River out of Eden: Water, Ecology, and the Jordan River in the Jewish

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everything will live wherever this stream goes. stream this wherever live will everything and wholesome, be will It here. reached have waters these once abundant very be will fish the goes; stream this wherever live to able be will swarms that creature living Every wholesome. become will water the Sea, Dead the into comes it when and Arabah; the into flows and region eastern to the out runs water This stream. the of banks both on profusion great in trees I saw second ECOPEACE / FRIENDS OF THE EARTH MIDDLE EAST (F JEWISH TRADITION JEWISH INRIVER THE JORDAN THE AND WATER, ECOLOGY, EDEN: OF OUT RIVER EDITION, June 2014

Ezekiel 47:7-9Ezekiel oEME)

We recognize that the Jordan River Valley is a that cripples the growth of an economy landscape of outstanding ecological and cultural based on tourism, and that exacerbates the importance. It connects the eco-systems of political conflicts that divide this region. It Africa and Asia, forms a sanctuary for wild also exemplifies a wider failure to serve as plants and animals, and has witnessed some of custodians of the planet: if we cannot protect a the most significant advances in human history. place of such exceptional value, what part of the The first people ever to leave Africa walked earth will we hand on intact to our children? through this valley and drank from its springs. Farming developed on these plains, and in We have a different vision of this valley: a vision Jericho we see the origins of urban civilization in which a clean, living river flows from the Sea itself. Not least, the river runs through the heart of Galilee to the Dead Sea; in which the valley’s of our spiritual traditions: some of the founding plants and animals are afforded the water they stories of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam are need to flourish; in which the springs flow as set along its banks and the valley contains sites they have for millennia; and in which the water sacred to half of humanity. By any measure, extracted for human use is divided equitably this landscape must be counted as part of the between the nations that share the valley and heritage of humankind. the people who live here.

But over the past 50 years, the Lower Jordan Realizing this vision will not be easy. But River has been destroyed. 96% of its historic difficulty cannot be an excuse for inaction. We flow has been diverted. What little water therefore call upon the governments of the remains is polluted with saline and effluent, countries that share this watershed to make a including untreated sewage. The valley’s serious commitment of resources and political wetlands have dried up, its springs are failing, capital to the rehabilitation of the Jordan River. and half its biodiversity has been lost. This is As individuals and organizations, as members not just a tragedy for wildlife: families have of civil society, and as religious or community seen their fields turn to dust, not from a lack of leaders, we also affirm that this is a landscape water but from the injustice of its distribution. of universal ecological, cultural, and spiritual importance, and commit to work towards the The demise of the Jordan and the collapse of the vision expressed in this covenant. valley’s eco-system represents a failure of our most basic responsibility towards the species whose habitats have been destroyed and the ecological systems that sustain life on earth. It is a neglect that leaves us impoverished, Dear Friend,

This is a toolkit intended to help Jewish communities around the world learn about the condition of the Jordan River and join the efforts to rehabilitate the once mighty river.

The first section describes the demise of the Jordan River, what went wrong, and why it matters. The second section provides a compilation of writings about the place of the Jordan River in the Jewish tradition, the sacredness of water, and the spiritual dimension of protecting and rehabilitating the natural world. Four essays about the state of the river and the role of the Jewish community in its rehabilitation have been included in the toolkit. You will also find sacred texts, prayers, poems, and essays. You are welcome to use these works as the basis for your own presentations or sermons or to adapt them to suit your audience.

Section three includes sample lesson plans and questions to assist educators in designing programs for a wide range of age groups. The final pages contain suggestions for how your community can support regional efforts to rehabilitate the Jordan River. We hope that you will urge decision makers to join in the revitalization of the Jordan. Additional resources to support awareness campaigns and plan visits to the river are available at www.SavetheJordan.com.

Please treat this as a working document: annotate it, select what is most illuminating, and enrich it through your own knowledge and insight. We hope that these materials inspire your congregation or class to join in the campaign to revive the Jordan River.

Thank you for participating in the campaign to revive the Jordan River.

With gratitude, EcoPeace / Friends of the Earth Middle East June 2014 II. SOURCESOFINSPIRATION I. BACKGROUND T able Protectors ofCreation: JudaismandtheState of theJordan River 29 Reviving theJordan Justice, Peace, Prosperity A Measure ofProgress A New VisionoftheValley A Failure ofWisdom The Destruction oftheJordan Some Facts andFigures An Ecosystem Destroyed Crossing theJordan The Garden oftheLord Water andtheJordan River: Appreciating aLimited Resource 30 Saperstein David Rabbi Rabbi Natan Levy Crossing theJordan River Miron Rabbi Ayala With MyStaff Alone –A(hi)Story ofTransformation YonatanRabbi Neril Covenant for theJordan River Of Contents

25 24 23 22 20 19 18 16 15 27 13 36 34 3

RIVER OUT OF EDEN 7 From the Tanakh 38

Talmud and Midrash 43

Jewish Thought 44

Prayers and Poems 46

Songs related to the Jordan River 48

Other reflections & insights 52 Writings from other traditions urging care for creation

Times and Seasons: Sukkot 54

Jewish Declarations on Ecology 56

A Common Declaration on the Environment

III. EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES 61

A Modular Lesson Plan for using the Water, Ecology, and the 62

Jordan River in the Jewish Tradition Sourcebook

IV. IDEAS FOR COMMUNITY ACTION 71

V. CREDITS 75 “The Jordan River is of enormous ecological, historical and spiritual significance both for the peoples who live in this Land and for those who hold it dear. Accordingly, its revivification is an urgent imperative for us all.”

Rabbi David Rosen International President of Religions for Peace I. Background

The Jordan River has suffered an ecological collapse. What went wrong and why does it matter. Jordan Valley. you to joinusincalling for areturn ofwater to thisriver, andareturn oflife to the But it’s nottoo late. EcoPeace /Friends oftheEarth Middle East (FoEME) asks wetlands have driedup,itsspringsare failing, andhalfitsbiodiversity hasbeen lost. little water remains ispolluted withsalineanduntreated sewage. Thevalley’s Today, theriver hasbeenallbutdestroyed. 96%ofitsflow has beendiverted. What the Jordan River Basinandrestore thevital ecosystem. in anew beginning.Similarly, we envisiona‘flood event’ to washthe toxins from envisioned ariver coursing through thelandinorder to purifytheearthand usher Naaman washealed andrevived. Inhisvisionofthefuture, theProphet Ezekiel People ofIsrael crossed into freedom, ElijahtheProphet ascended to heaven, and into contact withtheDivine.Itisasite ofmiracle and transformation where the later periods,theJordan River served asaplace where humanitycould againcome beginning. Edenwasaplace where humanitylived inclose proximity to God.In Four rivers merged intheGarden ofEden,thelushandfertile place ofhumanity’s The Garden of the L ord

RIVER OUT OF EDEN 15

© Francesco Zizzola Crossing the on thewest andeast sidesoftheJordan. Jacob andEsauwere theancestors ofkingdoms defined theiradultlives. Tradition teaches that brother Esauthereby endingthecompetition that crossing theJordan, Jacob reconciles withhis order to enter anew periodofhope.After the grievances and hindrances ofthe past in phrase “crossing theJordan” signifies releasing human connection and reconciliation. Thevery The banksoftheJordan have alsoinspired where humanscan betouched bydivinepower. immortality. Itisasignificant crossing point of fire attheJordan andsoars to heavenly Israel. ElijahtheProphet boards achariot of hisphysical afflictionsandantipathy toward Naaman, general ofanenemyarmy, iscured the People ofIsrael to cross over andwhen down here whenthewater retreats to allow place ofconnection. Thepower ofGodtouches In Jewish tradition theJordan River serves asa Jordan the intensely salinelake oftheDeadSea– of theJordan Valley untilitdisappeared into then meandered more slowly along thelength the river rusheddown into Lake Kinneret, and its source inthefoothills ofMountHermon, looked muchasitdidinbiblical times.From Until about50years ago,theJordan Valley begins attheJordan. Enmity melts,miracles occur, andnew life friendship. their countries neednotimpedeasustaining together shows themthatthetension between sustenance andrebirth. NavigatingtheJordan a situationoffamine andloss into oneof the Moabite andNaomiofJudahtransform of Ruthtells theinspiringstory ofhow Ruth cross theriver together andflourish.Thebook co-dependence, two women from opposite sides Vowing to survive through mutual,supportive continuously inhabited city anywhere intheworld. 10,000 years ago,and itcan claimto betheoldest among them.Jericho’s wallswere builtsome develop into theworld’s earliest towns, Jericho was thebreakthrough thatallowed villagesto the alluvialmudnorthofDeadSea.Farming women first began to plantandharvest grain in springs. Anditwashere, too, thatmenand walked across thisplainanddrank from its Some ofthefirst people ever to leave Africa emergence ofurbancivilization. it allowed theflourishingofhumanlife andthe some 500millionmigratory birds eachyear. And and Western Asia andforming aflywayusedby connecting theeco-systems ofEastern Africa It greened acorridor through thedesert, in whichwildplantsandanimalsflourished. life to thevalley. Itcreated wetland habitats All along theway, theJordan River brought lowest pointonthesurface oftheearth.

RIVER OUT OF EDEN 17 An and families have run dry. to falter andfail. Wells thatsupported farms that flowed for thousandsof years have started This isnotjust atragedy for wildlife. Springs is sinkingbymore thanameter every year. sustained only byinflowing water from theJordan, valley’s biodiversity hasbeenlost. TheDeadSea, has suffered anecological collapse. Halfthe As theriver hasdriedup,theJordan Valley a stagnant canal ofeffluent. chariot offire- theriver isnotmuchmore than the place where Elijahascended to heaven ona and agricultural run-off. Inplaces -including water remains ispolluted withsaline,sewage, than 96%oftheriver’s historic flow. Whatlittle this watershed have dammedanddiverted more In just over 50years, thecountries thatshare enough to save theriver from beingdegraded. historic significance oftheJordan hasbeen Neither thenatural beautynorthespiritualand ecos ystem destro yed human –we are only now beginning to count. whose severity andcost –economic, ecological, Jordan hascaused anecological collapse that dividetheregion. Thedestruction ofthe tourism andexacerbating thepolitical conflicts of aneconomy thatcould besupported by practical consequences -cripplingthegrowth spiritually impoverished, andthatcarries real of God’s earth.Itisaneglect thatleaves us and for ourmoral responsibility ascustodians it represents, for ourown spiritualtradition, for thelandofIsrael andfor thepromise that Our neglect ofthis river shows adisregard custodians of God’s earth custodians as responsibility and for our moral tradition, spiritual for our own of Israel, for the land adisregard shows of this river Our neglect

© Jonathan Kalan / FoEME SOME FACTS AND FIGURES THE JORDAN THE DESTRUCTION OF • Untreated orpoorly treated sewage has • 96%ofthatflow hasbeendiverted. • Untilabout1950,some1.3billioncubic • TheLower Jordan Valley isdividedbetween • TheLower Jordan River beginsatLake Jordanian, andPalestinian communities. the river for over 50years from Israeli, been dumpedorallowed to leak into every year. meters ofwater flowed through the valley river. and donotreceive water directly from the Palestinians have noaccess to theJordan Jordanians, Israelis, andPalestinians. before reaching itsendattheDeadSea. Kinneret andflows south for about120km

• FoEME estimates that Israel diverts about • ThedyingoftheJordan isalsocausing •Thediversion andpollutionofthis while SyriaandJordan take therest. half oftheriver’s average annualflow, meter peryear. sinking attherate ofapproximately one the DeadSeato disappear–itisnow biodiversity hasbeenlost. collapse -more than50%ofthevalley’s water hascaused anecological

RIVER OUT OF EDEN 19 maaged through aprocess ofcompetition. and itsrain andrivers cannot besustainably correspond to theborders drawn on our maps, watershed theflow ofits water doesnot the interests ofallconcerned. Thisisasingle long term, anapproach thatwill undermine water mightseeminevitable. Butitis,inthe region, thiszero-sum struggle for thevalley’s Given theintensity ofpolitical conflict inthe denied access to theriver, take almost nothing. Jordan take aboutaquarter each.Palestinians, river’s average annualflow, while Syriaand estimates thatIsrael diverts abouthalfofthe possible share oftheJordan’s water. FoEME these nations have raced to capture the greatest valley asasingle, trans-boundary watershed, Israelis, andPalestinians. Instead ofseeingthe between Lebanese,Syrians,Jordanians, that drains into theJordan River isdivided At theroot oftheproblem isconflict. Thebasin beauty andvalue? this to happento aplace ofsuchexceptional Why hasthishappened?How have we allowed A fail ure of wisdom

Rabbi Jonathan Sacks Avraham Kook,first ChiefRabbiofIsrael, wrote– when Godgave mandominionover theearth. As for humanuse.Thisissurely notwhatwasmeant more thanacollection ofresources to bemined its water andallitsforms oflife, were nothing world. We behave asthoughcreation, including failure ofrespect for thenatural andnon-human The demiseoftheJordan alsoreveals aprofound are duty-bound to respect its integrity.” its to respect duty-bound are we earth, of the guardians As everything. created and owns who behalfofon God, nature...we stewards not do own its “We are of his heart.” crookedness to according and desire, the whim personal his to merely fulfill and servants his people domination ruler, of aharsh afflicts who (Genesis 1:28) not the mean does –it Earth” the upon thing that moves living every of the the sky, birds and over and over sea, – “And dominion the fish of have the over to dominate humankind Torah instructs intelligent, the that when thinking person doubt no be in the mind can of any “There honor thecreation thatGodhasentrusted to us. shift inpolicy, butarenewed spiritualeffort to The revival oftheriver, then, requires not just a contributed to thedestruction oftheJordan. responsibility ascustodians –allofthishas reverence for life, theabandonmentofour The lackofasensewonder, theloss of Jonathan Sackshaswritten – – to ‘serve’ andto ‘guard’ thecreation. AsRabbi describe thisdutyare le’ovdah andleshomrah cherish thisearth.InGenesisthewords usedto creation carries withitaresponsibility to On thecontrary, ourspecialplace inGod’s are duty-bound to respect its integrity.” its to respect duty-bound are we earth, of the guardians As everything. created and owns who behalfon of God, thereof.” 24:1) (Psalms stewards We its are isthe Lord’s and the fullness earth – “The nature We it. not do own Bible conceives for the nature as humanity’s responsibility definition of short the best isperhaps “This

