a scape and a reminder of life, because I am normally all day at my computer, but nature helps me to see the world."
-Dany
"Nature is a safe space for me that helps me to relax."
-Alexa
Add your response to the questions
Relevant Texts
Genesis, Chapter 1
26. And God (Elohim) said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth.
27. So God created man in His own image, in the image of God created He him; male and female He created them.
28. And God blessed them, and God said to them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves upon the earth.
Genesis, Chapter 2
7. And the Lord God (Adonay Elohim) formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
8. And the Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed.
15. And the Lord God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to tend it and to guard it.
וַיִּקַּ֛ח יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהִ֖ים אֶת־הָֽאָדָ֑ם וַיַּנִּחֵ֣הוּ בְגַן־עֵ֔דֶן לְעבְדָ֖הּ וּלְשמְרָֽהּ׃
18. And the Lord God said, It is not good for a person to be alone; I will make for him a helper/over-against him.
Bal Tashchit
Devarim 20:19-20
When in your war against a city you have to besiege it for a long time in order to capture it, you must not destroy its trees, wielding the ax against them. You may eat of them, but you must not cut them down. Are trees of the field human to withdraw before you into the besieged city?
כִּֽי־תָצ֣וּר אֶל־עִיר֩ יָמִ֨ים רַבִּ֜ים לְֽהִלָּחֵ֧ם עָלֶ֣יהָ לְתָפְשָׂ֗הּ לֹֽא־תַשְׁחִ֤ית אֶת־עֵצָהּ֙ לִנְדֹּ֤חַ עָלָיו֙ גַּרְזֶ֔ן כִּ֚י מִמֶּ֣נּוּ תֹאכֵ֔ל וְאֹת֖וֹ לֹ֣א תִכְרֹ֑ת כִּ֤י הָֽאָדָם֙ עֵ֣ץ הַשָּׂדֶ֔ה לָבֹ֥א מִפָּנֶ֖יךָ בַּמָּצֽוֹר׃
Mishneh Torah, Laws of Kings 6:8-10
Halakhah 8
We should not cut down fruit trees outside a city nor prevent an irrigation ditch from bringing water to them so that they dry up, as Deuteronomy 20:19 states: 'Do not destroy its trees.'
And not only during a siege: Rather, in any situation, anyone who cuts down a fruit tree destructively is punished.
But we may cut it down if it harms other trees, or because it damages someone else’s field, or because it is highly valuable. The Torah forbids only in a destructive manner.
Halakhah 10
And not only trees: Rather, anyone who smashes utensils, or tears clothing, or destroys a building, or stops up a well, or wastes food in a destructive manner -- violates bal taschit.
ח אֵין קוֹצְצִין אִילָנֵי מַאֲכָל שֶׁחוּץ לַמְּדִינָה וְאֵין מוֹנְעִין מֵהֶם אַמַּת הַמַּיִם כְּדֵי שֶׁיִּיבְשׁוּ. שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דברים כ, יט) "לֹא תַשְׁחִית אֶת עֵצָהּ".
ט וְלֹא בְּמָצוֹר בִּלְבַד, אֶלָּא בְּכָל מָקוֹם כָּל הַקּוֹצֵץ אִילַן מַאֲכָל דֶּרֶךְ הַשְׁחָתָה לוֹקֶה. אֲבָל קוֹצְצִין אוֹתוֹ אִם הָיָה מַזִּיק אִילָנוֹת אֲחֵרִים. אוֹ מִפְּנֵי שֶׁמַּזִּיק בִּשְׂדֵה אֲחֵרִים. אוֹ מִפְּנֵי שֶׁדָּמָיו יְקָרִים. לֹא אָסְרָה תּוֹרָה אֶלָּא דֶּרֶךְ הַשְׁחָתָה.
י וְלֹא הָאִילָנוֹת בִּלְבַד. אֶלָּא כָּל הַמְשַׁבֵּר כֵּלִים. וְקוֹרֵעַ בְּגָדִים. וְהוֹרֵס בִּנְיָן. וְסוֹתֵם מַעְיָן. וּמְאַבֵּד מַאֲכָלוֹת דֶּרֶךְ הַשְׁחָתָה. עוֹבֵר בְּלֹא תַשְׁחִית.
From Colegio Olamí
Adopt a School
Add your comments
Below are two posts related to Shivat Haminim (the seven species). Read and respond to the questions in these posts by clicking the plus sign in the bottom right corner.