Recycling
Defining the Problem
Many would agree that there exists in today's world an environmental crisis. The magnitude of the problem transcends all boundaries and includes the rise in acid rain, the depletion of the ozone layer, and the growth of humankind. Another aspect of the environmental crisis is the difficulty in disposing of waste. This included the problem of industrial waste, including nuclear waste, and the disposal of chemicals in industry and in the home which tend to harm human and animal life. Waste, however, must also include the more common forms of garbage and discarded material that, over a period of time, destroy natural resources, crowd our world and impact on basic needs of human life, such as food, clean air and recreation. These types of waste are very much part of the environmental crisis.
Confronting the Environmental Crisis at Capital Camps - Recycling
Every summer, Capital Camps becomes a community of over 400 people. The nature of the community is such that many of the problems of the environmental crisis do not seem to be directly relevant to our lives at camp. Nevertheless, this does not make us immune to the problems, nor does it give us an excuse to be inactive in helping to find a solution. There is a phrase that can be helpful in our approach: "Think Globally; Act Locally". Globally, we should be concerned wtih problems such as acid rain and industrial waste. Staff and campers should be educated as to the dangers they pose, and, however possible, they should seek to be part of the solution. Locally, there are specific things that we can do in camp to help to effect a solution to the environmental crisis.
This summer, Capital Camps will begin a recycling program. It is estimated that the camp generates 120 pounds of trash at every meal. Thus, in a summer season, there are approximately 20,000 pounds of trash generated just at meal times! This does not include trash from campers' cabins, the program areas, or the camp offices. In introducing a recycling porgram to Capital Camps, much of this previously un-recycled trash will now be recycled. This in turn, will help ease the problem of waste for our local community and, to some extent, ultimately for the global community, as well. In a limited way we will have begun the process of confronting the environmental crisis, and helping to find a solution.
Recyling: A Jewish Perspective
There is to be found in Judaism an articulated set of legal regulations, theological notions an intellectual values that intuitively respect the value and the integrity of the natural environment. In introducing a recylcing program to Capital Camps, it is possible to make use of traditional Jewish sources to create a unique framework in which such a program becomes viable, and, perhaps even necessary. It can also be of value in furthering the particular mission of Capital Camps as a place that promotes Jewish identity through Jewish learning and living.
What follows are some of the legal regulations, theological notions and intellectual values as found in the Jewish tradition that can be introduced to the camp as part of its recycling program. Counselors are encourages to use the Hebrew terms and to articulate these values to campers whenever possible.
Shomrei Adamah - Keepers of the Earth
The Lord God took the man and placed him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.
-Genesis 2:15
The land must not be sold beyond reclaim, for the land is Mine; you are but strangers resident with Me. Throughout the land that you hold, you must provide for its redemption.
- Leviticus 25:23
The earth is the Lords and the fullness thereof.
- Psalms 24:1
There is a basic notion that the earth does not belong to its inhabitants, but, rather, remains the possession of God its creator. In fact, one can understand from the Bible that a purpose of God's creation of Man was so that Man, in turn, could be a protector of the rest of God's creations. Our mission, accordingly is not to conquer the earth, but to maintain God's garden. We are stewards and not overlords; We are merely tenants of the earth. Because the earth is not our possession, we cannot do as we please with it, but rather, we have a special responsibility towards it.
Questions to raise with your campers:
- What is your responsibility towards the earth?
- How can we, as stewards, help to maintain God's garden?
Tikkun Olam - Repairing the World
When God created the first human beings, God led them around the garden of Eden and said: "Look at my works! See how beautiful they are. How Excellent! For your sake, I created them all. See to it that you do not spoil and destroy My world: for, if you do, there will be no one else to repair it.
- Kohelleth Rabbah on 7:13
Whatever was created in the first six days [of creation] requires further repair.
-Bereishit Rabbah 11:6
There is an idea that Creation is a process that involves people. People have the ability to destroy the World. People also have the ability to repair the world. According to some, only people (and not God) have the ability to repair the world! Although God may have begun the process of Creation, it is an ongoing process in which people now have the sole responsibility for the direction Creation will take. Certainly we must regard ourselves as a partner with God in this process. Similiarly, there is also the idea that the world was not created as a perfect place. Everything in the world requires some level of repair, and this has become part of our task in the world.
Questions to raise with your campers:
- What are some things in the world that require repair?
- How does recycling repair the world?
- Are there other things that can be done in camp to help repair the world?
Baal Taschit - Do Not Destroy
When you besiege a city for a long time, making war against it in order to take it. You shall not destroy its trees by wielding an axe against them. You may eat from them, but you must not cut them down! Are trees of the field human beings to withdraw before you into the besieged city? Only trees that you know are not food-bearing you may destroy and cut down..."
- Deuteronomy 20:19-20
In the Bible, this legal regulation applies specifically to a time of war and concerns wielding an axe to a tree. However, the Rabbis extended this prohibition to any conditions and to include all kinds of wanton destruction on any natural resources. This has become the most comprehensive warning to human beings not to misuse natural resources through activities deemed capricious, passionate or mrely thoughtless. Only for justifiable purposes may we use natural resources. The purposeless destruction of natural resources is strictly forbidden.
Questions to raise with your campers:
- What are some justifiable purposes for cutting down trees?
- What are some examples of ways people destroy natural resources for no purpose?
