Green Course - Students For The Environment

Green Course Campaigns: Open Spaces

Environmental Beit Midrash:
Judaism & The Environment

During the academic year of 2004-5, Green Course established a study program at The Hebrew University campus of Mount Scopus, in Jerusalem. The Beit Midrash created held lectures and workshops in which different environmental issues were studied and discussed through the perspectives of our nation's classical texts: the Torah, Halacha, Agada, as well as many other Jewish and Israeli manuscripts.
It should be noted that the program was created, organized, and successfully carried out, by one Green Course volunteer whose motivation and drive is both inspiring and worthy of admiration. Support and assistance was also provided through cooperation with the Hillel house on campus.

Goals & Objectives:
There are two main goals concerning this program:
• The first is to create an understanding about Judaism’s connection to environmental issues and how these two are intertwined.
• Second, our goal is to create an awareness and true concern for the environment amongst the formerly unconcerned population, precisely by demonstrating the relation that exists between Judaism and the environment.
It is important to realize this connection, since we believe that the only proper way to approach this subject within the Israeli society and create a real change in the way the Israeli society perceives environmental issues is by relating to these issues from the local perspective, and discussing the environment from the Jewish and Israeli culture perspective.
It is our objective to attract and motivate the student and faculty population of the area to attend our lectures and incite a true commitment. Ultimately we seek to inspire both the student and the faculty to take action. Once they have gained valuable information regarding their environment, it is expected that their outlook and relation, both to their tradition and to nature will transform.

Where the Environmental Beit Midrash Program Stands Today & Where We Are Headed…
The current shape of the project is one of increasing interest by volunteers in Green Course and of schools across Israel. The project is expected to develop further next year. This development is expected to be based on the following elements:
• The syllabus of Judaism & the Environment is being developed by the Environmental Beit Midrash Program think tank for future years, and future volunteers (we won't have to "invent the wheel" every year).
• We hope to extend the program further next year, in conjunction with learning centers across Israel in order to create a commited group of fellows whom will participate in a year/ half year program.