Judaism - Ethics

Question 1

What are Jewish ethics?

Answer 1

Is the belief that every human is created in God’s Image therefore, is worthy of respect and dignity.

Question 2

What are Environmental Ethics?

Answer 2

Tries to define a system of values that guides human interaction in the modern world.

Question 3

When did Environmental ethics emerge and why?

Answer 3

Emerged in the 1970s as a response to the growing awareness of humans’ negative impact on their environment and the need to ‘change or perish’

Question 4

What does Environmental Ethics include?

Answer 4

• L’ovolah ul’shomrah (to serve and protect)
• Bal Tashchit (Do not destory)
• Tikkun Olam(repair the world)
• Tza’ar ba’ale hayyim(treatment of animals)
• Laws of Shemitah (release) - (sabbatical year 7th year)

Question 5

What is the definition of L’ovolah ul’shomrah (to serve and protect)?

Answer 5

Human’s is appointed by God as Stewards of Creations. Their responsibility is to serve and protect the world by preventing its destruction.

Question 6

State the evidence of Human’s is L’ovolah ul’shomrah (to serve and protect)?

Answer 6

Stewardship is implied in (Genesis 2:15) → “…God…put him into the Garden of Eden yo till it and keep it” → This guides Jewish adherents everyday positive behaviour to preserve the world.

Question 7

What are the environmental issues of L’ovolah ul’shomrah (to serve and protect)?

Answer 7

Deforestation/ pollution/ over-consumption of natural resources.

Question 8

What are the negative behaviours of L’ovolah ul’shomrah (to serve and protect) regarding environmental issues?

Answer 8

• Pollution: Littering → harms animals caught in waste/digestive plastic → Incorrectly disposing of chemicals down the sink → Contributing to pollution of waterways.
• Wasting paper → school/ personal/ office use

Question 9

What are the positive behaviours of L’ovolah ul’shomrah (to serve and protect) regarding environmental issues?

Answer 9

• Purchasing recycled paper
• Donating $18 to Jewish National Fund who will plant trees in Israel.
• Activity recycling → paper, bottles and cans at home and work, compost bin for foodscapes etc → Participating in ‘Clean Up Australia Day

Question 10

What is the definition of Bal Tashchit (Do not destroy)?

Answer 10

Outlawing wanton and wasteful destruction of natural/ manufactured resources

Question 11

State the evidence of Bal Tashchit (Do not destroy)

Answer 11

Maimonides explains that Jew is forbidden to “smash household goods, tear clothes, demolish a building, stop a spring, or destroy articles of food.”

Question 12

What are the environmental issues of Bal Tashchit (Do not destroy)?

Answer 12

Wastage of:

• Natural resources = water/food, minerals/fossil fuels
• Manufactured = clothes etc
• Recycling

Question 13

What are the negative behaviours of Bal Tashchit (Do not destroy) regarding the environmental issues?

Answer 13

• Leaving lights on
• Over-utilisation of air-conditioning (heat/cooling).
• Having long, hot showers.
• Driving instead of car-pooling

Question 14

What are the positive behaviours of Bal Tashchit (Do not destroy) regarding the environmental issues?

Answer 14

• Using public transport or walking a short distance instead of driving
• Reduce → the Number of resources consumed e.g. Have a timer for water in showers/ cleaning cars etc by installing a water tank to collect rainwater.
• Reuse → Clothing/ materials for another purpose e.g. food scraps into compost, old clothes as cleaning rags.
• Recycle → Bottles/ paper/ water. Buy reusable drink bottles. Take your old household batteries to ‘Office Works’ to be recycled

Question 15

What is the definition of Tikkun Olam (repair the World)

Answer 15

‘repair’ or ‘betterment’ of the world through social justice.

Question 16

State the evidence of Tikkun Olam (repair the World)

Answer 16

“See to it that you do not spoil and destroy My world; for it you do, there will be no one else to repair it” (Midrash Kohelet Rabbah on Ecclesiastes)

Question 17

What are the environmental issues of Tikkun Olam (repair the World)

Answer 17

• Social justice

- Climate change

Question 18

What are the negative behaviours of Tikkun Olam (repair the World) regarding environmental issues?

