Humans and the Environment
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This sourcesheet is based off of questions written by Hillel and Panim.

Genesis 2:4-5
אֵלֶּה תוֹלְדוֹת הַשָּׁמַיִם וְהָאָרֶץ בְּהִבָּרְאָם בְּיוֹם עֲשׂוֹת יְקֹוָק אֱלֹהִים אֶרֶץ וְשָׁמָיִם: וְכֹל שִׂיחַ הַשָּׂדֶה טֶרֶם יִהְיֶה בָאָרֶץ וְכָל עֵשֶׂב הַשָּׂדֶה טֶרֶם יִצְמָח כִּי לֹא הִמְטִיר יְקֹוָק אֱלֹהִים עַל הָאָרֶץ וְאָדָם אַיִן לַעֲבֹד אֶת הָאֲדָמָה
Genesis.2.4-5
Such is the story of heaven and earth when they were created. When the Lord God made earth and heaven - when no shrub of the field was yet on earth and no grasses of the field had yet sprouted, because the Lord God had not sent rain upon the earth and there was no human to till the soil...[JPS translation. Edited for gender neutrality]
Suggested Discussion Questions

1. What does this source teach about the interdependence of people, rain and land?
2. According to this text, who sends rain to the earth? Whose job is it to ensure that the rain is used properly by the land?
3. How do we explain a lack of rain? Whose responsibility is it to ensure that areas that aren't receiving rain still have access to water?

Genesis 2:7
וַיִּיצֶר ה' אֱלֹהִים אֶת הָאָדָם עָפָר מִן הָאֲדָמָה וַיִּפַּח בְּאַפָּיו נִשְׁמַת חַיִּים וַיְהִי הָאָדָם לְנֶפֶשׁ חַיָּה:
Genesis.2.7
God formed one human from the dust of the earth. God blew into the human’s nostrils the breath of life, and the human became a living being. [JPS translation]
Suggested Discussion Questions

1. What does it mean that we are formed from the dust of the earth?
2. According to this text, human life is sacred. How should this foundational premise influence how we treat each other - near and far?

Genesis 2:15
וַיִּקַּח יְקֹוָק אֱלֹהִים אֶת הָאָדָם וַיַּנִּחֵהוּ בְגַן עֵדֶן לְעָבְדָהּ וּלְשָׁמְרָהּ
Genesis.2.15
The Eternal One placed the human being in the Garden of Eden, to till it and to tend it. [Translation by Hillel]
Suggested Discussion Questions

1. Why did God place Adam in the Garden of Eden?
2. Is this image consistent with our notions of paradise?
3. How are you responsible for the Earth? What are some ways you express this responsibility? Where can we improve?

Questions on all three texts together:

1. According to this story, what is the stated purpose, the calling, of humanity? That is, what was the human created to do? It might be interested to explore with the participants how this might be different from an American vision of the purpose of humans. Share with them the core-values expressed in each culture’s founding texts. Humankind, according to the Declaration of Independence, is endowed with the following rights: “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” Humankind, according to Judaism, is created with the following obligations: “to work the land…to work it and to tend it.” What do we make of these differences?

2. How was the human made? What is the starting point (genesis) of the first human?

3. Why would the Torah begin with this story? Do you think this is a “Jewish” story? To whom do you think it is addressed?

4. How does such an awareness of the Torah’s take on the purpose of humanity affect us? Where do we/should we position the work of social activism in our lives in light of this teaching?