They Hid, And We Must Not

By Rabbi Nina Beth Cardin

Despite the apparent unparalleled nature of today’s struggle with climate change, one could reasonably argue that this is not the first but rather the second time that humanity has suffered radical, global environmental destabilization by its own hand.

Think of expulsion from the Garden of Eden. There we were, just the two of us (instead of the cozy 7 billion we have grown to be today), happily tilling and tending the garden, basking in the gentle climate and eating to our heart’s content.

Then, whether seduced by greed, appetite, curiosity, the nudge of boredom, the itch of discontent or the promise of progress, we bit off more of the world’s resources than we could chew.