Learn to identify local plants, trees and animalsShalom and welcome to Tikkun Tips! A Bi-weekly nugget of eco-Jewish thought from your friends at the Teva Learning Center. After a long hiatus over the summer, we are back and excited about a new year of small and simple actions you can take to make this world a better place.
This week’s parsha is Breishit, the story of creation. In the 2nd chapter, verse 19, it states,
“God formed out of the ground every living animal of the field and every bird of the air. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them, and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. So the man named all the animals, the birds of the air, and the living creatures of the field…”
The Tanach is full of references to plants and animals that are found throughout the many biblical lands. Some of these species are use for ritualistic purposes, such as sacrifices and incense, and others are used in the construction of the temple and the beautification of the land. There was a certain ecological literacy that was implied. The people at the time lived closely with the land, and were aware of the names and uses of the different plants and animals.
In our time, modern medicine and food growing practices have taken us farther away from the practical uses of herbs, trees, flowers and animals. Even many people who feel connected to nature see it as a museum full of fragile objects that should not be disturbed. Yet from the beginning of humankind, we are instructed to make use of our natural resources.
“God said [to Adam], 'Behold, I have given to you all herbage yielding seed that is on the surface of the entire earth, and every tree that has seed-yielding fruit; it shall be yours for food.’” Breishit (Genesis) 1:29-30
Tikkun Tip # 1: Learn to identify local plants, trees, and animals
When we take on the task of learning about the local plants and animals, we engage in a relationship with nature that is deeper than simply spending time outdoors. We begin to understand the inherent wisdom in a given ecosystem. We learn how the species play different roles and are amazed by how some of these species have adapted to survive. Within the names are often clues about the nature of the organism, like the Blue Jay or the Quaking Aspen. Remember, however, that the name of an organism is just a tool that we humans use to keep track of all of the cool stuff. It is not the being’s essence. Names are a good way to begin a relationship, to draw you in, to help foster further interaction, but definitely not the end in itself.
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