Answer 18

• Ignoring social justice issues

- Denying the impacts of climate change

Question 19

What are the postive behaviours of Tikkun Olam (repair the World) regarding environmental issues?

Answer 19

• Manifested through charity and behaving with compassion. Jews repair the world by participating in tzedakah (justice and righteousness) and gemilut chasadim (acts of loving-kindness). Without their stake in the improvement of their environment, injustice and evil will continue to exist.
• Supporting social justice issues e.g /Fairtrade chocolate challenges the global chocolate industry which perpetuates child labour and inhumane working conditions. Lobbies for minimum wages and sustainable cocoa plantations.
• Financially /personally supporting charities e.g Fundraising initiatives of Jewish Care alleviate poverty, hunger and disease among the people of the world, promoting economic independence and human dignity for all people.
• Supporting the “beyond Politics - a Jewish call for serious climate action” by contacting their local MP to meet the outlined targets including reducing Australia’s reliance on fossil fuel exports.

Question 20

What is the definition of Tza’ar ba’ale hayyim (treatment of animals)?

Answer 20

Animals must be treated with respect, cared for and used wisely.

Question 21

State the evidence of Tza’ar ba’ale hayyim (treatment of animals)?

Answer 21

• “a righteous man has regard for his animals” (proverbs 12:10)
• “ a man must not sit down to his meal before he has fed his animals” (Talmud, Berakhot 4a) → animals provide food for humanity, therefore they are God-given resources to be used for this purpose.

Question 22

What are the environmental issues of Tza’ar ba’ale hayyim (treatment of animals)?

Answer 22

• Animal Cruelty → testing (cosmetic)
• Game hunting (sport)
• Extinction of species → whaling

Question 23

What are the negative behaviours of Tza’ar ba’ale hayyim (treatment of animals) regarding environmental issues?

Answer 23

• Kill animals for sport (game hunting e.g. safari hunts) = wanton destruction of a God-given resource
• Cosmetic animal testing (medical animal testing is permitted if it contributes to saving the lives of humans)
• Participating in dog/cockfights
• Purchasing endangered animal products e.g. ivory/ rare furs

Question 24

What are the positive behaviours of Tza’ar ba’ale hayyim (treatment of animals) regarding environmental issues?

Answer 24

• Not participating in game hunting for sport
• Avoiding purchasing cosmetic products tested on animals
• Advocating for animal rights by supporting organisations e.g RSPCA or WWF (World Wildlife Funds)
• Treating animals with respect → ensuring pets have adequate living conditions.

Question 25

What is the definition of Laws of Shemitah (release) - (Sabbatical year 7th year)?

Answer 25

Teaching promotes conversation, sustainable use of resources and the development of the natural environment. Preserve the earth and make it more fertile for others.

Question 26

State the evidence of Laws of Shemitah (release) - (Sabbatical year 7th year)?

Answer 26

• “Six years you shall sow your field…but during the seventh year the land shall have a sabbath rest” release in the land every 7th year derived from (Leviticus 25:3)
• “Are meant to make the earth more fertile and stringer through letting it lie fallow.” Maimonides also wrote on the shemitah in his ‘Guide to the Perplexed, where the laws of the Sabbatical Year

Question 27

What is the environmental issues of the Laws of Shemitah (release) - (Sabbatical year 7th year)

Answer 27

• Urbanisation
• Ecological sustainability
• Land degradation

Question 28

What are the negative behaviours of Laws of Shemitah (release) - (Sabbatical year 7th year) regarding environmental issues?

Answer 28

• Over -farming rural areas will result in poor future crops and land quality is degraded
• Overfishing waterways will reduce the quantity of this particular food source which in turn disrupts the ecological balance.

Question 29

What are the positive behaviours of Laws of Shemitah (release) - (Sabbatical year 7th year) regarding environmental issues?

Answer 29

• Purchasing sustainable food sources e.g Australians are amongst the world’s earliest and most committed adopters of sustainable farming practices for wheat which minimises soil erosion and moisture loss.
• When planning for developments, an ecological balance must be maintained by leaving land between the city and rural areas.