Jewish Resources
"See you do not destroy My world,
for if you do, there will be no one else to repair it."
Midrash Kohelet Rabbah, 1 on Ecclesiastes 7:13
"You are not obligated to complete the work, but neither are you free to desist from it."
Rabbi Tarfon
Rabbi Ed Rosenthal, a ocean enthusiast in Florida, founded the only Jewish marine conservation organization: Tikkun HaYam: Repair the Sea. You can read about their work in their online magazine of this same name:
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Tikkun HaYam issue 3-June 2020
Tikkun HaYam issue 2--April 2020
Tikkun HaYam issue 1--March 2020
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Rabbi Rosenthal also founded Scubi Jews, an organization of suba diving Jewish college students dedicated to repairing the seas. Read about one college student's experience of the uniting of his faith with taking care of the ocean species and systems.
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Here is a short video of Rabbi Rosenthal testifies to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission on the role of faith in caring for the oceans and the wonder of the endangered Goliath Grouper. Help save it!
Articles & Resources
"Tikkun HaYam: Saving the Sea"
by David Krantz
Aytzim: Ecological Judaism provides these resources for helping heal our relationship with the oceans:
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"Green Jews:Jews need to put environmental issues higher on their agenda, the author argues" by Rabbi Yossi Ives on My Jewish Learning
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"Judaism and Climate Change"--Yale forum on Religion and the Environment
Organizations
Tikkun HaYam: Repair the Seas--Jewish Marine Conservation (www.repairthesea.org)
Scubi Jews at Hillel is based on Tenet of Tikkun Olam (Repairing the World), focusing on the marine environment-- part of Tikkun HaYam
This is a British resource site on Jewish teachings and actions.
Sustainable Living Inspired by the Torah
This organization provides 18 lessons on core teachings.
Hazon: The Jewsih Lab for Sustainability
Baruch atah adonai eloheinu
melech ha'olam
sheh-a-sah
et ha-yam ha-gadol.
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Blessed are you, Eternal our God,
Ruler of the Universe,
who made the great sea.
Cardin, Rabbi Nina Beth. The Tapestry of Jewish Time. NJ: Behrman House, 2000, cited on the Jewish Virtual Library.