RIVER OUT OF EDEN 21 neglect. Thatisthecourse we are now on. a landscape irreparably damagedby ourown an excuse for inaction.To donothing isto leave vision willnotbeeasy. Butdifficulty cannot be countries thatshare thevalley, realizing this region and thestate ofrelations between the Given thescarcity ofwater inpartsofthis that expresses reverence for God’s creation. shows respect andlove for thelandofIsrael, and honors ourmoral responsibilities asJews, that that we seeintheHebrew Bible. Itisavisionthat This isavisionthatreflects theimage ofthe valley people wholive here. nations thatshare thisvalley andamongst the human useisdividedequitably between the millennia; andinwhich thewater extracted for in whichthespringsflow asthey have for are afforded thewater they needto flourish; which thevalley’s plants,birds andanimals runs from Lake Kinneret to theDeadSea; in Valley: avisioninwhichclean, livingriver FoEME hasadifferent visionfor theJordan A New Vision of the V alley through cross-border cooperation. we have nochoice butto manageitsustainably to sustain farms andfamilies andeconomies – Jordan to survive –ifwe wantto usethiswater interconnected ecosystem. Ifwe want the to seethisriver anditstributaries asasingle, The starting pointofanynew approach must be

© Daniel Adamson / FoEME rehabilitate theJordan. be returned aspartofaninternational effort to recommendation thatathird ofthehistoric flow allocations, butitfalls far shortofFoEME’s This setsanimportant precedent for future from Lake Kinneret to helprevive theriver. (million cubicmeters) offresh water every year Water Authorityhas agreed to allocate 30mcm into theJordan River in49years. TheIsraeli 2013 alsosawthefirst release ofclean water could sooncome to anend. century ofusingtheJordan asasewage canal Jordan Valley. FoEME isconfident thathalfa and Palestinian communities throughout the plants are indevelopment inJordanian, Israeli, untreated sewage into theriver. New treatment working to prevent thedumpingorleaking of governments andmunicipalitiesare now Responding to years ofadvocacy, national signs ofprogress inthe effort to revive theriver. In thelast three years we have seenthefirst A Measure of Progress revival oftheriver. master plancan become theblueprintfor the With thesupportofnationalgovernments, this valley’s water. mechanisms for thejointmanagementof the establishment offunctioninginternational saline, andothereffluentsinto the stream; and the dumpingofraw orpoorly-treated sewage, meters) offresh water to theriver; anendto the return of400-600mcm(million cubic for theJordan. Key recommendations include policy recommendations behindourvision scientifically soundandeconomically realistic draw onitswater resources. Theplanputs as recognizing thelegitimate humanneedto account ofthevalley’s fragile ecology aswell the Jordan River Valley –aplanthattakes border master planfor themanagementof FoEME isalsodeveloping thefirst cross-

RIVER OUT OF EDEN 23 of itslength, remains aclosed military zone. needed pointofaccess to ariver that,for much from bothsidesofthevalley, providing amuch- and Jordan. Thepeace parkwillwelcome visitors crossing points,ontheborder between Israel park centered ononeoftheriver’s historic creation ofatrans-boundary ecological peace of theJordan. We are now working towards the – idealplaces to stay andlearn -onbothsides In thepast decade FoEME hasopened eco-parks and to save theDeadSea. Palestinians, to revive theLower Jordan River, and usedto restore basicwater rightsto the that could besaved (seethefact box below) identified over abillioncubicmeters ofwater the countries thatshare thevalley, FoEME has causing ashortage ofwater for humanuse.In weakening thevalley’s agricultural economy or We believe theJordan can berevived without Justice , peace , prosperity and peace. and peace. of justice advancement the and cooperation for regional opportunity apractical provides water valley’s of the management the that and to valley, this health ecological as well as prosperity economic bring can River Jordan that aliving FoEME believes

© Israeli Electric Company Archives Reviving the • FoEME’s analysis hasidentified over a • FoEME recommends thatIsrael release • Inaddition,theJordan needsto floodat • FoEME recommends therelease of400- and to restore Palestinian water rights. management) andused to revive theriver and grey-water recycling, anddemand to irrigation efficiency, water harvesting through reduction ofleaks, improvements be saved bythesecountries (primarily billion cubicmeters ofwater thatcould share oftheJordan’s water. a riparianto theriver, hasarightto afair FoEME alsorecognizes that Palestine, as year, Syria100mcm,andJordan 90mcm. 220mcm ofwater into theriver each 24 hours). river’s ecosystem healthy(100m3/sec for least once eachyear inorder to keep the water into theriver every year. 600 millioncubicmeters (mcm) offresh Jordan

• Implementation ofamaster planrequires • Thismaster planshould determine levels • Therevival oftheriver requires that cooperation. and strengthen themechanismsof valley’s water resources, resolve disputes, boundary commission to manage the the establishment ofafunctioningtrans- eco-tourism intheJordan Valley. and advance plansfor thedevelopment of environmental rehabilitation programs, define ecological corridors, support identify waysto eliminate pollution, of water flow, setwater quality standards, trans-boundary master planfor theriver. the implementation ofacomprehensive demand for water, andto cooperate in policy strategies to managetheirown decision-makers implement national Jordanian, Israeli, andPalestinian

RIVER OUT OF EDEN 25 II. Sources of Inspiration

RIVER OUT OF EDEN 27 for aviable peace process. region and undermininganyrealistic prospect threatening thesecurityofevery nationinthe and become adangerously destabilizing force in theregion, theJordan River maydry out and cooperation between thestakeholders take theirplace. Withoutsignificant efforts facing extinction, while otherinvasive species of itspast; somenative animalpopulationsare longer able to sustain therobust ecosystems and otherpollution,theJordan River isno discharges ofuntreated municipalwastewater of whatflowed 50 years ago.Coupled with the Lower Jordan River Valley to only 4%(!) reduced theamountofwater flowing through and Syria.Dammingdiversion have water demandfrom Israel, Palestine, Jordan faces from climate changeandthegrowing history oftheJordan River andthedangerit me over theJordan’) gives asummaryofthe Middle East (includingtherecent report ‘Take The work ofEcoPeace /Friends oftheEarth including theJordan River. to sustainable andreliable water resources, term securityandsurvival hingesonaccess This isdoubly truefor Israel whoselong- suffering, forced migration anddestabilization. ecosystems anddesertification thatthreaten frequent storms, floods,changesinoceanic ice caps melting,more severe andmore changes inwater sources andthe water cycle: most devastating disruptionswillresult from problems thatwe face today. Climate change’s Water isacentral issue ofadiverse setof the Protectors Judaism (RAC) in Washington DC. DC. in Washington (RAC) Judaism ofReform Center ofthe Religious Action the Director is He years. than 30 more for justice social and offaith speakerissues on and writer aprominent been has Saperstein David state of of the Creation Jordan : Judaism River toward ahopefulfuture for all. a significant contribution to aholistic solution Israel andtheregion, andthiscampaign makes critical to shapingthe future oftheState of fragile ecosystems. Thenext few years willbe preservation inaregion ofvolatile politicsand debate aboutwater usageandenvironmental presents avital starting pointfor arigorous campaign to rehabilitate theJordan River EcoPeace /Friends oftheEarthMiddle East’s contributing to alasting peace. their common environmental well-being, build relations oftrust inworking to secure to address thismutual threat, andthus for regional collaboration andcooperation conflicts, italsoprovides anopportunity change hasthepotential to escalate existing these environmental challenges. While climate for usto engagestrongly withefforts to solve are key foci ofourpolicyagendas.Bothargue k’lal Yisrael, Israel’s securityandwell being protectors ofGod’s creation andaswithallof traditions mandate usto beshomrei adamah, As Reform Jews, we seeclearly thatour Self-interest andbiblical mandate converge.

Rabbi David Saperstein Saperstein David Rabbi protectors of God’sprotectors creation” mandate to us adamah, shomrei be that our traditions clearly see we “As Jews, peace” for aviable prospects nation and undermining in the region of every force, threatening the security destabilizing adangerously and become out dry may River Jordan cooperation…the and significant efforts “Without and

RIVER OUT OF EDEN 29 the Jordan River incontemporary times. and conclude withalook atwater issues and look atwater more generally inJewish sources, teachings ontheJordan River, continue witha This article willbeginbyexploring theJewish Creator ofthe world. natural resources, andourrelationship withthe appreciation andprotection ofourprecious dependence onG-d,we can strengthen our our dependence onwater, andultimately our 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 sources equate water withlife Because ofthisessential dependence, Jewish of highqualityfresh water for theirsurvival. Human beingsdependonasufficientsupply beings inaphysical existence? as allofhumanity:how dowe live asspiritual challenge facing Israel’s inhabitants aswell of theJordan River pointsto adeeperspiritual the Tanach (Hebrew Bible). Thephysical state apparent from thenumerous references to itin significance oftheJordan River becomes readily precipitously. From aJewish perspective, the In recent decades, theJordan River hasdeclined Appreciatinga W Joshua3:15-17 Joshua22:10,22:26 Numbers 35:1 Midrash Tanchuma Buber, Vayetze 3;Aggadath Bereishith 45:2 Genesis32:11 Genesis13:10 Avot of RabbiNatan 34:10.Thisintroduction isbasedonDr. Akiva Wolff›s “Water: ASukkos Drash” Jewcology project possible. possible. project Jewcology the made which support, their generous for to community the ROI Thanks community. environmental Jewish the global for portal Jewcology.comweb anew is project. Jewcology ofthe part as produced material on based the author by adapted was article This issues. environmental aB holds He in Jerusalem. interfaithsustain.com) Y ater onatan Neril founded and directs The Interfaith Center for Sustainable Development (www. Development Sustainable for Center Interfaith The directs and founded Neril onatan and the Jordan Limited 2 . Byrecognizing River Resource : “a witness” between themand theothertribes Jordan River andbuiltalarge altar onits banksas and ahalfoftheIsraelite tribes settled east ofthe book ofDeuteronomy. Inthe BookofJoshua,two location where Mosesgave hisspeechthatisthe Jordan underJoshuaandtheriver split first taking place whentheIsraelites crossed the appears asthescene ofseveral miracles –the Furthermore, inBiblical history, theJordan that theJordan valley was“completely watered” garden ofGod”after Abraham’s nephew Lotsaw in whichtheJordan River iscompared to “the the Tanach can befound intheBookofGenesis, The first ofmany references to theJordan River in The encamped neartheJordan River the Israelites wasgiven while theIsraelites were from Egypt,thesecond covenant between God and River andtheriver split teaches thatJacob placed hisstaff into theJordan as crossing theJordan River Later inGenesis,thepatriarch Jacob isdescribed split theJordan River andwalked across ondry different instance, two prophets, ElijahandElisha, A and MA at Stanford with a focus on global global on afocus with Stanford at MA A and Jordan

Rabbi YonatanRabbi Neril River 5 . Following theExodus in 4 . TheOral tradition the 6 . This is the . Thisisthe Bible 8 . In a . Ina 7 . 3 . ground and lessons for thewanderingJews water resources inspired numerous complaints experience. Inthedesert,uncertainty about Israel, water wascentral to theircollective Even before theIsraelites entered thelandof Desert W accompanied theJews wherever they went. song, awell appeared inthedesertwhich Talmud teaches thatin themeritofMiriam’s float, bythrowing apiece of wood into thewater axe headofonethe“children oftheprophets” having himbatheinitswaters, andhemadethe miracles attheJordan: hehealed Naamanby appreciated water andtheOneWhoprovided from G-d,thedesertwanderers certainly granted, losing itandthenreceiving itdirectly Through theprocess oftaking water for to cultivate appreciation for G-d’s goodness. desert can beunderstood asaspiritualtraining The Biblical experiences withwater inthe term securityoftheresource wasnever certain. days, inthewater-scarce desert.Butthelong- which we could notlive for more thanafew G-d gave usthisessential resource, without

12 11 10 9 18 17 16 15 14 13 IIKings2:8,2:14 See,for example, Numbers 20:3 IIKings5:14,6:6 TheTalmud teaches thatG-ddirectly waters thelandofIsrael andtherest oftheworld iswatered byamessenger, asJob5:10says. “Climate: Israel”. U.S.Library ofCongress, onlineathttp://countrystudies.us/israel/36.htm Numbers 21:17 Jeremiah 2:12,17:13 For example, RabbiAlex Israel teaches regarding rain intheLandofIsrael: “Thedependencyofthemountain-land makes itadiffi- Midrash Tanchuma Bamidbar2andBabylonian Talmud, Tractate Ta’anit 9a,.WhenMiriamdies,thewell goesaway(seeNumbers tions, asthesecond paragraph ofShemamakes clear. Babylonian Talmud, Taanit 10a.Th`1us when rain iswithheldin Israel, itisbecause ofDivineintervention inresponse to Israel’s ac- was destined for Israel.” Commentary to Parshat Eikev, 5766,originally posted onwebsite ofMidreshet Lindenbaum,Jerusaslem. on God.ThisisIsrael’s legacy, itshistoric challenge. ThelandofIsrael isnaturally insecure andthatisprecisely thereason thatit cult place to live. Throughout thebookof Genesiswe read ofperiodicfamine inCanaan.Israel isdestined to live alife ofdependency 20:1-2) ater Normals &Extremes, Central Park, New York, 1869to Present, National Weather Service Forecast Office, 01April2006. 9 . Similarly, Elishaperformed two other and and the the Jews Land in of the 11 Israel . The

10 . year. 710 and1140millimeters ofprecipitation per comparison, New York Cityaverages between south to 1,128millimeters inthenorth. than 100millimeters per year intheextreme It receives modest rainfall, averaging less with nosignificant rivers otherthantheJordan. regulated byrain. Israel isasemi-aridcountry agrarian societywhosebountyorfamine was scarcity continued for ourancestors, livinginan Upon entering Israel, theexperience ofwater of theimportance ofwater, prayers imploring with appreciation for rain, profound recognition about water. Ourprayers andtexts are replete and remind usofwhatourancestors knew Jewish prayers andtexts reinforce thismessage ‘Source ofLivingWaters,’ it. TheProphet Jeremiah refers to G-dasthe and live. Oursources depended onthewinter rains inorder to eat in Israel wasrain-fed andnotirrigated; farmers water, butallourneeds. that G-distheultimate Provider notonly of insecurity isbyDivinedesign,to helpusrealize their appreciation to Godfor water. experience, they sanganexultant songabout to people. Thus,attheendofJews’ desert of thechiefmeansbywhichG-dprovides life 16 ) Untilthe20thcentury, most agriculture 17 teach thatthiswater 18 18 13 since water isone 14

