'Judaism and Global Survival': A wake-up call to the world - review

“This book is intended as a wake-up call, the most urgent that I can make, to Jews and all of humanity that we must do everything we can to apply Jewish and other religions’ values to help shift our imperiled planet onto a sustainable path,” writes Prof. Richard H. Schwartz in the preface to the updated 20th anniversary edition of his book Judaism and Global Survival.

“A primary aim is to show that the world is heading toward a ‘perfect storm’ of existential crises: sudden, catastrophic climate change; severe environmental degradation; devastating scarcities of food, water, and energy; widening terrorism; and other critical threats to life as we know and value it. It is meant to represent a cause and a crusade, to increase awareness that the application of Jewish values can make a major difference in shifting our imperiled world away from its present perilous path.”

Schwartz, now 89, has been banging his drum tirelessly – perhaps even more vigorously in recent years – ever since the 1982 publication of his iconic Judaism and Vegetarianism. 

Since then, he has written books including Vegan Revolution: Saving Our World, Revitalizing Judaism; Who Stole My Religion: Revitalizing Judaism and Applying Jewish Values to Help Heal Our Imperiled Planet; plus more than 250 articles archived online (www.JewishVeg.org/schwartz). 

He helped produce the documentary film A Sacred Duty: Applying Jewish Values to Help Heal the World and is a frequent public speaker, op-ed and letter-writer, and all-around advocate of putting social justice, environmentalism, and veganism on the Jewish agenda.

How can Jews help fight climate change?

Jews, he writes, “are required to protest against injustice and to try to agitate for change even when successful implementation appears very difficult.”

Hence the wake-up call in the form of the timely update of this comprehensive book exploring the obligations of Jews to other people, to other forms of life, and to the planet. These values seem self-evident, but most of us pay them mere lip service.

“It is essential that Jews work to establish systems and conditions consistent with the basic Jewish values of justice, compassion, kindness, the sacredness of every life, the imitation of God’s attributes, love of neighbors, consideration of the stranger, compassion for animals, and the highest of business ethics,” he exhorts readers.

Schwartz, a former New Yorker living in Israel since 2016, devotes a chapter of the book to environmental issues particular to Israel. 

“Rising seas could cause the coastal plain, where much of Israel’s population and infrastructure are located, to be inundated. Climate experts project that the Middle East as a whole will become significantly hotter and drier, and military experts believe that this makes instability, terrorism, and war more likely,” he warns.

Add to that air pollution; population density and lack of open space; rapidly growing heaps of garbage; the shrinking of the Dead Sea; and dust storms and sandstorms, and you have a rather bleak picture of the Promised Land. 

While Schwartz saw some positive progress under the leadership of Naftali Bennett – with a vegan minister of environmental protection, Tamar Zandberg – much of what was accomplished in that short-lived government has been erased by the present one, he says. But Schwartz remains, it seems, guardedly optimistic that public policy can improve. 

He touches on a wide variety of topics in this book and includes well-organized and useful lists – one of his hallmarks – explaining succinctly why, for example, animal-based diets violate basic Jewish teachings. 

He does not avoid controversial or complex halachic issues, for example outlining Jewish teachings that support limiting population growth while at the same time respectfully considering arguments to the contrary.

In addition to contemporary scientific studies and statistics, Schwartz quotes from classical and modern rabbinic authorities and works from across the Jewish spectrum. On the one hand, this egalitarianism makes his book accessible to a broad range of Jews and exposes readers to points of view outside their echo chambers. On the other hand, he risks offending or alienating segments of readers by quoting personalities such as Senator Bernie Sanders, Rabbi Michael Lerner, and social and political activist Gershon Baskin. 

He dives ever deeper into these politically charged waters in the chapter “Seeking Peace for Israel.” Although his purpose in including this discussion is that “Israel needs a comprehensive, sustainable, secure peace resolution to effectively address her major economic, social, and environmental problems,” the unfortunate impression conveyed is that only so-called progressives have anything worthy to contribute, leaving no place for “crunchy Conservatives” at the table.

Happily, most of the book is on firmer footing. In a chapter reflecting on how prayer should, but rarely does, inspire Jews to put into practice the principles they recite in prayer, he offers good advice on how the liturgy ought to inspire our compassion for the world and its creatures.

“The message seems clear,” Schwartz writes. “If we put God’s teachings into practice and take care of the earth as we are commanded, then we will have blessings of prosperity and peace.”

Amen to that!  ■

Judaism and Global SurvivalRichard H. SchwartzLantern Publishing and Media; 20th anniversary edition 352 pages; $19.95

The Environment and Climate Change portal is produced in cooperation with the Goldman Sonnenfeldt School of Sustainability and Climate Change at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. The Jerusalem Post maintains all editorial decisions related to the content.

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