Deveikut - Attachment: Experiencing the Divine Presence
O Lord, our Lourd, how majestic is Your name throughout the earth.
-Psalms 8:10
The heaves declare the glory of God, the sky proclaims His handiwork.
- Psalms 19:2
A heathen once asked Rabbi Joshua Ben Karhah: Why did God choose a thorn-bush from which to speak to Moses? He replied...'to teach you that no place is devoid of God's presence, not even a thorn-bush'.
- Kohellet Rabbah 2:5
The philosopher Martin Buber spoke of how we experience the Divine through true, deep and mutual relationships with another. For Bubuer, this included relationships with parts of the natural world. He believed that if we can feel a sense of connectedness to nature, this will enable us to know God's presense in the world. Abraham Joshua Heschel believed that the only true religious person is the one who is able to sense the mystery and grandeur of the world, and is amazed by its power, beauty and unity. Both Buber and Heschel encourage us to see the earth as a source of the Divine Presence. In doing so, we will undoubtedly be inspired to show the highest reverence for the environment.
Questions to raise with your campers:
- How can one feel connected to nature?
- What are some ways we sense the mystery and grandeur of the world?
- Have you ever felt God's presense through nature?
Dorot - Generations
One generation goes, another comes, but the earth abides forever.
- Ecclesiastes 1:4
Once Honi the Circle-maker was walking on the road and saw a man planting a carob tree. Honi said: "You know a carob tree takes 70 years to bear fruit: Are you so sure that you will live 70 years so as to eat from it?" "I found this world provided with carob trees," the man replied "and as my forebearers planted them for me, so will I plant for my offspring."
- Ta'anit 32a
A Jewish value is that we are connected to a historic past and that we will remain connected to a communal future. One generation paves the way for the next, and the next generation prepares the way for the one after it. We have responsibility not only for our own generation, but also to generations that follow us. If we do not respect the integrity of our natural environment now, our children and our childrens' children will also have to pay the consequences for our actions. If we do respect the integrity of our natural environment, this can be our legacy.
Questions to raise with your campers:
- What are some ways we are connected to a historic past?
- What are some ways we are connected to a communal future?
- How did the generations that camp before us leave the world?
- How would we like to leave the world for future generations?
Hidur Mitzvah - Beautifying Mitzvot
Adorn thyself before Him (God) in the fulfillment of Mitzvot.
- Shabbat 133b
The Talmud instructs us not only to perform mitzvot, but also to embellish them through acts of beautification. For example, we are taught that using an ornate Shofar for Rosh HaShanah or having each family member light Chanukah candles (not just the head of the household) are things that can beautify these mitzvot. If we take seriously the mitzvah of not destroying our environment, we should do as much as we can in this regard, as, for example, establishing programs such as recylcing. In doing so, we will beautify the mitzvah and add to its fulfillment. Similarly, as we go about our daily routine, we can enhance our lives by always seeking to make our physical environment a more pleasant and beautiful place in which to live.
Questions to raise with your campers:
- What are some examples of beautifying a mitzvah?
- What mitzvah are we beautifying by having a recycling program?
- What ar the benefits of having a beautiful environment?
Shabbat - Sabbath
Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy. Six days shall you labor and do all your work, but the Seventh day is a Sabbath of the Lord your God.
- Exodus 20:8-10
...the land shall observe a Sabbath of the Lord. Six years you may sow your field and six years you may prune your vineyard and gather in the yield. But in the seventh year that land shall have a Sabbath of complete rest.
- Leviticus 25:2-4
The 50th year shall be a Jubilee for your: You shall not sow: neither shall you reap the aftergrowth or harvest the untrimmed vies, for it is a Jubilee.
- Leviticus 25:11-12.
Although work is good, the Hebrew calendar has designated times for rest, reflection, recreation, and renewel. The seventh day, the seventh year, and the seventh cycle of seven years (Jubilee) give not only people, but also animals and plants the right to rest. Through willful inactivity we show subservience to a power greater than our own. We acknowledge our limitations and cease to exercise our power to transform. In our modern world, we can view Shabbat as a time to constrain technology and all of its implications. This message of Shabbat can resonate throughout the week.
Questions to raise with your campers:
- How is Shabbat observed at Capital Camps?
- What are some ways we show 'willful inactivity'?
- How can we experience the message of Shabbat throughout the week?
V'Chai B'hem - And you shall live by them
See, I set before you this day life and prosperity, death and adversity....Choose life - if you and your offspring would live - by loving the Lord your God, heeding His commands, and holding fast to Him. For thereby you shall have life and shall long endure upon the soil...
- Deutoronomy 30:15-19
The precepts were given only in order that man might be refined by them.
- Bereishit Rabbah 44:1
Judaism is a life-affirming religion. Some believe that the whole purpose of the laws and the regulations of Judaism is to provide an ethical system of self-restraint that will enhance the quality of life. The system is meant to discipline and purify. Through the laws and regulations we can live life to its fullest; our survival in the world is assured. As concerns the environment, through a regimen of plain living, we learn to respect and enjoy the harmony of the world. Delicate balances must be maintained so that we can continue to live in a world of greatest potential.
Questions to raise with your campers:
- What are some laws and regulations that enhance the quality of life?
- What are some ways that a recycling program can enhance the quality of life here in camp?
