Noach:

Environmental Awareness

Rabbi Laura Duhan Kaplan

In Magic of the Ordinary, Rabbi Gershon Winkler describes ancient Judaism as an aboriginal, earth-based religion. Biblical stories and practices emphasize the symbolism of animals, plants, and orientation on the land. Ancient Jews understood these teachings, many of which are lost to us.

In Spell of the Sensuous, Dr. David Abram teaches that great mythological stories are tied to specific places. Only in a natural environment can we understand the sights, sounds, and animal behaviors that give meaning to the story.

The story of Noach, Naamah, and the ark full of animals escaping the flood reminds us that we share planet earth with many other species, and all of us sink or swim together. And the more we honor our fellow creatures, the more we understand Torah's teachings. For example:

Noach sent out the orev (raven or crow) and it went back and forth until the water had dried up. He then sent out the yonah (dove), and it returned toward evening, and there was a freshly plucked olive leaf in its beak. (from Bereisheet/Genesis 8:7-11)

Close watchers of orev and yonah will understand why Noach chose each for a special mission. In his natural setting, orev flies out to work daily, and returns to his large flock to debrief the day. He speaks a language similar to human language (that biologists are now learning). Noach could reply on him for a report. In her natural setting, yonah has a good sense of direction, and gathers nesting materials from the ground. Noach could rely on her to find dry ground, forage, and bring home her pickings.

We are accustomed to finding the origins of key Jewish values in the Torah, and environmentalism is no exception! What a great reminder from Parshat Noach!

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