In this week’s episode we look at a text from the end of the book of Job (and Rashi’s commentary on it) about the power that G-d holds over the weather. We discuss the idea of divine punishment for sins, and how, while there are clear articulations of this concept in our sacred texts, we have a tradition, as seen in Job, of acknowledging that humans are not able to understand the ways of the divine and cannot claim to know why tragedies occur. We then go on to note that doing a “chesbon hanefesh” or searching for how we might have contributed to a situation, such as human contributions to climate change, can help motivate us to change our behavior. We also explore the idea that taking on new spiritual practices such as giving more charity or learning more Torah can help us come closer to the people we want to be and be able to meet the hard parts of life with more strength, generosity, and hope. Follow along with the source sheet here: www.sefaria.org/sheets/603551

In this week’s episode we look at text from Midrash Tanchuma on Exodus 19:16, which describes all the fiery wonders that accompanied the giving of the Torah. The midrash goes on to also recount many watery wonders done by G-d to show divine power, including inundating a third of the surrounding lands by the Mediterranean sea. We discuss the paradox that we do not have control over the weather, but also that climate change is caused by human action. We also discuss how having faith can keep us going in scary and complex times. Follow along with the source sheet here: https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/452572

In this week’s episode we look at text from the Mishna and Gemara of Bava Batra, an ancient text regulating air pollution. We discuss how, to uphold our deepest values, we have to set up structures that enforce them. We further discuss how a growing and more spread out population creates sacrifice zones, which even as we reduce pollution from electricity generation, many polluting industries will continue as we mine materials for and produce more things for sustainable electrification and transportation. Follow along with the source sheet here: http://www.sefaria.org/sheets/576006