The Meteorology of Midrash: Jewish Narratives in a Warming World

Judaism’s foundational stories often center on the delicate balance between human behavior and the natural world. This session explores the tension between climate disaster and climate resilience. We will look at how stories of destruction (like Noah’s Ark) and stories of radical hope (like the planting of trees for future generations) can provide a framework for modern climate communication and action.

AA Green Team

Noah’s Arc

Noah’s Arc

• In Genesis Rabbah 32:6 (and famously cited by Rashi on Genesis 7:7), the text states that Noah delayed entering the Ark because he was one of those "of little faith". He did not fully believe the flood would actually come and only entered the Ark when the rising waters literally forced him to do so
• “Noah, and his sons, and his wife and his sons’ wives with him, came into the ark, because of the water of the flood” (Genesis 7:7). �Rabbi Yoḥanan said: Noah was lacking in faith; if the water had not reached up to his ankles, he would not have entered the ark.

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Noah’s Arc Discussion

• Climate can change slowly, and then very fast due to tipping points. What would waiting for undeniable visual proof do to the cost of action?

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• If Noah were a TV meteorologist at the radar screen, what would his warning be like? Would it help? Would it be enough? Do you change your behavior because of a Flash Flood Warning?

10 Plagues – Exodus Chapter 9

• 33 Moses went away from Pharaoh, out of the city, and he spread out his hands to the Lord, and the thunder and the hail ceased, and rain did not come down to earth.
• 34 And Pharaoh saw that the rain, the hail, and the thunder had ceased; so he continued to sin, and he strengthened his heart, he and his servants.
• 35 And Pharaoh's heart was hardened, and he did not let the children of Israel go out, as the Lord had spoken through the hand of Moses.

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10 Plagues Discussion

• Climate denial isn’t due to a lack of data; it is often a hardened heart… psychological inertia driven by economic or systemic fear? How do we, with Jewish morals, help those who are stuck / afraid?

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• What other modern ‘plagues’ are we currently rationalizing away out of personal comfort?

The Mother Bird

The Mother Bird – Deuteronomy 22:6-7

• 6 If a bird's nest chances before you on the road, on any tree, or on the ground, and [it contains] fledglings or eggs, if the mother is sitting upon the fledglings or upon the eggs, you shall not take the mother upon the young.
• 7 You shall send away the mother, and [then] you may take the young for yourself, in order that it should be good for you, and you should lengthen your days.

Mother Bird Discussion

• We have a right to benefit from nature, but a strict moral obligation to protect the system that reproduces it.

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• What are the ‘mother birds’ of our local Atlanta ecosystem that we are at risk of over-extracting?

Shmita

Shmita – Leviticus 25 1:7

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• 1 And the Lord spoke to Moses on Mount Sinai, saying,
• 2 Speak to the children of Israel and you shall say to them: When you come to the land that I am giving you, the land shall rest a Sabbath to the Lord.
• 3 You may sow your field for six years, and for six years you may prune your vineyard, and gather in its produce,
• 4 But in the seventh year, the land shall have a complete rest a Sabbath to the Lord; you shall not sow your field, nor shall you prune your vineyard.
• 5 You shall not reap the aftergrowth of your harvest, and you shall not pick the grapes you had set aside [for yourself], [for] it shall be a year of rest for the land.
• 6 And [the produce of] the Sabbath of the land shall be yours to eat for you, for your male and female slaves, and for your hired worker and resident who live with you,
• 7 And all of its produce may be eaten [also] by your domestic animals and by the beasts that are in your land.

Shmita Discussion

• Our climate crisis feels like a disease of exhaustion… the planet functions on cycles but infinite extraction breaks the system.

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• In a hyper-productive culture, what would a community or personal Shmita look like in practice?

The Symphony of Nature

Rabbi Nachman of Breslov, Likutei Moharan, Part II, 63:1

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• Rabbi Nachman famously taught: "For every single blade of grass has its own unique song that it sings to God.“

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Rabbi Aryeh Levin

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• Rabbi Aryeh Levin wrote that he was once walking in a field with Rav Kook, lost in deep Torah discussion. Along the way, Rabbi Levin absentmindedly plucked a leaf off a branch. Rav Kook was visibly shaken and said gently:
• "All my days I have been careful never to pluck a blade of grass or a flower needlessly, when it had the ability to grow or blossom. You know the teaching of our sages that not a single blade of grass grows here on Earth that does not have an angel above it, commanding it to grow... every creation sings its song."

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Symphony of Nature Discussion

• Atlanta is known as the City in a Forest. If the tree canopy had a literal legal vote in city planning, how would our neighborhoods change?

The Tiny Jugs

The Tiny Jugs

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• Before Jacob‘s epic encounter with Esau, reuniting with his brother after decades of estrangement, Jacob brings his family and possessions across a stream. He then returns at night to the other side of the stream, and the Torah narrates that: “Jacob remained alone.” The rabbis see the word “alone” (levado) as superfluous, and understand it as related to the similar sounding lecado, “for his vessel,” yielding, “Jacob remained for his vessel.”

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• That is, say the rabbis, he re-crossed the stream at night to recover a few small vessels he forgot to bring across. Why does Jacob, facing an imminent confrontation with Esau and his 400-man militia, leave his family alone and vulnerable at night to recover a few forgotten flasks? Why were they so important to him?

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• The seeming absurdity of Jacob’s action becomes understandable when one examines his worldview: he believes that everything in his possession comes from God, has a specific purpose, and must be used to its full potential. As one rabbinic commentary explains, each material item that a righteous person uses is a means toward spiritual repair in the world.

Tiny Jugs Discussion

• Just because it is small or invisible doesn’t mean it isn’t important

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• How do we combat the paralyzing feeling that our individual ‘tiny jug’ choices don’t matter?

The Carob Tree

This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY

The Carob Tree

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• One day, he was walking along the road when he saw a certain old man planting a carob tree. Ḥoni said to him: This tree, after how many years will it bear fruit? The man said to him: It will not produce fruit until seventy years have passed. Ḥoni said to him: Is it obvious to you that you will live seventy years, that you expect to benefit from this tree? He said to him: [I]found a world full of carob trees. Just as my ancestors planted for me, I too am planting for my descendants.

AA Green Team

The Carob Tree Discussion

• Climate action requires intergenerational equity. Those affected the most will be future generations that did not cause the problem.

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• We are working for an environmental harvest that we may never personally see.

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• What is one ‘carob tree’ project our community can plant today to protect the next generation?