I’ve said them thousands of times, but the other morning, the words from the second paragraph of the Shema stuck in my mind: “So that your days and the days of your children may be long upon the Earth God swore to give you.”

But what kind of Earth are we bequeathing to our children and how sustainable will it be? These questions haunt me like heartache.

I love nature. I think of the world as an extension of the garden God planted for humankind in Eden. A beautiful Midrash tells how “the spirit that lives in the trees and nature once conversed with humankind because all beings were created for mutual companionship”.

We need nature, not just for our physical, but also for our mental and spiritual health. Above all, I constantly hear the rabbis’ ancient warning: “Do not destroy my world, for there is no one who can come after you and put it right.”

As the overwhelming consensus of international scientists has repeatedly warned, the issue is existential.

Therefore, a burning sense of responsibility towards our children drives me to care passionately for our one and only beautiful, God-infused planet.

For their sake, I’m filled with anger and shame at so much recalcitrant and negligent national and international policy, even while the forest fires burn across Europe. Judaism has always had a “dor l’dor” (“from generation to generation”) long-term perspective.

The short-sighted self-centredness of so many governments drives me to levels of frustration I have to struggle hard to turn into positive action.

That’s why I co-founded EcoJudaism, in which almost 70 synagogues and other Jewish organisations across the denominational spectrum are now actively involved.

I’m determined to help drive this essential work forward.
EcoJudaism’s primary tool is an audit which guides communities towards sustainability and net zero.

It asks us to reconsider everything, from the utilities we depend on to how we manage food; from how we teach, preach and inspire our membership to how we engage in environmental projects.

Congregations take the journey at their own pace, motivated by the goals of gaining bronze, silver or gold awards. One of EcoJudaism’s most joyous events occurred a year ago at Kew Gardens, when 28 communitues received their certificates, applauded by members and rabbis of all denominations sitting side by side.

There are “Don’ts” on this environmental journey, first and foremost the commandment which serves as EcoJudaism’s strapline: “Bal tashchit” (“Don’t destroy”).

But there are also energising “Do’s”. Biodiversity creation is fun. JTree, a partner of EcoJudaism, was established in the UK and the USA to foster tree-planting in ecologically and socially sustainable ways.

This will be broadened into everything from putting up bird boxes to establishing community gardens. It’s a joy to dig the muddy fields with a gang of fellow planters and establish the oaks and beeches, which will become homes to animals in decades to come.

There is a long journey before us. We must deepen our motivation and increase our urgency. That’s why EcoJudiasm is excited to be working in new partnerships with organisations such as Mitzvah Day and Limmud.

Across the community, we have to tackle the challenging issue of moving investments out of fossil fuels and into the green economy. We need to strengthen our ties with other faiths in the crucial work of advocacy. We must find funding for EcoJudaism to expand its work.

Above all, we must restore our relationship with nature. We must fall back in love with the land and familiarise ourselves once again with its rhythms and glories. We need to share, with hands and heart, the joy of nurturing the earth. That’s the true soul of the challenge.

Rabbi Jonathan Wittenberg is Senior Rabbi at Masorti Judaism and co-founder of EcoJudaism