15 (By

RIVER OUT OF EDEN 31 symbolizes consciousness, earth were created.” is asgreat asthedayonwhichheaven and the Talmud teaches, “The daywhenrain falls at thebeginningofeachfall rainy season.And 22 21 20 19 of freshwater to fulfillincreasing demand seawater isbecoming an increasing source Most recently, desalinizationofMediterranean most Israeli farmland, increasing crop yields. underground aquifers hasenabled irrigationof (Sea ofGalilee) andelectric pumpingofthe Carrier distributing water from theKinneret In Israel, for example, theNationalWater or therain orirrigationthatwaters thecrops. We generally donotseewhere food isgrown reduced ourappreciation ofitsimportance. has increased theavailability of water yet Today, theindustrialization ofwater distribution W you have caused to fall uponus.’” Hashem, ourG-dfor every single drop which said inthenameofRav:‘We give thanks to You, Furthermore, theTalmud records: “RavJudah malkosh refers to thelate rains ofApril. Y different timesandintensities ofrainfall. malkosh, revivim, se’irim), whichdenote liquid precipitation (geshem,matar, yoreh, contains atleast sixdifferent words to describe Jeremy Benstein notes thatBiblical Hebrew the rains whenthey come. For example, Dr. G-d to provide uswithwater, andgratitude for with everything elsewe need–eachday. reminding usthatG-dprovides uswater –along develop ourrelationship withourCreator by our awareness ofG-d.Praying for rain helps appropriate meansthrough whichwe cultivate oreh refers to theearly rains ofOctober, and See,for example, Sefer Yetzira. Babylonian Talmud, Tractate Ta’anit 7b,Artscroll translation. Babylonian Talmud, Tractate Ta’anit, p.6b “Forgotten LanguageofRain,”Jerusalem Report, Fall 2005. Mosesusesfour ofthewords inoneverse ofTorah (Deuteronomy 32:2) ater in Contemporary Times 21 21 Kabbalistically, water 22 andisthusan 20 Thisissaid 19 19 “Preservation the Environment haswarnedthat“Preservation overall reduced rainfall. TheIsraeli Ministry of not have access to safe drinking-water sources. world. Some884millionpeople intheworld do recognized to bealeading cause ofdeathinthe and China.Alackofsufficientdrinkingwater is experienced most bythoseinAfrica, SouthAsia, The world increasingly faces awater crisis, ends, misusebegins. practical impacts,because where appreciation for allourneeds.Butit also hasvery significant the senseofourultimate dependence onG-d For many, thisispartly aspiritualloss: lacking seated experience ofthepreciousness ofwater. and spiritually. With this,we have lost thedeep- to where water comes from -bothphysically improvement inqualityoflife, italsoblindsus our homes.While thisrepresents atremendous transporting water from streams andcisterns to These innovations have relieved usfrom us, replacing reliance onlocal water sources. households, pipedwater now comes directly to water hastransformed crop production. For world, irrigationthrough electric pumpingof energy to produce thewater.) Throughout the desalinization requires asignificant amountof supply from theseothersources. (However, and to make upfor expected future decrease 25 lines inrecent years, endangeringwater quality. the SeaofGalilee have dippedbelow theirred In theLandofIsrael, Israel’s mainaquifers and 23 water policies.” unplanned water withdrawal andinappropriate of “climate change,uncontrolled urbanization, is likely to face water stress by2025,aresult notes thattwo-thirds oftheworld’s population Thishasbeendueto increasing demandand TheUnited NationsEnvironment Program 24 greatest challenge facing Israel today.” Israel challenge facing greatest the be may waterof sources thescant country’s Jordan resources are tapped. being severely mined,andnearly allsurface 46.000 hectares are irrigated, groundwater is flowed to theDeadSea– whereas currently, groundwater wasuntapped andabundantwater in 1950,only 10.000hectares were irrigated, the SeaofGalilee). According to thereport, Basin andtheLower Jordan River (southof striking transformation oftheJordan River Management Institute (IWMI) describesthe in Jordan (MREA)andtheInternational Water Water andAgriculture oftheFrench Embassy between theFrench RegionalMission for A report developed through acollaboration Jordan valley andthehighlands. endangered aclean water supply for boththe have damagedtheriver’s ecosystem andhave and inappropriate development, however, domestic consumption. Pollution, overuse, needs, includingfor industry, agriculture, and and itsneighbors withpartoftheirwater and fauna. The river once suppliedIsrael landmark, sustaining diverse vegetation The Jordan River isageological andcultural The 23 28 27 26 25 24 TheScience AdvisoryBoard ofCanfei Nesharimwrite: “Although water isseemingly abundant,theamountoffresh water isnot. Courcier, R.;Venot, J.P.; Molle, F., “Historical transformations ofthelower Jordan river basin(inJordan): Changesinwater use Israeli Ministry oftheEnvironment, “TheEnvironment inIsrael,” 2002,p.73 Summer2008,from Israeli Ministry oftheEnvironment, www.environment.gov.il andAdamTeva v’Din,www.adamteva.org.il “Note oftheExecutive Director,” 2003, available onlineatwww.unep.org/GC/GC22/Document/K0263442.doc The2010ReportoftheWorld Health Organization/UNICEF JointMonitoring Programme for Water Supply andSanitation, available Lakes ofNorthAmerica (equalto 84%ofallsurface freshwater intheUS, withanother20%intheRussian Lake Baikal.” however, isnotequally distributed. Ofthevery smallamountofwater thatisusable byhumans,approximately 20% isintheGreat affordable cost. Only thisamount isregularly renewed byrain andsnowfall andistherefore available onasustainable basis.Water, uses. Thisisthewater found inlakes, rivers, reservoirs andthoseunderground sources thatare shallow enoughto betapped atan not accessible to humanuse.Less than1%oftheworld’s fresh water (~0.007%ofallwater onearth)isaccessible for direct human Antarctica andGreenland; most oftheremainder ispresent assoilmoisture, orliesindeepunderground aquifers asgroundwater 97.5% ofallwater onEarthissaltwater, leaving only 2.5%asfresh water. Nearly 70%ofthat fresh water isfrozen intheicecaps of ColouredCARR9.pdf. Secretariat. Available onlineat:http://www.iwmi.cgiar.org/Assessment/files_new/publications/CA%20Research%20Reports/ and projections (1950-2025)”. Comprehensive Assessment Research Report9.Colombo, SriLanka:Comprehensive Assessment online athttp://www.wssinfo.org/download.php?id_document=1289 C ase River of the L ower

average, only 200Mm3/yrreach theDeadSea. rainfall water enter theRiver Jordan basinon while around 2,700Mm3/yrofsurface water and use became unsustainable; andatpresent, of theaquifers andcompetition for water, water Consequently andmainly because ofanoverdraft planet earth. virtually limitless. Yet freshwater isscarce on impression thattheavailability offresh water is Piped water andirrigated fieldsgive usthemis- Concl part dueto theinflow of raw sewage. The Lower Jordan now survives asariver ingood water resources with whichwe are blessed. for water, andinspire usto value andprotect the the Jordan can helpuscultivate anappreciation come in.Theseteachings onrain, water, and where theteachings ofour3000-year oldtradition to rehabilitate the Lower Jordan River. Thatis to ensure ourlong-term access to water, and Developing adeeperwater awareness iscrucial and useitwisely? simultaneously enjoy pumpedandpipedwater freshwater supplies.Canhumansociety demand, climate change,andpollutionof to aplethora offactors, amongthemincreasing how water isbecoming even more limited due usion 28 Andthesetechnologies obscure 27

RIVER OUT OF EDEN 33 “a in tents” quiet dwelling man, flock ofangels,hehad to quickly shedhisbeing Crossing theriver atseventeen, followed bya 31 30 29 gratitude andfear: Jordan River, Jacob isoverwhelmed withboth In preparation for hissecond crossing ofthe Miron Ayala Rabbi With transformation. Crossing theJordan thusrepresents Ya’akov, thefollower. Yisra’el- theonewhostruggles- rather than his innermost feelings. Itmeansbecoming to face against danger, against injustice, against develop thecourage to confront –to stand face spiritual life: leaving hisevasive nature to means leaping into anew stage inJacob’s higher (anddeeper)self. Crossing theriver and withtheangelofGod,orrather withhis father-in-law, withhisdeceived brother Esau confrontations: withhisdeceiving uncle and crossing backhehasto gothrough three four wives, thirteen children andherds. Before in exile hecomes back–withafullcamp of as anexperienced traveler. After twenty years his mother’s guidance, andestablish himself Genesis25:27 Genesis32:10-11 Mal’achi 3:24 Save me, Ipray”, pleads he Save camps. two become Ihave and now this Jordan, alone Icrossed staff my “With in Israel. life liberal enhance authentic Jewish and to create adecade over for striving B ofcongregation Rabbi the founding is Miron Ayala My Staff Alone 29 . 30 , dependingon – A ( hi )Story of families onthePassover nightSeder to appeased peacemaking oldmanwhovisits the uncompromising zealous prophet to an disappearance allowed tradition to transform up to heaven inawhirlwind. Thismysterious he issuddenly taken byafierychariotgoing the river, walkingandtalking to Elisha,when time hadcome for himto leave. Elijahcrosses as Godorders himto anointhissuccessor, the the Ba’alprophets hintsto hisnearingend, God’s reaction to Elijah’s zealous massacre of taking place onthebankofJordan River. of theprophet Elijahfrom hisdisciple Elisha, transformation happensinthepartingscene Another crossing thatmarksadouble lives asanationdefinedbygeographical borders. start anew era oftaking responsibility over their had to cross theriver withouthisguidance, to representing thedesertphase–behind.They to responsibility they hadto leave Moses– the transforming passage from dependence order for thechildren ofIsrael to gothrough land ofKna’an,despite hisrecurring pleas. In not allowed to cross theriver andenter the was loved andhighly appreciated byGod,was This mightbethereason whyMoses,who meaningful behind,makingasacrifice. Transformation requires leaving something avat Ayin in Rosh Ayin Ha’ayin,avat Israel, Transformation justifiably ourdominant modeofbeingandacting to go beyond thesurvival modethathadbeen Israel’s independence we Israelis are now ready I believe thatfollowing more thansix decades of the river: transformation andsacrifice. closely connected to the story andthehistory of River calls upon thetwo notionsthatare so I believe thecurrent situation oftheJordan meaningful sacrifice. we are ready to make anotherimportant and means we are ready for anotherstage, itmeans time to where we were whenwe first crossed. It way back.Itdoesnotmeanwe are goingbackin there’s always achance ofre-evaluating our Crossing theJordan River thusalsomeans, on theirlife’s journeys. go backandforth between thelandofKna’an Jordan River isreversible -itallows people to Rubicon ortheRedsea,crossing ofthe from MoabintheRuthscroll. Unlike the of Naomi,makingherwaybackto Bethlehem to theirhomeland,aswell asintheprivate story journey ofthechildren ofIsrael, crossing back that we can alsofindinthelarger story ofthe Both stories actualizean interesting principle transformed Elisha. to Jericho:thecrossing oftheriver hasalso by crossing theJordan River backonhisway as God’s messenger, ajourney thatbegins way to hissuccessor, Elisha,to start hisservice of theBible in theconcluding verses oftheprophet section parents, astheprophet Malachiprophesizes their children andtheheartofchildren to their transform andturnbacktheheartofparents to 31 . Elijah’s suddendesertiongives of savingtheriver, savingourown future. angels while striving to fulfillthissacred mission May we, like Jacob, beaccompanied byaflockof preceding hiscrossing theRiver: May we allbeinspired byJacob’s prayer the future. directly into thepresent andcourageously unto tradition andourresources aswell aslooking to integrate avisionbothplanted deepinour and transformation. AsReform Jews we strive that combines aplea for justice, education struggle for reviving theJordan River, astruggle should andcan beamajorplayer inthe I alsobelieve thattheIsraeli Reform Movement of ourmain,andpractically ouronly, river. bring forth bothspiritualandecological qualities are now ready for thesacrifice thatisneeded to in thewayofthinkingandasacrifice. Ithink we for atransformation thatrequires bothashift I believe thattheJordan River isournext target years have proven. the re-flooding oftheHula valley inthe recent to theland,goingbeyond shortterm gain–as to re-evaluate andtransform ourwayofrelating After more thansixdecades Ithinkwe are ready fear ofexpulsion, beyond ourexile mentality. broaden ourhorizons,to gobeyond ourprimary for thefirst decades. Ithink we are ready to Save me, Ipray.”Save this Jordan… alone Icrossed staff my “With

