Rabbis talk climate change
"Jewish law has a lot to say about the importance of managing risk to human life, which is particularly relevant for the challenges climate change poses."
The Rabbinical Council of Victoria (RCV) recently held a workshop on climate change with senior Victorian rabbis and rebbetzins present.
The workshop offered halachic and hashkafic analysis, as well as practical directions, to assist Victorian rabbis in responding to the issue of climate change. The Jewish Climate Network (JCN) was in attendance and supported with the delivery of the session.
Guest speaker Rav Danny Eisenberg, who is the current director of the Sydney Kollel and former software engineer at the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Climate System Science, said that it was great to discuss “the science, halachah and communal opportunities with the rabbinic leadership”.
“Jewish law has a lot to say about the importance of managing risk to human life, which is particularly relevant for the challenges climate change poses, both now and in the future,” he said. “We are now at a point in time where the steps communities take can make a real difference in minimising the level of risk.”
Inspired by the opportunity, Rav Eisenberg has offered to facilitate future trainings for rabbinic leaders and shules across Australia.
Australia has been successful at deploying rooftop solar panels on a large scale, helping to lower reliance on fossil fuels and lowering costs to consumers. This point was not lost on RCV co-vice-president Rabbi Yaakov Glasman, who shared his reflections with attendees on the day.
He commented on the practical opportunities for synagogues, like his own St Kilda Shule, saying, “Going solar was a no-brainer for my shule. It makes sense environmentally and it makes sense economically. It is also our halachic duty to take measures that protect the environment and protect human life.”
Rabbi Glasman said he is “proud” to be a part of a shule that “recognises the reality of climate change, and acts on it”.
“I felt it really important to share these sentiments with my colleagues and was delighted to learn that some of them have also gone solar.”
Immediate past president of the RCV, Rabbi Daniel Rabin, said he was “thrilled” to host the professional development session on “such a challenge as climate change”.
“Our members are always keen to explore a robust rabbinic response to pressing issues that impact our community and the Jewish people, and climate change is indeed a pressing social, human and environmental concern.
“The Torah has much to say about what our response should be and Orthodox rabbis have a big leadership role to play.”
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