By Maya Friedman, Adamah on Campus Chapter Leader at the University of Maryland
Every autumn, I find myself reveling in the beauty of the fall colors. As days shorten and temperature cools, chlorophyll production in the leaves slows to a stop. This breakdown unmasks other pigments that have been hidden beneath the chlorophyll’s green. These carotenoids and anthocyanins reveal yellow, orange, red and purple hues in the fall foliage.
When thinking about this natural process and the elegance of the trees, I am reminded of a quote from the Torah. In this passage, God instructed Israelites not to destroy fruit trees when conquering cities, “for man is a tree of the field”. His reasoning emphasizes the connection between humans and the environment, hinting at the intrinsic value of all life.
I began wondering about God’s view of sustainability, and as I delved deeper into Biblical texts, I quickly discovered that this commandment is one of many sustainable practices sprinkled throughout the Torah.
Seder Zeraim (seeds) is an entire section of Mishna, which contains 74 chapters, dedicated to agricultural practices. Seder Zeraim outlines farming and agricultural processes that include leaving parts of the field to the poor and the practice of Shemitah.
It was stated in the Torah, “Six years you shall sow your land and gather in its produce, but in the seventh year you shall let it rest and lie fallow.” God commanded giving the land a year to rest, a common sustainable agricultural practice known as “fallowing.” This practice helps the earth renew and to help us restore our connection to God and to the environment.
Beyond many nature related Halachot (laws), the Kabbalistic “Tree of Life” focuses on living spiritually and cultivating our metaphorical “branches” with good deeds. Our connection to trees and other forms of life are repeatedly referenced in Jewish texts and traditions.
Today we are faced with what many call “sustainababble.” Greenwashing and corporate deception confuse consumers into thinking their choices are good for the environment. Carbon offsets allow companies to harm local communities and to project misleading estimates of climate impact, solving one problem while creating another. Too many of us have forgotten that “man is a tree of the field,” that we are part of the land and that we must protect it.
Adamah, the largest Jewish environmental organization in North America, believes in the deep connection between people and the planet; Adam, the first person created, and Adamah, the Hebrew word for “ground.” Adamah exists on campus to lead students to a greener future through Jewish environmentalism. Adamah aims to uncover the hidden roots of sustainability throughout the Torah, and hopes to inspire change and to promote spiritual connections to the environment.
Just as the chlorophyll production in our surrounding foliage slows and the Shemitah laws command us to let our crops rest and renew, we must slow down and do the same. As we reconnect to nature and adapt to the changing seasons, we too reveal new colors. Our green might fade, but our yellow, orange, red or purple emerge. Each of our Trees of Life form new and beautiful branches. When we remind ourselves of the vital connection between Adam and Adamah, when we fallow and rest, we become our most sustainable selves. We become like “a tree of the field.”