RIVER OUT OF EDEN 35 The Kinneret bothreceives andgives ofits nearly every organism. Thedifference issimple. surface. TheDeadSeaisliterally dead ofall and fauna teeming atitsbanksandbelow its or DeadSea.TheKinneret isalive withflora the Kinneret andtheYam Ha’Melach,the Salty are just two large lakes inIsrael, hepointsout, of thelandIsrael asamoral teacher. There Lord JonathanSacksspeaksof the contours Perhaps itisamatter ofgeography. ChiefRabbi refuge percapita? and thusnecessitated somanymore citiesof accidents there somuchmore commonplace, wrong withthefar sideoftheJordan thatmade require halfofthecitiesrefuge? Whatis men from atotal ofover 600,000males ofIsrael the agesof20andupwards. Whywould 110,550 of Israel, thatamounted to 110,550menfrom year ofdesertwanderingbefore theconquest According to thefinal census taken inthe40th half-portion ofManasseh decidedto dwell. Jordan only thetribesofRueben,Gadanda of thepopulation?Onotherside cities ofrefuge erected for aless thanafifth Jordanian sideoftheJordan river. Halfofthe on theother-whatwe modernswould call the them -ofthosesixcities,three were located who could elsewise huntthemdown andkill safety from therelatives oftheslainvictims, where negligentmanslaughters mightflee to of thesixcitiesrefuge -those‘IrMiklat’ For whatelsecan we make oftheoddfact that The othersideoftheJordan isaccident prone. Levy Natan Rabbi Crossing the University. Bristol at theology in environmental adoctorate pursuing currently is and the Chief Rabbi K from Studies in Jewish an MA and in Israel Brovender R’ and Riskin R’ from ordination rabbinical his received He Jews. the B for Consultant Action Social and the Interfaith is Levy Natan Jordan ing’s College London. R’ Levy is the environmental liaison to liaison the environmental is ing’s Levy R’ London. College River than adis-attention to theexternal world and city ofrefuge. For whatismanslaughter other murder. Just atouch more inneedofanother a hairs-breadth more susceptible to negligent of responsibility, perhapsleft themselves just journey atthethreshold ofthatshared burden crossed over thatriver, orrather, stopped their Those two andone-halftribeswhonever River gave andgave again,somust we. dripping from thebanks.For just astheJordan share theburden ofthestranger, aswe emerge the immensefrailties ofevery othercrosser. We freeing baptism,butrather astrapping onof into theflow oftheJordan River, there wasno a simple recognition. Asthepeople stepped of responsibility uponthebacksofIsrael, but dictum isnotaquasi-mystical transformation flow towards the‘other’,thenthis rabbinical living metaphor parexcellence for theneedto (Talmud Sanhadrin43b)WhentheJordan isthe once Israel ‘crosses over theJordan river.’ applies—according to theTalmudic sages- the bruntofanother’s hiddenfaults, only demands ofIsrael, aresponsibility to bear why theoutrageous responsibility theTorah from interiority to exteriority. Perhaps thisis of thatgivinggesture. Itsflow wasthemove And theJordan River wasthe tangible conduit order to live, onemust give ofoneself. lesson we learn from theecology ofIsrael: In and doesnotgive out.Thatisthesimple moral waters. TheDeadSeaonly extracts aninflow, ritish ofBritish ofDeputies oard we enjoy withrelative ease? Isthisnotanother from us of theshared benefitofthose resources we notdeprivingothers furtherdownstream and itsfullness, despite ourgoodintentions, are who have become needytakers from theearth conception into anenvironmental clarioncall. We, others are suffering. Mightwe even turnLevinas’ good lives, whilst andperhapseven because, It isadamningclaim.Thatwe, Westerners, live of exile?” (Beyond the Verse, p.40). all thismake ourcitiesofrefuge orcities which result from theseadvantages?…Does not not, somewhere intheworld wars andcarnage somewhere, ofsomeone’s agony?Are there one thingleading to another, are notthecause relation to thepoor…whethertheseadvantages, whether theadvantages available to therichin rigorous socialjustice –isitabsurd to wonder civilized, butwithoutsocialequalityanda the passer-by? InWestern Society–free and head leaving thehandle andcoming to strike volition, occur inother waysthanbytheaxe- murders, committed withoutthemurderer’s French moral philosopher: “Donotthese the words ofEmanuelLevinas, themodern some vestige ofthearchaic past. Consider Lest we thinkthatthecitiesofrefuge represent can multiply onto death. those smallinsensitivitiestowards theexternal, the face andbody-incidentsagainst theother, flow of responsibility -bracingly cold against of wadingthrough theJordan, offeeling the fly off to killthepasser-by? Withoutthe lesson the axe-head onelast timesothatitdoesnot own kindlingwood above theneedto check but theinnocuousdecisionto quickly cutmy the others whoinhabitit?Whatismanslaughter manslaughter andnegligence? What now willsave usfrom livingincitiesof the caring deedandthedownstream gesture? that willawaken ourselves to thegeography of our responsibility? Whatnow can we cross over what now can we bathin,inorder to remember of pesticide run-offwillever reach thedesert, its fishdead,now thatonly athinbrown gurgle siphoned offfor irrigationintensive agriculture, Now thatitstributaries are polluted, itswaters this typeofnegligence, thisrationalized greed. Once, theJordan River guarded Israel from downstream dwellers bytomorrow. river, becomes thewashinganddrinkingfor the are multiplied.Thewaste we pour into today’s a downstream, inwhichtheripples we form lake thatgave, butmust recall thatthere isalso in crossing, oneremembers notjust anupstream fulcrum actofIsrael realizing itspotential. That reason then,whycrossing theJordan wasthe

RIVER OUT OF EDEN 37 Genesis 32:10-11 become two camps. staff alone Icrossed thisJordan, andnow I have so steadfastly shown Your servant: withmy I amunworthy ofallthekindness thatYou have bountifully withyou’! to me,‘Returnto your native landandIwilldeal and Godofmyfather Isaac,OLORD, whosaid Then Jacob said,“OGod ofmyfather Abraham crossed ‘… Genesis 13:8-12 tents nearSodom. Lot settled inthecities ofthePlain,pitching his Abram remained inthelandof Canaan,while parted from eachother; Jordan, andLotjourneyed eastward. Thusthey So Lotchosefor himselfthewhole plainofthe garden oftheLORD, like thelandofEgypt. and Gomorrah --allthewayto Zoar, like the this wasbefore theLORD haddestroyed Sodom was thewhole plain oftheJordan, allofit-- Lot looked abouthimandsawhow well watered you gosouth,Iwillnorth.” separate: ifyou gonorth,Iwillsouth;andif Is notthewhole land before you? Letus and yours, for we are kinsmen. between you andme,between myherdsmen Abram saidto Lot,“Letthere benostrife Jordan ‘… From with the whole the my staff …’ this T anakh plain Jordan alone of

32 …’ the

land 32 the ArkofCovenant asfollows: Whenyou For your part,command thepriests whocarry was withMoses. that they shallknow that Iwillbewithyou asI time, Iwillexalt you inthesightofallIsrael, so The LORD saidto Joshua,“Thisday, for thefirst Covenant andmarched atthe headofthepeople. of thepeople.” Andthey took uptheArkof Ark oftheCovenant andadvance to thehead Then Joshuaordered thepriests, “Take upthe wonders inyour midst.” yourselves, for tomorrow theLORD willperform And Joshuasaidto thepeople, “Purify you have nottraveled before.” know bywhatroute to march, since itisaroad never coming anycloser to it--sothatyou may distance ofsometwo thousandcubitsfrom it, you shallmove forward. Follow it–butkeep a your Godbeingbornebythelevitical priests, you seetheArkofCovenant oftheLORD camp andcharged thepeople asfollows: “When Three dayslater, theofficials went through the spent thenightthere. the Jordan. They didnotcross immediately, but Israelites setoutfrom Shittimandmarched to Early next morning,Joshuaandallthe ‘… For analysis onthemeaningand modern-dayrelevance oftexts Press, 2011). Mythology ofaDividingLine(Chicago: University ofChicago from the Tanakh, seeRachel Havrelock, River Jordan: The all …’ Israel crossed on dry Covenant stood on dry land exactly in the middle The priests whobore theArkofLORD’s near Jericho. Sea) ran outcompletely. Sothepeople crossed downstream to theSeaofArabah (theDead town next to Zarethan; andthoseflowing away up inasingle heapagreat wayoff,atAdam,the the waters coming down from upstream piled dipped into thewater atitsedge, and thefeet ofthepriests bearingtheArk as thebearers oftheArkreached theJordan, bed throughout theharvest season. Butassoon Now theJordan keeps flowing over itsentire of theCovenant were attheheadofpeople. to cross theJordan, thepriests bearingtheArk When thepeople set outfrom theirencampment -- willbecutoffandstand inasingle heap.” the Jordan --thewater coming from upstream to rest inthewaters oftheJordan, thewaters of the LORD, theSovereign ofalltheearth,come When thefeet ofthepriests bearingtheArkof one manfrom eachtribe. Now select twelve menfrom thetribesofIsrael, the earthisadvancing before you into theJordan. the ArkofCovenant oftheSovereign ofall Jebusites: Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Amorites, and dispossess for you theCanaanites, Hittites, that alivingGodisamongyou, andthatHewill By this,”Joshuacontinued, “you shallknow and listen to thewords oftheLORD your God. And Joshuasaidto theIsraelites, “Comecloser make ahaltintheJordan.” reach theedgeofwaters oftheJordan, Joshua 3 crossing theJordan. dry land,untiltheentire nationhadfinished of theJordan, while allIsrael crossed over on Psalm 114 flinty rock into a fountain. who turnedtherock into apoolofwater, the at thepresence oftheGod Jacob, Tremble, Oearth,atthepresence oftheLORD, like sheep? mountains, thatyou skippedlike rams, hills, that you ran backward, What alarmedyou, Osea,thatyou fled,Jordan, mountains skippedlike rams, hillslike sheep. The seasawthemandfled,Jordan ran backward, Judah became Hisholy one,Israel, Hisdominion. Jacob from apeople ofstrange speech, When Israel went forth from Egypt,thehouseof that ‘What Joshua 22:10-11 from theIsraelites.” of Canaan,intheregion oftheJordan, across Manasseh have builtanaltar opposite theland Reubenites, theGadites, andthehalf-tribeof A report reached theIsraelites: “The there bytheJordan, agreat conspicuous altar. and thehalf-tribeofManasseh builtanaltar land ofCanaan,theReubenites andtheGadites When they came to theregion oftheJordan inthe of ‘When the y alarmed they came ou ran Jordan backward …’ y ou…Jordan to the region ’ ,

RIVER OUT OF EDEN 39 wholesome portion ofyour spiritpass onto me.” from you?” Elisha answered, “Letadouble “Tell me,whatcan Idofor you before Iam taken As they were crossing, Elijahsaidto Elisha, dry land. and left, sothatthetwo ofthemcrossed over on up, hestruck thewater; itdividedto theright Thereupon Elijahtook hismantle and,rolling it as thetwo ofthemstopped attheJordan. followed andstood byatadistance from them Fifty menofthedisciples oftheprophets and thetwo ofthemwent on. and asyou live, Iwillnotleave you,” hesaid, sent meonto theJordan.” “As theLORD lives Elijah saidto him,“Stay here, for theLORD has know it,too; besilent.” master awayfrom you today?” Hereplied, “I “Do you know thattheLORD willtake your Jericho came over to Elishaandsaidto him, The disciples ofthe prophets whowere at not leave you.” Sothey went onto Jericho. LORD lives andasyou live,” saidElisha,“Iwill the LORD hassentmeonto Jericho.” “As the Then Elijahsaidto him,“Elisha,stay here, for today?” Hereplied, “Iknow it,too; besilent.” the LORD willtake your master awayfrom you to Elishaandsaidto him,“Doyou know that Disciples oftheprophets atBethelcame out you.” Sothey went down to Bethel. and asyou live,” saidElisha,“Iwillnotleave has sentmeonto Bethel.”“As theLORD lives Elijah saidto Elisha,“Stay here, for theLORD out from Gilgal. heaven inawhirlwind, ElijahandElishahadset When theLORD wasaboutto take Elijahupto ‘The water has to this remained da y…’

town isapleasant place to live in, asmylord The menofthe town saidto Elisha,“Look, the Jericho; andhesaidto them,“Itold you notto go.” They came backto himwhile hewasstill in find him. men, whosearched for three daysbutdidnot he said,“Sendthem.”Sothey sentoutfifty But they kept pressing himfor along time, until them,” hereplied. mountain orinto somevalley.” “Donotsend has carried himoffandcast him uponsome your master; perhapsthe spiritoftheLORD able menwiththem.Letthemgoandlook for They saidto him,“Your servants have fifty the ground. went to meethimandbowed low before himto spirit ofElijahhassettled onElisha!”Andthey saw himfrom adistance, they exclaimed, “The When thedisciples of theprophets atJericho and Elishacrossed over. the water, itparted to therightandto theleft, the LORD, theGodofElijah?”Ashetoo struck Elijah, hestruck thewater andsaid,“Where is Taking themantle whichhaddropped from on thebankofJordan. dropped from him;andhewent backandstood He picked upElijah’s mantle, whichhad garments andrent themintwo. he could nolonger seehim,hegrasped his father! Israel’s chariotsandhorsemen!” When Elisha sawit,andhecriedout,“Oh,father, up to heaven inawhirlwind. separated onefrom theother;andElijahwent chariot withfieryhorses suddenly appeared and As they kept onwalkingandtalking, afiery will begranted to you; ifnot,itwillnot.” you seemeasIambeingtaken from you, this “You have asked adifficultthing,”hesaid.“If 2 Kings2:1-22 in accordance withtheword spoken byElisha. The water hasremained wholesome to thisday, from it!” no longer shalldeathandbereavement come he said,“ThussaidtheLORD: Ihealthiswater; he went to thespringandthrew saltinto it.And salt init.”They brought itto him; He responded, “Bringmeanew dishandput causes bereavement.” can see;butthewater isbadandtheland that Ihave sentmycourtier Naaman to you, that read: “Now, whenthis letter reaches you, know He brought theletter to thekingof Israel. It shekels ofgold,and ten changesofclothing. taking withhimten talents of silver, sixthousand Israel, andIwillsendalong aletter.” Hesetout, And thekingofAram said,“Goto thekingof girl from thelandofIsrael hadsaid. [Naaman] went andtold hislord just whatthe cure himofhisleprosy.” come before the prophet inSamaria;hewould She saidto hermistress, “IwishMaster could Naaman’s wife. of Israel, andshebecame anattendant to they carried offayoung girlfrom theland Once, whentheArameans were outraiding, warrior, wasaleper. victory to Aram. Buttheman,thoughagreat his favor, for through himthe LORD hadgranted of Aram, wasimportant to hislord andhighin Naaman, commander ofthearmyking the ‘ Go and Jordan bathe …’ seven times in

God, hestood before himandexclaimed, “Now Returning with hisentire retinue to themanof and hewasclean. bidden; andhisfleshbecame like alittle boy’s, Jordan seven times,asthemanofGodhad So hewent down andimmersed himselfinthe and beclean.’” much more whenhehasonly saidto you, ‘Bathe do somethingdifficult, would you notdoit?How him. “Sir,” they said,“iftheprophet told you to But hisservants came forward andspoke to he stalked offinarage. Israel? Icould bathe inthemandbeclean!” And of Damascus,better thanallthewaters of Are nottheAmanahandPharpar, therivers the spot,andcure theaffected part. God byname,andwould wave hishandtoward me, andwould stand andinvoke theLORD his thought,” hesaid,“hewould surely come outto But Naamanwasangered andwalked away. “I shall berestored andyou shallbeclean.” bathe seven timesintheJordan, andyour flesh Elisha sentamessenger to sayto him,“Goand and halted atthedoorofElisha’s house. So Naamancame withhishorses andchariots that there isaprophet inIsrael.” clothes? Lethimcome to me,andhewilllearn message to theking:“Whyhave you rent your king ofIsrael hadrent hisclothes, hesenta When Elisha,themanofGod,heard thatthe he isseekingapretext against me!” a manofleprosy? Just seefor yourselves that or give life, thatthisfellow writes to meto cure his clothes andcried,“Am IGod,to dealdeath When thekingofIsrael read theletter, herent you maycure himofhisleprosy.”

