“And these are the generations of Isaac” (Gen. 25:19)
"In every deliberation, we must consider the impact on the seventh generation” – The Great Law of the Iroquois
In 2013, a friend and I decided we were going to spend a week hiking a segment of the Appalachian Trail from Shenandoah National Park to Harper's Ferry, West Virginia. During the course of our preparations, we came across instructions on the Appalachian Trail Conservancy website, “leave no trace”. And so we did. Every time we disencamped from a site to hike to the next one, we would pack up all our belongings, pick up any refuse around the campsite, and leave the area in a generally organized and welcoming condition for the next campers. Upon my return home, much to the chagrin of my then teenage children, accompanying the tales of bear encounters, camaraderie between fellow travelers, and the stunningly beautiful natural environment, the ATC adage was repeated around the home ad nauseum.
This Torah portion's title Toldot—meaning generations--draws our attention away from ourselves and our over-consumption, to consider those who come after us. This idea shows up repeatedly in Torah, including in verses around shmita. When we consider our toldot in the context of climate change, we consider our future generations; others who don't have a direct say in what happens today, but will be living with the consequences of today's human choices. It becomes, then, an act of chesed, of unconditional kindness, to apply “leave no trace” to our lives, modify our consumption patterns, and live with a neutral carbon footprint. In this way we ensure fulfillment of verses in Torah (Deut. 21:1) “...adamah asher Adonai Eloheycha noteyn leycha lrishtah”-- “the land that God gives to you for an inheritance” for generations to come.