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Earth Midrash At-a-Glance
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| Brief Summary:
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Use this text-based program to stimulate intellectual growth
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| Audience:
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Ages 14-17 (High School)
Ages 18-21 (College)
Adults
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| Facility:
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Community Center
Hillel
Synagogue
Other
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| Program Type:
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Bible/Text
Educational Program
Sermon/Reading/Discussion
Other
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| Issues:
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Air/Water/Trees
Shmittah/Land Use/Agriculture
Spiritual Awareness
Sustainability
Tikkun Olam/Stewardship/Values and Ethics
Other
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| Holiday:
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Tu B'Shevat (New Year of the Trees)
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Description
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![[hebrew]](/tubshvat/documents/wisdom_hebrew.gif)
"One generation passes and another comes but the earth remains forever."
Ecclesiastes 1:4
This pasuk (verse) makes two statements about the "way of the world, " the way that things are in this world. What are they? Could you imagine anything happening which would change either of these? What could possibly happen that would make human life go on forever? Is this likely? Could anything happen that might cause the earth not to go on forever?
Which of these two possibilities is more likely? Why?
This pasuk is problematic because it states as fact that something is God's plan or intention, but that plan may not work out that way. When such a contradiction occurs, there is often a midrash, a story or explanation by the Rabbis, which comes to explain and clarify the meaning. Here is such a midrash to help us understand what our responsibility to the earth is:
God led Adam around the Garden of Eden and said, 'Look at My works. See how beautiful they are, how excellent. See to it that you do not spoil or destroy My world-for if you do, there will be no one to repair it after you." Eccesiastes Rabbah 7:13
According to the midrash, who is responsible to see that God's plan is carried out? How do we do this? (Refer to the lesson taught and to other aspects of the environment familiar to the class.)
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Preparation Time
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Print out this sheet and use it as a reference to guide the discussion.
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Activity Time
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Attached Files
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Comments
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