RIVER OUT OF EDEN 41 “Alas, master, itwasaborrowed one!” head fell into the water. Andhecriedaloud, As oneofthemwasfelling atrunk, theiron ax Jordan andcuttimber. and heaccompanied them.Sothey went to the said; along withyour servants?” “Yes, Iwillcome,” he Then oneofthemsaid,“Willyou please come to live in.”“Doso,”hereplied. log there andbuildquarters there for ourselves Let usgoto theJordan, andlet useachgeta direction istoo cramped for us. “See, theplace where we live underyour The disciples ofthe prophets saidto Elisha, ‘Let 2 Kings,5 And hesaidto him,“Goinpeace.” servant inthis.” temple ofRimmon,maytheLORD pardon your the temple ofRimmon--whenIbow low inthe is leaning onmyarm sothatImust bow low in Rimmon to bow low inworship there, andhe this: Whenmymaster enters thetemple of But maytheLORD pardon your servant for offering or sacrifice to anygod, except the LORD. your servant willnever againoffer upburnt servant begiven two mule-loads ofearth;for And Naamansaid,“Thenatleast let your him to accept, butherefused. serve, Iwillnotaccept anything.”Hepressed But hereplied, “As theLORD lives, whomI your servant.” except inIsrael! Soplease accept a giftfrom I know thatthere isnoGodinthewhole world us go to the Jordan …’ 2 Kings6:1-7 “Pick itup,”hesaid;soreached outandtook it. threw itin,andhemadetheaxheadfloat. showed himthespot;andhecutoffastick and “Where diditfall?” asked themanofGod.He Deuteronomy 8:7-11 His laws,whichIenjoinuponyou today. fail to keep Hiscommandments, Hisrules, and Take care lest you forget theLORD your Godand given you. LORD your Godfor thegoodlandwhichHehas When you have eaten your fill,give thanks to the and from whosehillsyou can minecopper. you willlacknothing;alandwhoserocks are iron a landwhere you mayeatfood withoutstint, where pomegranates, alandofolive trees andhoney; a landofwheatandbarley, ofvines,figs,and fountains issuing from plainandhill; good land,alandwithstreams andsprings For theLORD your Godisbringingyou into a springs ‘A land of …’ with streams and

the preparations for theWorld to Come. thirsty jawsofLeviathan andthusplaysarole in redemption. Here, theJordan terminates inthe of Edenandtracks its endpoint to timeof locates theriver’s source inthewellspring Babylonian Talmud Tractate BabaBathra 74b A mappingoftheJordan’s course inthe Midrash B’reshith Rabbah76.5 of Jacob (Ps. the God before 114:5,7). from that flee? you away that turn you O Jordan, OSea, you, with is wrong In theWritings:What land.” dry on this Jordan crossed In theProphets: You willtell your children, “Israel 32:11). (Gen. camps two become Ihave and now Jordan this In theTorah: Icrossed staff my Forwith the meritachieved byJacob. were able to cross theJordan only onaccount of the Writingswe findproof thattheIsraelites Yohanan: IntheTorah, intheProphets, andin Rabbi JudahbarSimoninthenameof On T almud (Isaiah 43:2) (Isaiah you shall not they overwhelm streams, water,through you; Through with be Iwill pass you When is written, it Thus through. that point, so got he for Jacob at adifferent He, be dug an opening Holy One,blessed shut him in, But the entered and Esau there In his trepidation, great Jacob of Tiberias. into aroar the hot with springs falls Jordan the where isaplace There said, Rabbi Levi the waters and . Midrash of the (Josh. 4:22). Jordan … Pirke deRabbiEliezer, Ch.11 Rachel Havrelock the mouth of Leviathan ( of Leviathan mouth the intorushes confident?—When the Jordan hills isBehemoth athousand on When b. ‘Ulla: Abba R. hills!—But, said thousand of Behemoth a on iswritten [verse] This objected: b. ‘Ulla Abba R. 40:23). (Job mouth into his forth dashes the Jordan because of Leviathan; forissaid: it He isconfident into until on the mouth rushes it rolls it whence into from Sea down the Great rolls and (Huleh)Sibkay of Tiberias and the Sea Sea of the through and flows of Paneas the cavern from issues Jordan The likewise: [Banias].of Paneas taught been has It the cavern from issues Jordan Rav: The in stated the nameof Rabbi Judah further the other half below the earth the below half other the and earth the above (flow) thereof half earth, all the surround of the Jordan waters The that to future. leads present amessianic time—a historical of rabbinic structure the basic models the Jordan of Leviathan, and into ocean into the mouth the world lakes from terrestrial flows it As Come. to the righteousin by the World attended banquet in messianic the course the fish as served be will he annihilation which after for theof day his in preparation the sea from as well as the Jordan from drinks creation, during God by subdued the beast of water.of bodies as time well as Leviathan, periods that isaconnector links Jordan The Tractate B aba B aba athra 74b).athra B abylonian Talmudabylonian

RIVER OUT OF EDEN 43 Midrash B’reshith Rabbah13:3 either, exist”. cannot humans without and endure, cannot earth the rain, and without rain, isno there earth, that without “...to said, rain”. Hiyyata ben teach Rabbi Levi and humans earth, - importance of equal are Rabbi ShimonBarYochai things said,“Three Midrash Tehillim 117 and the birds.” beasts and the wild including the cattle all the world, isarejoicing for of the rain the falling while only ajoy to Israel, was of the Law for the giving of is greater the Torah, thanthe rain the giving Rabbi Tanhum of falling benHiyya said,“The On Midrash Kohelet Rabbah1 it.’ repair to else one no be will do, there for you if world; My to that not it do spoilSee you and destroy excellent!how sake Foryour Icreated them all. are— they beautiful how See at‘Look works! my led themaround theGarden ofEdenandsaid: When Godcreated thefirst humanbeings,God On JEWISH THOUGHT of On Tosefta (Bava Kamma6:15) belong to everyone. The rivers andthesprings thatare drawn upon

the the the water blessing of care just … mana of creation gement rain … …

responsibility… On On of Man,1959 Rabbi Abraham JoshuaHeschel,GodinSearch Abraham IsaacKook we may enjoy it, we may accept may we in enjoy it it, awe. may we it, exploit may –we to the world ourselves relate may we in which ways three are grandeur. its there and Accordingly, beauty, command our attention: power, its its of nature that aspects three are There the world? see we when see we do What attention to, and limited isour concern. of that pay us most isthe world Small upon kindness” (Psalms 89:3). (Psalms kindness” upon built shall be world “The declared, and Who 145:9), (Psalms allHis isupon works” mercy is“good Who of God, world and His to all, for alleternity,the upon sealed of servitude, that the Torah such adecree impose would is unthinkable It of his heart. crookedness to according and desire, the whim personal his to merely fulfill and servants his people domination ruler, of aharsh afflicts who (Genesis 1:28) not the mean does –it Earth” the upon thing that moves living every of the the sky, birds and over and over sea, – “And dominion the fish of have the over to dominate humankind Torah instructs intelligent, the that when thinking person doubt no be in the mind can of any There human awe and stewardship reverence … and

Difference Rabbi JonathanSacks,TheDignityof Rabbi SamsonRaphaelHirsch grandchildren not yet born grandchildren for it the sake of our beautifying possible if and conserving with charged trustees, its as belongingas to of being,and theus source isto the earth see responsibilities ecological one, sensible in thinking our most about image, and surely the simplest The creation of in the household servants as creatures allthingsemploy wisely…look all upon nothing, none,waste none,abuse Destroy things God’s as property. Regard allliving Environment Jeremy Benstein, Judaismandthe Israel? our relationship to theLandandto theState of the world? Andwhatdoesthatmeanregarding apparently permanently, inmanyplaces allover and specifically, asJews living comfortably, and place andresponsibility for one’s place asJews, to relate to theimportant concepts ofa sense of Land, isarelatively new one.Whatdoesitmean relationship ofJews to land,andofJews to the call ithome…thequestion oftheenvironmental millions ofpeople – Jews andnon-Jews –who factories, parks,sewage, roads, wildlife, and abstraction butafleshandblood country, with concrete one.Israel isnolonger adreamed-of transformed from avirtualreality into avery In ourgeneration, theLandhasbeen of On Israel care for … the land

RIVER OUT OF EDEN 45 And thisiswhy theearth, No artist could conceive ofsuchthings. in purple andblue. autumn wrote aletter uponthegarden, and thehandofitsclouds, with thequillofitsilluminatinglightning, With theinkofitsshowers andrains, the On Rabbi NachmanofBratslav (1772–1810) Talking to you, theone to whomIbelong. There Imayexpress allthatisinmyheart And, there mayIbealone to enter into prayer Among allgrowing things; Among thetrees andthegrass, May itbemycustom to gooutdoors eachday alone; Master oftheuniverse grant metheabilityto be On of Light) Daily Prayer, SiddurAmidah,Y of them.Theearthisfilled with your creations. Your works, OGod,inwisdomYou have madeall of thecreation isdaily renewed. How great are who inhabitit.Through your goodness thework mercy lightshinesover theearthanduponall of peace andthecreator ofallthings. InYour former oflight, creator ofdarkness, maker Praised are You, OurGod,Ruler oftheuniverse, for A pra Pra the solitude earth creation yers yer miracle of AND Poems ’ s praise beauty… and … of communion

otzer Or(Former … harmony, peace and justice. to sustain ourtask of world repair, ourquest for We eatto nourishthevehicle ofgiving,we eat a giftnoothercan offer: ourselves. Each ofusisunique,coming into theworld with been given. eat to sustain ourselves inthetask we have eat notsimply to satisfyourown appetites, we sense theholy inthemidst ofthesimple. We Let usgive thanksfor thepower ofheartto dignity. All Life isholy, sacred, worthy ofrespect and are able to sustain others. the yieldsofheavens we are sustained and and harvest, from thebountyofearthand From thecreative power ofLife we derive food justice andpeace. and kindness, from whichwe draw to make for Being thewellspring ofgoodness, compassion Blessed istheSource ofLife, theFountain of infuses allthingsnow andforever. Let usgive thanksfor theWonder ofLife that My friends,let usgive thanksfor Wonder. On (c.1021-1058) Solomon b.JudahIbnGabirol ofCordova flowerbeds. embroidered stars inthefolds ofthe grown jealous ofthesky, wonder and gratitu de … Rabbi RamiM.Shapiro wonder ofsharingameal. May we never lose touch withthesimple joy and We give thanksto Life. dialogue andfriendship. Meeting, for ourtable hasbeenaplace of We give thanksto thePower thatmakes for kindness. sparks ofholiness through ourdeedsof loving May we merittheirsacrifice, andhonortheir to thelives thatwere endedto nourishourown. We eatandwe are revived, andwe give thanks

RIVER OUT OF EDEN 47 To singlike to betheJordan For isnot Your songs are tricklingon After you In ajubilanttumult At thepeaksofsnowy mountains But In thelowest place onearth To begathered slowly into thedeadsea To perishlike theJordan Your endis Rush like theJordan For doyour daysnot Flow your waters But onwards -onwards -onwards On thebankswildgrasses grow Like ityou flow south Rush like theJordan Your days Is like to betheJordan. Because To sing A bird ofparadise And eachoneofthemis You hearbirds inthethickets Young, chilled, bubblingandcheeky You start up top inthenorth Is like to betheJordan: To sing Lyrics andMusicby:NaomiShemer La English translations provided below are unofficial Songs ’ shir related ze kmo lihy to ot

the Yarden Jordan ( to sing is River like : to be the עלהחופיםצומחעשבפרא במקוםהנמוךביותרבעולם שוצףומתחצף אתהמתחיללמעלהבצפון אתהשומעציפוריםבסבך להאסףלאטאליםהמות וכמותוזורםאתהדרומה אבלהלאה לשירזהכמולהיות ירדן בהמולהגדולהצוהלת Jordan זהכמולהיותירדן: שיריךמפכיםלהם זהכמולהיותירדן שוטפיםכמוירדן שוטפיםכמוירדן מראשהריהשלג לגוועכמוירדן וכלאחתמהן ציפורגןעדן צעיר, גאוןמימיך הלאימיך כילשיר אחריך ) סופך צונן, ימיך לשיר הלא אבל I willcome backandlook at you… The echoofRachelthe singer. I willhearlike adream In atimeIlisten to you weaves, And inthemoonlight In theshadow ofyour oleanders. Rest, roam, I willimmerse inyour waters. In theheatofsun I willcome backandlook atyou… To himyou are agem,Kinneret. And onhisneck On theGalilyou are tied In theJordan thread In your waters, Galilee, Vulnerable andsad I have apale reflection, Reveal please, Golan, Morning to night. A thousandfaces you have Kinneret, Kinneret. I willcome backandlook atyou You are theapple ofmyeye Kinneret. I would add,willnotswear to you aprayer issaid from thetop oftheArbel Your waves wonder me. Be tranquil myKinneret On theViolinoflightbluewaters. Play for me,Jordan, Lyrics byY Na gen li aakov Sharet, MusicbyMoniAmarilio Yarden (Pla y for me , Jordan ירדן –( לי נגן לי ירדן עתאקשיבלךמוזרת, אחזוראסתכלבך... עלכינורמיהתכלת. הדרחלהמשוררת. לךתפילהנאמרת, כינרת. אחזוראסתכל בך.. לגלילאתנקשרת אחזוראסתכלבך בבואהליחיוורת, ליאתעיןכינרת. לאאשבע כינרת, בצלךהרדופייך. אטבולבמימייך. מבוקרעדערב. כיאלףפניםלך אשמעכבחלום כינרת. ממרוםהארבל המינאכינרת גלייךליפלא. גולן, בלהטהשמש ההלך, ולאורהלבנה ירדן, חשוףועצוב בחוטהירדן לועדיאת, ועלצווארו במימייך, גלהנא, כינרת, אוסיף, נגןלי, אנוח,

