Amidst Record Wildfires and Hurricanes, New “Eco Bible” Inspires Ecological Protection

What does the Bible say about ecology? The groundbreaking “Eco Bible” shines new light on how the Hebrew Bible and great religious thinkers have urged human care of nature as a central message of spiritual wisdom.

Meeting the critical environmental challenges that humans now face will take more than scientific and ecological know-how. Protecting all life on Earth from devastating threats—like vast forests on fire, plastic pollution in the ocean, and rapid climate change—will also take strong spiritual commitment and actions, say authors of the new book “Eco Bible.”

“Applying Bible teachings to stewardship of our global environment is not just an idea for today—but essential for a future in which we achieve a balanced, worldwide ecosystem and thrive on a planet viable for all life,” says Rabbi Yonatan Neril, coauthor and founding director of the Interfaith Center for Sustainable Development (ICSD), which is publishing the book and is based in Jerusalem. “At a time of both ecological and spiritual crisis, understanding the Hebrew Bible can have profound impact on human behavior towards God’s creation, since billions of people worldwide consider it a holy book.”

“Eco Bible” brings together 450 bible verses with commentary from over 100 rabbis and other Jewish experts, whose ecological insights were previously scattered across hundreds of books. The book connects the Five Books of Moses/Pentateuch, and Jewish rabbis’ biblical teachings past and present, with contemporary scientists’ understanding of human health, biodiversity, and environmental protection of air, land and water.

ICSD is celebrating its 10th anniversary by publishing “Eco Bible Volume 1—Genesis and Exodus” on October 19, 2020 and “Volume 2—Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy” in 2021. The Julia Burke Foundation is funding 800 free books for pastors, priests, rabbis, and theological schools professors.

Publishers Weekly called the book an “insightful analysis,” which “will inspire contemplation on how to live in harmony with nature and the power of conservation. Ecologically minded readers interested in the Hebrew Bible will love this.”

Bill Brown, Professor of Old Testament at Columbia Theological Seminary, calls “Eco Bible” “a rich repository of insights…for people of faith to move forward with wisdom, inspiration, and hope, all for the sake of God’s good creation.”

About The Authors
Rabbis Yonatan Neril and Leo Dee are “Eco Bible’s” co-editors and lead authors. Yonatan Neril founded and directs ICSD and its Jewish Eco Seminars. He speaks internationally on religion and the environment, and co-organized 12 interfaith environmental conferences. Leo Dee served as a community rabbi for six years in the UK, and as ICSD’s director of programs.

About The Interfaith Center For Sustainable Development
ICSD reveals the connection between religion and ecology to advance faith-based environmental sustainability. The Center publishes on religion and ecology, including “Eco Bible” and “Report on Faith and Ecology in North American Seminaries,” and organizes interfaith environmental conferences.

A sample of “Eco Bible,” on the first chapter of Genesis, is available here.

Learn more at www.interfaithsustain.com, and see the “Eco Bible” book page here.

Interviews with a co-author, and additional excerpts, are available by contacting us.
 

Contact Information

Pesach Chananiah

Director of Faith and Ecology Programs

The Interfaith Center for Sustainable Development

(1) 510-883-4511

info@interfaithsustain.com