The great 20th century Talmudic scholar and thinker, Rabbi Joseph Soloveitchik, described different aspects of human life as a “dialectic” (e.g. longing and withdrawing, love and awe, creativity and humility); this is his approach to how we are meant to treat the environment as well.
In Genesis 1, verse 28, the newly created humans are instructed to populate the earth and subdue it. In Genesis 2, verse 15, God places Adam in the Garden of Eden, “to cultivate it and to guard it.” On the one hand, dominion, and on the other hand, safekeeping.
Rabbi Soloveitchik suggests this dialectic as the ultimate tension of human existence. Humans indeed utilize nature for their benefit in many ways. But we also have the duty to act towards nature in a trustworthy manner - we have the responsibility to preserve the world for ourselves and for future generations.
The world is here for our use and our benefit, not for our misuse and abuse. For more information, click here and here.
Copyright © 2008 National Jewish Outreach Program. All rights reserved.
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