RIVER OUT OF EDEN 49 Elad establish abridge... Just like atfirst. Pure white doves hescattered skywards He looked atthepale blue ofthesky Elad descended to theJordan Just like atfirst. an alliance we willhave andabond two camps heconnected withthebridge Elad descended to theJordan Elad willraise thebridge... Just like atfirst. Old andyoung they descended To renew waysofyore, Elad descended to theJordan Just like atfirst. Ashlar stones hecarved from rock He abandonedslings Elad descended to theJordan between thehearts. Elad willweave relationship As theforefathers did Elad willraise thebridge Just like atfirst. And here thequietwater The Arava istwice asgreen Elad descended to theJordan Just like atfirst. The oleander smellsthesame He saweverything blooming Elad descended to theJordan Lyrics andMusicbyAvraham Zigman Elad y arad el ha y arden (Elad went down to the Jordan יוניםצחורותאלעלהפריח אלעדיקיםהגשר... אלעד אלעדיקים הגשר... אלעדירקוםהקשר אלעדיקיםהגשר שנימחנותחיברבגשר הואהביטבתכולרקיע לחדשאורחותכקדם, אבניגזיתחצבמסלע הערבהירוקהכפליים הואנטשאבניהקלע ) ממשכמובראשונה. ממשכמובראשונה. ממשכמובראשונה. ממשכמובראשונה. ממשכמובראשונה. ממשכמובראשונה. בריתתהילנווקשר אלעדירדאלהירדן אלעדירדאלהירדן אלעדירדאלהירדן אלעדירדאלהירדן אלעדירדאלהירדן אלעדירדאלהירדן הואראההכלפורח להרדוףאותוהריח והנהשקטיםהמים הירדן אל ירד אלעד ירד אל הירדן זקןונערבםירדו כמעשהאבות ביןהלבבות. But onthebanksofJordan... And againonthehillsetupahome. All thebabiesbecame people Peace returned inlate summer Cannons thundered across the Jordan But onthebanksofJordan... and theyouth paddle intwos. The children grew upandlearned to swim They’ll diptheirfeet intheJordan Here, onthepath,descends thegroup ofbabies, The smellofthesaltbushinwater. The eucalyptus grove, thebridge, boat The samesilence... andthesamebackdrop But onthebanksofJordan asifnothinghadhappened, Curls turnedgrey inthemeantime. Springtime passed, halfacentury went by So Dadbuiltherahouseonhill. When Momcame here pretty andyoung, Lyrics andMusicby:NaomiShemer Hurshat ha ’ ekaliptus (The Eucal yptus Grove ) – האקליפטוס חורשת האקליפטוס אבלעלחוףירדןכמומאומהלאקרה, הסירה הדומיהוגםאותההתפאורה: בשבילהנהיורדתעדתהתינוקות, חצימאהעברה גדלוהילדיםוכברלמדולשחות אזאבאעלגבעהבנהלהבית. כשאמאבאההנהיפהוצעירה, ותלתליםהפכושיבהבינתיים. ובניהנעוריםחותריםבשניים. הגשר, מעברלירדןרעמוהתותחים ושובעלהגבעההקימובית וכלהתינוקותהיולאנשים הםבירדןישכשכורגליים והשלוםחזרבסוףהקיץ וריחהמלוחעלהמים. חורשתהאקליפטוס, אבלעלחוףירדן... אבלעלחוףירדן... חלפוהאביבים,

RIVER OUT OF EDEN 51 UN Environmental Sabbath Program We have forgotten whowe are. We askfor thestrength to change. We askfor thegiftofremembering. We askfor forgiveness. We have forgotten whowe are. And thehumansare despairing. And thecreatures are disappearing, Now theforests are dying, We have forgotten whowe are. And theairispolluted. And thewaters are poisoned. Now thelandisbarren. We have forgotten whowe are. We have abusedourpower. We have distorted ourknowledge. We have exploited simply for our own ends. We have soughtonly ourown security. We have forgotten whowe are. We have turnedourbacksonthecycles oflife. movements oftheearth. We have become estranged from the of thecosmos. We have alienated ourselves from theunfolding We have forgotten whowe are. We have forgotten whowe are. ‘Now y Nelson creation for care urging traditions other from Writings O Nelson Mandela ond child, many years ago.”child, many years them a as now, Iknew as just from years many grandchildren’s my grandchildren, by known be must rivers “Our clean flowing ther the our reflections Mandela waters own lifetime are on seeing be poisoned & insights … - ’ clean air, water andsoil. We respect andupholdtheabsolute needfor new politicsofhope. mourning ourvanished kin,andwe now builda We are learning from ourmistakes, we are comfort ispaidfor bythesuffering ofmillions. Our science hasbrought painaswell asjoy; our earth, rain andwind,rippedholes inthesky. rivers, torn down ancientforests, poisonedthe creatures to extinction, dammedthegreat tools sopowerful thatwe have driven fellow Humans have become sonumerous andour the On UN Environmental SabbathProgram and therenewal ofalllife. one loving mystery: for thehealingofEarth together asmanyanddiverse expressions. Of We joinwiththeearthandeachother. We join justice andpeace To remember ourchildren. recreate thehumancommunity. To promote We joinwiththeearthandeachother. To sing thesongofstars. celebrate theseas To rejoice inthesunlight.To We joinwiththeearthandeachother. To creatures. the forests To care for theplants.To protect the We joinwiththeearthandeachother. To renew refresh theair. new life to theland.To restore thewaters. To We joinwiththeearthandeachother. To bring T o restore our natural inter the world - dependence waters … with

Suzuki Foundation The Declaration ofInter-dependence, David err onthesideofcaution. remember allthosewhowillwalkafter us,and So where knowledge islimited, we will of time;thefuture isnotours to erase. We are onebriefgeneration inthelong march development. and socialcost must enter allequationsof biological capital forever, fullecological And since environmental degradation erodes wrong. few while shrinkingtheinheritance ofmanyare We seethateconomic activitiesthatbenefitthe

RIVER OUT OF EDEN 53 short ofdisastrous. inadequate and/oruntimely rainfall isnothing world today, a“badjudgment”amounting to 1:2). InancientIsrael, andstill for most ofthe the ensuingyear (Mishnah,RoshHashanah on Sukkot Godpasses judgmentfor rain for judged for life orfor deathonRoshHashanah, Whereas tradition holdsthathumansare a numberofways. water are embeddedintheweeklong festival in around Sukkot andthethemesofrain and all-important rainy season thattypically begins water festival. TheLandofIsrael dependsonan The holidayofSukkot istheJewish tradition’s Atzeret From thePrayer for Rainrecited onShmini kind permission. Farm School,andisre-printed here withhis Rabbi Fine,Director ofPrograms attheJewish This article waswritten for Huffington Post by By RabbiJacob ElishaFine W Times famine.” and not bounty and not bring death. it May life bring it May and not curse. blessing bring it May toto fall. and the rain blow the wind causes Who “You our God. are bring mayim chayim - ‘living water’ - back to the Jordan River.t to the Jordan -back water’ -‘living chayim mayim bring to the call with to engage communities for anopportunity ofSukkot presents holiday The ater and and Sukk Seasons ot

: Sukk ot

water” to befound inflowing forms suchas early rabbis later came to distinguish “living upon whichhumans,andalllife, depends.The literally andmetaphorically asasubstance these cases, water ismeantto betaken both association withourvery existence. Ineachof uses ofmayimchayimiswater’s primary The common thread between thesevarious for example). for bothpeople andfor objects(Numbers 19:17, commonly inthecontext ofritual purification Finally, thelanguageof“livingwaters” inused the “Source ofLivingWaters” (Jeremiah 17:13). prophet Jeremiah whorefers to theCreator as stopped wells (Genesis26:19),andbythe servants findwhen re-digging Abraham’s describe thefresh, potable water thatIsaac’s is usedinanumberofcontexts. Itisusedto “living waters.” Thelanguage ofmayimchayim The Torah isfullofreferences to mayimchayim, hauntingly beautifulPrayer for Rain. festival attheendofSukkot, therecitation ofa on theearth,andShminiAtzeret, theone-day beating willow branches (oneofthefour species) biblical plantspeciesassociated withwater, prayers andpetitionsthatincludeshakingfour a numberofsensorialrain themedrituals, utter dependence onwater, Sukkot incorporates With thisappreciation of,andconcern for, our may water befor life andnotfor death. running through ourown bodies.Andthisyear, as ifthey were thearteries andchannels protect ourplanet’s watersheds andwaterways strength ofcharacter, thewillandheartto Days, onSukkot itisfittingthat we pray for the we beinscribedfor life duringtheHighHoly Living Waters. While Jews plead andpray that wake upto thedamagewe are doingto the In ourgeneration, Sukkot isanopportunity to famine.” not and bounty and not life bring death. it May bring it May and not curse. blessing bring it May to fall. to and the rain theblow wind causes Who God. recite onShminiAtzeret pleads, “You our are The conclusion ofthePrayer for RainthatJews unacceptable for purification purposes. well orclosed bodyofwater andis,therefore, water” thathasbeensittingstagnant ina rain, streams, lakes andspringsfrom “dead

RIVER OUT OF EDEN 55 the name that Adam gave to each living being tothe name that gave living each Adam of creation, asGodlooked onandapproved.”And creature whoismost godlike, gave namesto all it” ofhim Eden, into the Garden tend and guard it assigned limit.“And took man and put the Lord these holy words maynotextend beyond their measure” in aset given high, on was from revealed was teaching, the Torah,“Even the divine which They were notto encroach oneachother, rightful andnecessary place intheuniverse. and ultimately man,were eachcreated with a sun, themoon,andstars, plants,animals, us, Hemadeorder outtheprimalchaos.The When Godcreated theworld, sotheBible tells redound to ourimmediate, personal benefit. The goodisnecessary even whenitdoesnot (Abot1:3). areward” the sake of receiving are commanded to dowhatismoral, “not for teaching. Ourtradition emphasizes thatJews reward isnotthemajormoral thrust ofJewish for therest ofcreation, butthisassurance of the person whohasconcern andcompassion tells us(Shabbat151b)thatheaven rewards (Yebamot 79a,Shabbat133b).TheTalmud even people.” of merciful children the people, are describedover andover againas“merciful 32b). Inthesacred writingsofJudaism,Jews Abraham” ancestor of our descendant isa to MERCIFUL IS allcreatures “WHOEVER Jewish their faiths could help save the natural world. the natural save help could their faiths how discuss and tocome were invited religions world major five of the leaders five which at WWF-International, by in inAssisi 1986, held ameeting created at were which Nature on Declarations Assisi the original taken Nature, on from declaration the Jewish is This NAT ON DECLARATION JEWISH (Genesis2:15).SoonAdam, man,theone (Leviticus Rabbah15:2)andeven Declarations on (Bezah

Ecology U RE God, thevery rightness oftheworld isaffirmed. In suchajoyous encounter between manand acceptance butinthe nature ofunionwithHim. God’s commandments isto dothemnotinmere Kama 91b).Thehighest form ofobedience to isasinner” (Baba in this world joys the rightful denied has anyof himself one that:“He who the seasonsofnature. Therabbis even insisted faith. Thefestivals celebrate, injoy, thecycle of that isnotthedominantmoodofJewish majesty, trembling before Hisjudgments,but upon usto stand before God,intheawe atHis The festivals oftheJewish religion docall of otherpeople, orof anyofGod’s creatures. righteousness withoutencroaching ontherights seems impossible –onecan live inthisworld of very midst oflife helpsto establish thatwhich the world. Heissomeonewhoseconduct inthe Jew, isnotapillarsaintwhohaswithdrawn from with life inthisworld. Thetzaddik,therighteous world beyond death, butitscentral concern is Judaism, ofcourse, knows thedoctrineof the before Godfor allofcreation. beginning oftime,manaccepted responsibility those whomhehadnamed.Thus,atthevery essence. Adamswore to live inharmonywith all ofGod’s creatures, hehelpeddefinetheir In theKabbalistic teaching, asAdamnamed name” its remained (Genesis2:19)forever.has The Bible didnotfail to demandeven ofGod prove thathecould behave asamoral being. created for man,halfbeast andhalfangel,to versions, thatthisworld isthearena thatGod He willit?Judaismhasmaintained, inallits was created because Godwilled it,butwhydid question ofpower andstewardship. Theworld in thevery story ofcreation itself,over the at thecentre oftheBiblical tradition, embedded our respect for allofnature. There isatension creation cannot bedefinedbysimply expressing question ofman’s responsibility to therest of And yet itmust besaid,inalltruth,thatthis very centre ofourconcern. to putthedefense ofthewhole ofnature atthe becoming extinct, itisourJewish responsibility and various species,bothplantandanimal,are the environment isindangerofbeingpoisoned Now, whenthewhole world isinperil,when of God’s creations inwhatHeintended itto be. sensitive to theneedfor aworld inwhicheach men and,therefore, we are today particularly third oftheirpeople were murdered byunnatural the greatest tragedy oftheirhistory whenone withered. Inthiscentury, Jews have experienced and destiny, thisuniversalist concern hasnever were most involved intheirimmediate dangers world. Even inthemanycenturies whenJews man astheleader and custodian ofthenatural conceived inJudaismasaseamless web with The encounter ofGodandmaninnature isthus towards vegetarianism among very pious our own century there hasbeenamovement eating animalflesh,and most Jews do,butin Judaism asareligion offers theoptionof practices. was engagedinweaning menfrom such P111:32). Theimplication isclear, thatJudaism the pagangods(TheGuidefor thePerplexed ancient practice ofmakingsuchofferings to Judaism asaconcession to the prevalent animal sacrifices had beeninstituted inancient greatest ofallrabbinic scholars, explained that Noah. Inthetwelfth century Maimonides,the times, between creation andthegeneration of told thatmenwere vegetarians inearliest teachings ofJudaism.Therabbis oftheTalmud granted, orpraised, inthefundamental Man’s carnivorous nature isnottaken for limits setbyconscience. always, intension between hispower andthe creation withjustice andcompassion. Manlives, was commanded to behave towards therest of man wasgiven dominionover nature, buthe justice?” do earth justification for thisact:“Shallnot judge of allthe demanded ofGodHimselfthatHeproduce moral destroy thewicked cityofSodom,andAbraham God, after Heannounced thatHewasaboutto the lawofmorality. Thus,Abraham stood before Himself thatHebebound,asmuchman,by (Bereshit 18:25).Comparably,

RIVER OUT OF EDEN 57 under hisfeet. Hemaintained thatitwashis a rowboat. Suddenly, oneofthemstarted to saw story oftwo menwhowere outonthewater in it. Sometwenty centuries agothey told the nature from Adam.Thelater rabbis never forgot Our ancestor Abraham inherited hispassion for understand itinthisage. of whattheirtradition commands, asthey vegetarianism outoftheir deepeningknowledge or without.Jews willmove increasingly to it willnothappenthrough pressure from within This cannot beachieved inonegeneration, and commandment whichwe must strive to realize. our brethren, wherever they maybe,asthe and inthedaysto come. Letitbeheard byall believers. Letthisaffirmation resound thisday religious tradition must now teach to allofits of alllivingcreatures asthevalue whichour They have beenproclaiming theautonomy ultimate meanoftheJewish moral teaching. have beenaffirming vegetarianism asthe and present ChiefRabbisoftheHoly Land, spiritual teachers, includingseveral past Jews. Awhole galaxyofcentral rabbinic and and let usrow together. glorious world. Let us safeguard ourrowboat – passengers together inthissamefragile and but alsoagainst thoseofothers. We are all everywhere, notonly against ourown sins We have aresponsibility to life, to defend it (Leviticus Rabbah4:6). that hewasmakingwould sinkbothofthem. that they were intherowboat together; thehole which belonged to him.Theotheranswered him right to dowhatever hewishedwiththeplace […] steward whodestined thesegoodsfor all. of thisearthasproprietor, butonly asGod’s No person orgroup can usetheresources responsibility, that ofcaring for allofcreation. The humanperson hasanimmense […] people to live indignityiscounter to God’s will. destroys life ordiminishesthepossibility for or political activitythatdirectly orindirectly are profoundly affected. Anysocial,economic, the lives ofbothindividualsandcommunities it. Whenharmisdoneto theenvironment, affirm it, to promote it, to care for andcherish excludes noones.Life isprecious. We are to a God-given dignity, allows for noexception and The respect dueto eachperson, endowed with […] exists amongtheearth’s ecosystems. respects theintegrity ofthedelicate balance that this damage,allmust learn to live inawaywhich consequences. While manyhave contributed to depletion, andloss ofbiodiversity are amongthe water pollution,desertification, resource development for all.Climate change,airand seriously limitingthepossibility ofasustainable activity are leading to environmental damage and increasingly aware thatcertain forms ofhuman Across theworld people are becoming A Common the website of Rabbi David Rosen -www.rabbidavidrosen.net Rosen David ofRabbi the website N INTERNATIONAL CATHOLIC-JEWISH COMMITTEE LIAISON B : This is an abridged version of the statement. Y ofthe statement. version anabridged is : This Declaration on the (Ps 24:1) therein” dwell who those and thereof; world the isthe Lord’s and the fullness earth “The God hasconfided to us. teaching andexample, to fulfillthetrust that and families to educate children, bothby call uponourrespective religious communities part, must become a wayoflife. We therefore Respect for God’s creation, ofwhichwe are a future preservation oftheenvironment. in ourcountries andlocal communities for the practices, guaranteed bylaw,are established together whenever feasible, to assure thatsound to live only for thepresent. We alsoneedto act, created andsustained byasocietythattends resources to satisfy needsthatare artificially We cannot, therefore, recklessly consume its but to handonintrust to future generations. The earthisnotours to destroy (cf. Dt20:19), and for the earthitselfextends into thefuture. Our responsibility for allthatdwells intheearth Environment ou can find the complete declaration at declaration the find complete can ou

RIVER OUT OF EDEN 59 III. Educational Resources

RIVER OUT OF EDEN 61

Israelis specifically. Hebrew version ofthesourcebook) addresses Hebrew languageprogram (available inthe to address Jews living outsideIsrael, while a This Englishlanguageprogram isdesigned • • • • • them to different ageandtarget groups: program ideasare varied sothatyou can adapt smaller numbers ofparticipants.Similarly, the program mightbeadapted for eitherlarger or community oryouth event –andnotes how the the classroom, innature, asthefocus ofa designed for useinanynumberofvenues - The program ideasoutlinedhere are your program. adapt to your community andtheparticipantsin “ready-made” programming thatyou can easily plan offers “Do-It-Yourself” ideasandalmost focuses ontheJordan River, thismodularlesson community coordinate anevent orclass that youth group leader, oravolunteer helpingyour your community. Asaneducator, arabbi, a River intheJewish Tradition sourcebook in for usingthe Water, Ecology, andtheJordan This sample lesson planaimsto provide ideas Introduction and A Modular Prepared by Rabbi Michael Schwartz Michael Rabbi by Prepared Text study groups justice, etc. committee for Israel, theenvironment, social Environmental activists oryour synagogue Jewish DaySchoolstudents Teens inyouth group Adults the Jordan Lesson and River O verview Plan in for the : using the Jewish • • example: the existential concern for theseissues, for a spiritual,ideological orotherlevel willdeepen “means”, orhow itimpactstheparticipantson discussion aboutwhattheriver’s poorcondition should come asashock.Facilitation ofa awareness oftheriver’s current condition of theJordan River to your participants, participants. After establishing therelevance the importance oftheJordan River for the peoples’ attention. Thissegmenthighlights for introducing theprogram andgrabbing The outlinebelow includes several ideas to promote the Jordan River’s rehabilitation. River’s Jordan the to promote efforts in community-sponsored participate to inspired and be the river to save help do can personally they what learn will Participants demise. river’s of the impacts other and historical, spiritual, physical, the River’s condition,and to consider current the identity,Jordan about toJewish learn personal their to significance River’s ofto the Jordan gain an understanding isfor participants of goal the program The as asocietyinlightofthe unsustainable can we learn aboutouridealsandvalues that ofourgrandchildren andtheirs: What Abraham’s timeanddown to ourown andto The continuity ofgenerations from land ofIsrael. supporters ofIsrael we love andprotect the our basicassumption thatasJews and depleted andpolluted condition today with The contradiction between theriver’s Tradition W ater , Ecology, Sourcebook 1. Sample questions for aquizinclude: river’s historical importance. connection to theriver, andemphasizethe information inafunway, create afeeling of The “quiz”willprovide some introductory can beginwithashort“quiz”abouttheJordan. For youth (andprobably adultsaswell) you about theJordan River now?” to answer thequestion “Whyare we learning ticipants. Thissegmentoftheprogram needs tion between theJordan River andthepar- pants’ attention bytryingto establish aconnec- Introduce your program andhelp focus partici - I. “Ju mp curriculum ofstudy. a seriesofactivitiesandmeetings,orshort Each segmentcan stand alone andthusform rehabilitate theJordan River. what can bedonebytheparticipantsto help what more can bedone…includingespecially note byidentifyingbothwhatisbeingdoneand Finally, theprogram concludes ona positive • Archeological findings from theJordan towards whatfuture are we rapidly flowing? the river reflects the condition ofsociety, For thefuture ofIsrael andtheworld: If treasured natural resource? condition ofthisuniqueand(supposedly) into the Jordan !” points for thevarious answers andgenerally You can summarizethe“quiz” byassigning Jordan in culture andsong,flora and fauna, etc. focusing onhistory, Tanach, theplace ofthe challenge andinterest your particulargroup Other questions can beaddedwhichboth 3. 2. d. c. b. a. Jordan River? Which historical event didNOT happen inthe d. c. b. a. of theJordan River are: Three Biblical citieslocated along thebanks d. c. b. a. for allhumanity. River Valley aninvaluable historical treasure ______years agomake theJordan history. Thesefindings,dating to some agricultural settlements inhuman River Valley testify to someoftheearliest desert for 40years. Promised landafter wanderinginthe The People ofIsrael crossed into the the heavens Elijah theProphet rode afierychariotinto Elisha theProphet madealost axe float Sisra’s armywasdrowned inaflashflood Beit Shean Jericho Mashkiyot Gilgal 150,000 years 10,000 years 3,500 years 2,000 years

RIVER OUT OF EDEN 63 2. 1. In aclassroom, auditorium, orsimilarvenue: imagine it….” few facts abouttheJordan River, we can truly could saysomethinglike “now thatwe know a they did?To introduce thenext section,you or more abouttheJordan thanthey thought was surprising.Didthey expect they knew less Ask whetherthe“quiz”hadinformation that Hakavod! You are aJordan River expert!” points could bedesignated ariver rock -“Kol shore -“notbad–continue to learn”; and21-30 could bedesignated asriver reed close bythe still to learn abouttheJordan”; 11-20points distantly overlooking theriver -“you have alot be designated asanacacia tree inthedesert the Jordan: 1-10points,for example, could evaluating theparticipants’ “immersion” in popular imagination, asa“holy river”, the Explore theJordan River’s impactonthe the Jordan. the Biblical imageandtheir“feelings” about contrast theimage oftheriver’s demisewith Later, you can “revisit” theJordan today and board, projection screen, orposter page,etc. life”, “holy”, etc.) List theseonamarker in 1-3words (“calm”, “peaceful”, “full of participants to describethe Jordan River the BoatAshore, etc.). Afterward, ask wide, halleluya….” from MichaelRowed participants (“TheJordan River isdeepand folk songsthatmightbefamiliar to the and Poems sectionofthesourcebook, or be supplemented withthePrayers, Songs, visits ofElijahandElisha.Theimagescan Lot andAbraham, inJoshua’s day, atthe cited inthesourcebook, beginningwith Use theBiblical references to theJordan Jordan River, through timeuntiltoday. a “tour” oftheworld-famous andmighty Use guidedimageryto take participantson 3. development andpreservation, tourism, world’s most important river interms of a contest to award $20billionto helpthe and MelindaGates Foundation issponsoring describe amockcontest, sayingthattheBill Similar to theabove, you could instead today inthenext program segment. used to contrast withthereality oftheriver font quotation andpost onthewall.Itwillbe because_____” .Write thisasanotherlarge is oneoftheworld’s most important rivers their collective vision:“TheRiver Jordan describing theJordan River, basedon complete thissentence/ shortparagraph explained. Concludebyaskingthegroup to art can beshared withthegroup and who collaborate ontheartwork). The large group into teams of2-3participants their visionoftheJordan River. (Dividea supplies) andaskparticipantsto express then provide paperandcolors (orotherart quotations, orwithoutusingthematall) ask themto dothisbefore they read the the Jordan intheirminds’ eye (you might Participants have 5minutes to “picture” can’t waitfor tomorrow, etc.). deep andwide/There can benosorrow, Jordan roll /Inthisafountain thatflow so I’m makin’way, for abetter day/RollRiver be trialandtribulationalong theway/And at thebankofbeautifulriver /There will sources (“RollRiver Jordan roll /Meetme descriptive passages throughout) orother and songspages46-53aswell asother from pages38-42,andfrom thepoems are from pages16and17;Biblical quotes River found inthesourcebook (suggestions quotations describingthenatural Jordan as theBiblical river: Inlarge font, printout among theworld’s oldest inhabited cities), crops were first farmed andwithJericho river atthecradle ofcivilization(where 4. river: Outdoors oronthebanksofyour own nearby Land ofIsrael. Useoneofthetwo activities are always onajourney, apilgrimage, to the idea thatnomatter where you are going,you Explain thatinJewish tradition there isan picturesque andcomfortable location. During your “pilgrimage”hike, rest ata What dothey gainorfind? discover onapilgrimage? Whydothey go? What kindsofthingsdopeople look for or or live inthelandofIsrael.] Discuss briefly: making aliya, literally, an “ascent” to visit to theTorah inthesynagogue today andin oleh, connects theideato makinganaliya the Temple inancienttimes.Thesameword, go up(bywalkingusually) to Jerusalem and regel istheHebrew term for onewhowould particular religious beliefsystem; Anoleh special significance to theadherent ofa journeying (often onfoot) to someplace of to aholy place. Typically, thisisaphysical who hascome from afar) whoisonajourney Latin peregrinus) isatraveler (literally one pilgrim on.[Wikipedia:A(from the however. Rather, theoleh regel kind,asa Not thePlymouth Rockkindofpilgrims, Tell thegroup they are onapilgrimage. beauty, andasaresource. Judaism, inspiritualityandworld culture, above, address: Flora andfauna, history, in River. Usingtheinformation noted in2 to present somekey aspectoftheJordan into 6teams whowilleachhave 3minutes to thecontest’s judges.Divideyour group been selected to present theJordan River will represent therivers. Your group has so people’s groups rather thangovernments live alongside itandwhovalue itfrom afar, in theriver’s importance to thepeople that clean-up, etc. TheFoundation isinterested 5. Or he hadtheimpression that theseobjectsof Lower Jordan? WhyDoesMarkTwain say visited Israel describewhatthey sawofthe and theDeadSea?Canthose whoHAVE the Jordan is?How widetheSea ofGalilee NEVER beento Israel, how long doyou think Pause---ask thegroup: For thosewhohave diameter.” thought they were sixtythousandmiles in Dead Sea--whenIwasinSundaySchool wide…. There istheSeaofGalilee andthis thousand miles long andthirty-five miles impression thattheriver Jordan wasfour When Iwasaboy Isomehow gotthe man willyearn to taste again... us yet. Ithasacharmwhich,once tasted, a civilization hasnoteducated itentirely outof and after thirtycenturies ofsteady effort, and transmitted through thepatriarchs, is ahumaninstinct; itwasbornwithAdam camp andthedesert.Thenomadicinstinct bred menhadtaken to thefree life ofthe was painfulto note how readily thesetown- at work withthesethingsinamoment.--It beds boundedonly bythehorizon:fancy was saddle-- abroad ontheplains--sleeping in once. New life stirred inevery pulse. Inthe suggested…The journey wasapproved at “The Jordan, JerichoandtheDeadSeawere Innocents Abroad (1869): Read quotations from MarkTwain’s The “pilgrimage” along theJordan River. between the“pilgrimage” they are onanda find. Discuss similaritiesanddifferences why they goorwhatthey hopeto gainor would expect to look for ordiscover, answer pilgrimage along theJordan River -they express what-ifthey were makingthis your surroundings, to have theparticipants noted above, together withtheinspiration of

RIVER OUT OF EDEN 65 group: cern for itsdemisein regard to your particular tance oftheJordan River’s rehabilitation/ con- in thesourcebook asyou establish theimpor- one ofthefollowing themesthatare explored You might chooseto focus your attention on Themes Now read Twain’s fullquotation: reduction oftheseasandriver. of Pennsylvania; Isupposecan bearthe Solomon diminishto thesizeofState go. Ihave already seenthe Empire ofKing traditions ofourboyhood. Well, let them pictures androb usofthemost cherished Travel andexperience marthegrandest miles indiameter. School Ithoughtthey were sixtythousand thirteen wide.Andyet whenIwasinSunday Sea--neither ofthemtwenty miles long or There istheSeaofGalilee andthisDead Broadway inNew Y fifty miles ofground. Itisnotanywiderthan ninety miles itdoes notgetover more than side ofitheisonhalfthetime.Ingoing crooked thatamandoesnotknow which wide. Itisonly ninetymiles long, andso thousand miles long andthirty-five miles impression thattheriver Jordan wasfour “When Iwasaboy Isomehow gotthe excited to goto theJordan? why wasTwain andhisfellow pilgrimsso less?, etc.), itsimportance, meaning,value— or drier, more populated orcultivated or more green orless, more tree orless, wetter in contrast to whatyou seearound you now— size, quality, to describeitsbeauty(perhaps all imaginetheJordan to belike? Askabout their pilgrimageare sogrand? Whatdoyou to address ork. : • • • • • • • • 1. group: In alarger venue, outside,orwithasmaller magnitude oftheproblem. segment oftheprogram aims to convey the themes, another, oringeneral), thenext the Jordan (inthecontext ofonetheabove the Jordan River now andwhywe care about Having established whyare we learning about II. “T he “Crossing over theJordan”. worldwide; East andthrough inter-religious dialogue opportunity for, peace buildingintheMiddle The Jordan River asasymbolof,andan world cultural heritage; The Jordan River’s majorrole inJewish and spirituality; The Jordan River asasymbolofuniversal in particular; world ingeneral and/orfor theLandofIsrael Jewish views onourresponsibility for God’s Our love for theLandofIsrael; identity isconnected to theJordan; Our own Jewish religious and/ornational associate withtheJewish People; The Jordan astheriver we (andothers) internalizing it. Examples: to have participants thinkaboutthedata, And Figures”, inthefollowing manner. Aim “The Destruction ofthe Jordan -SomeFacts Ask questions from thesourcebook page19, large posters thatsay“True” and“False”.) remaining inthemiddle. (Ithelpshangup is false. Thisorthat,truefalse, no to thatside(pointto theleft) iftheanswer (point to theright)ifanswer isTRUE,or questions andthey needto goto thisside the room. Explainthatyou willasksome Ask participantsto stand inthecenter of Jordan Turned Back…” water. Access to the Lower Jordan River Canterbury wasNOT sent to collect the filtered first!) However, the Archbishop of to baptizethebaby(butwe hopeitwas A: Somewhat true—thewater wasused William andCatherineMiddleton. then usedto baptizethenew babyofPrince Elizabeth to collect asample whichwas of Canterbury wasdispatched byQueen holiness thatrecently theArchbishop considered to besoconcentrated with River isnevertheless, despite thepollution, Q: Theremaining water intheholy Jordan and diverted salinespringwater… fish ponddischarge, agricultural run-off, nor holy: Itiscomposed ofsewage water, River thatstill trickles along isneitherpure A: False, alas,themere 4%oftheJordan next stage space propulsion fuel. researching itsuseasaningredient for a Elon Musk’s Space Xcompany began concentrated withholiness thatrecently Jordan River isconsidered to besopure and Jordan, thewater thatremains intheholy Q: Because there issolittle water left inthe A: True. diverted. of theriver’s flow remains –96%hasbeen of your feet left to you: Today only about4% you only abouttheamountofblood inone River’s water, you would have remaining in Q: Iftheblood inyour bodywastheJordan be far longer. windy, itslength ifyou stretched itoutwould km, or74miles. However, because itisso A: False. Itflows adistance ofonly about120 Sea. miles before reaching itsendattheDead Kinneret andflows south for about300 Q: TheLower Jordan River begins atLake explanation. campaign, your participantswillwantsome demise isnotthefocus ofthisactivityorthe Although assigning blamefor theriver’s outline brieflyhow thishas come about. Refer to page20,AFailure ofWisdom,to program’s introduction. with thevisionofJordan articulated inthe For bothofthese,contrast thereality oftoday 3. 2. above activity: In aclassroom settingorevent too large for the You gettheidea…. followed byphotos ofthesituationtoday. showing classical pictures oftheJordan also usesa“before andafter” approach is the river’s condition. Thispower point screen notes undereachpicture to describe SaveTheJordan.com website, usingthe Screen thepower pointfound onthe SaveTheJordan.com website. Screen thevideofound onthe evaporation andextraction ofminerals. pump water outoftheDeadSeato augment private companies’ miningoperations that demise, withtheremaining 40%dueto Dead Sea’s loss isdueto theJordan River’s 1 meter peryear. Anestimated 60%ofthe A: 60%True…the DeadSeaisdropping over the Jordan River isnotresupplying it. Q: TheDeadSeaisdisappearingbecause both ofitsbanks. Jordan River isaclosed military zoneon is extremely limited. Most oftheLower

RIVER OUT OF EDEN 67 Progress, p.23. Review thesourcebook’s AMeasure of something thatcan bedone!! facilitation with positive energy! There IS This segmentoftheprogram requires III. “River honor thecreation thatGodhasentrusted to us. shift inpolicy, butarenewed spiritualeffort to The revival oftheriver, then,requires notjust a contributed to thedestruction oftheJordan. responsibility ascustodians – allofthishas reverence for life, theabandonmentofour The lackofasensewonder, theloss of respect itsintegrity.” (RabbiJonathanSacks) guardians oftheearth,we are duty-bound to of God,whocreated andowns everything. As (Psalms 24:1)We are itsstewards onbehalf earth istheLord’s andthefullness thereof.” Bible conceives it.We donotown nature –“The humanity’s responsibility for nature asthe “This isperhapsthebest shortdefinitionof change, etc.) mightconclude with: A summaryofthecauses (conflict, climate role asprotectors ofCreation, andmore. stewardship, aboutJudaismandecology, our about water consciousness, theideaof essays provide source material for reflection and thereality. Several ofthesourcebook’s great disparitybetween theidyllicJordan River participants’ reactions andfeelings aboutthe summarize theprogram thusfar, askfor As you facilitate ashortdiscussion to record withitsseverely degraded state today. positive associations, grand history, andspiritual between thenatural Jordan River andallitsvery been learned sofar andto highlightthecontrast Use thisopportunityto summarizewhathas of Life ” The mayor? community rabbi, the city’s Board ofRabbis? Will they form adelegation to speakwiththe they sendthisto friendson socialnetworks? River. Whomelsecan they askto signon?Will to signacopy oftheCovenant for theJordan A great first step willbegettingtheparticipants willing to helpwith.Formulate aplanfor action. first next step. Askindividualswhatthey willbe evaluate thelevel ofenthusiasm.Decideona can accomplish. Discuss thesepossibilities and realistic senseofwhatyour group orcommunity the community organizer, you shouldhave a can bediscussed. Asthefacilitator orperhaps Ideas for Actiononsourcebook pages71-73 plan for reviving theJordan. projector for p.25,outliningEcoPeace/FoEME’s In aclassroom orauditorium, you can usea or material interests. values rather thanonly ourcrass geo-strategic competition andconflict, actonourspiritual destroy it,andpractice cooperation rather than We can protect andrevivify nature rather than to promote cooperation andto buildpeace. FoEME anditsvisionfor usingthe environment This isagoodtimeto introduce EcoPeace/ 4. 3. 2. 1. Concl If onahike orinnature, you might: interfaith) concert of“Jordan River Songs”. Write anew songorplana community (or on theCovenant for theJordan River Hold asigningceremony asparticipants sign accept intryingto help. your group ondiscussing whatrole they can Especially for teens, thevideocan focus the start ofthislast program segment. Song. Thisvideowould alsoserve well at Screen withaudiotheJordan River Love usion

• • • help isontheway… are sendingamessage to theJordan that the ecosystem isasingle whole. You all will make itswayto theJordan because river--- expecting thatsomelittle piece the group distribute into your nearby you can cutinto tinypieces andhave with biodegradable materials which Covenant –oneto keep andonewritten Sign two copies oftheJordan River Boat Ashore”. perhaps endingwith“MichaelRowed the Conclude withaprayer service innature, or to solve alocal environmental issue). commitment to helpsave theJordan (and/ as aceremony markingyour group’s the Jordan, letting thisevent serve the Israelites didwhenthey crossed and anointwithoil,similarto what Choose aspotandconstruct acairn

RIVER OUT OF EDEN 69 survive, we cannot remain silent. Jordan River belongs to usall. Ifwe wantitto a moral andspiritualchallenge for Jews. The is anotsimply aquestion ofpolitics–itisalso Jewish tradition, and for thatreason itsrevival The Jordan River flows through theheartof them to act. know thatwe care aboutthisriver andexpect Palestinian, andJordanian decision-makers agenda –to raise ourvoices andlet Israeli, We needto pushthisissue upthepolitical that’s comein. And you where from leaders onallsidesofthevalley. challenge thatrequires real political commitment Reviving theJordan River willnotbeeasy. Itis a IV. Ideas for Community A ction • G River. the Jordan for • Sign the Covenant The HOW TO JOIN THE CAMPAI GN on theon of inside cover this document. community. You’ll Covenant of the find the text or an individual as River the for Jordan Covenant the endorsing by the world around leaders and Jointhe congregations world’s makers. decision in one’sthe Jordan communitiesvis-a-vis and commitment of to the champion rehabilitation the covenantEndorsing demonstrates to humanity. value River’s outstanding Jordan the articulating statement avision is Covenant you can make a difference. make can adifference. you doesn’t It hundred. three matter. Together, community. You or might of a group three be your from co-workers or classmates,

et together. Establish a circle of friends, of acircle friends, Establish

RIVER OUT OF EDEN 71 • G Identify your target. • Identify • G fact sheets to help you tell this story. tell to you this help story. sheets fact and presentations, films, provide FoEME can it. about do can they what and matters, it why to the river, to happened tellneed them what society leaders you are going to approach. goingto are approach. you leaders society civil or religious, of the political, addresses and the names group,your up come and with with it to Discuss position make this call. that the river. share You in the are best the countries from the national ambassadors or representatives, elected your to address you’re might you need the Middle East, outside If community. your of representative senior might it the congregation, most be a religious minister. or might amayor be you’re If of part the river, that border ofone the countries it you’re If person. to the right in this message to address crucial is It them to act. want and the river about that care you know makers message across. across. message to to how get the to, it decide need you say to want you who and to say want you what et the message across et the message et inspired. When you’ve When got agroup, you You to let decision- need . When you know know you . When may wantto design aneducational project about If you are aschoolteacher orfaith leader, you LEARN, Create are welcome to contact usfor ideasandadvice. strategy to great effect intheMiddle East –you as clear aspossible. FoEME hasusedthis invite thelocal media,andto getyour message attention ofpolitical leaders. Rememberto grabbing stunt to bring the Jordan River to the Organize acreative, peaceful, attention- Get and start to work withyou onthecampaign? meeting, sos/hecan learn more abouttheissue Why notinvite your representative orleader to a Meet sheets, andstories to helpyou make thecase. . On ourwebsite you’ll findsample letters, fact postcards can allhelpyour letter to stand out. to make more impact.Pictures, poems and email, andpersonal, hand-written letters tend Old-fashioned papermailismore effective than Write IDEAS FOR ACTION

noticed

, EXHIBIT Use your social networks networks social your Use the word. • Spread OTHER WA as anobstacle. join you inthiseffort, rather thantreating them political leaders aspartners, andaskthemto positive -you’ll bemore effective ifyou address imagination. Make somenoise.Andkeep it about thestate oftheJordan River. Useyour These are nottheonly waysto raise awareness Use participation inthedemocratic process. global citizenship,grassroots activism,and it can alsooffer young people aneducation in not only raises environmental consciousness; invite to suchanevent. Amodule ofthiskindis – aswell aswhichmediaoutlets -you could Think aboutwhichreligious orpolitical leaders raise awareness aboutthestate oftheJordan. songs, films,orphotos that you can exhibit to the river. Thiscould produce paintings,poems, our website you’ll find videos, photos, and and photos, videos, our website you’ll find you’re what and care, you doing to On help. why is, the problem what know people Let River. of the Jordan the for revival to call y our ima YS TO HELP gination

© Jonathan Kalan / FoEME We need your financial support to • Donate. financial We your support need to the river.• Come to get more want you If FoEME to community. • Invite your to speak your local campaign to raise funds. funds. to raise campaign local your or, use still, better www.SaveTheJordan.com Youcontinue donate at can directly this effort. successful. and make groups)safe help that’ll trip faith your and (including environmental partners local and tour in you touch operators put with also community. in home We your can the river for to advocate use that can you knowledge first-hand like equipwith you this will journey of the valley. bothsides -on A toand learn to stay places –ideas EcoParks and tours FoEME yourself. runs for River the Jordan to see organize ajourney involved, deeply River.Jordan the about FoEME to to speak community your from like inGet touch would you someone if behind the campaign. build momentum us Facebookand helps -it you’re tell what us Please Twitter doingvia powerful. voice the is most own your – but out to get the word help posts sample even President ofReligionsfor Peace Rabbi DavidRosen,International imperative for usall.” its revivification isanurgent who holditdear. Accordingly, who live inthisLandandfor those significance both for thepeoples ecological, historical andspiritual “The Jordan River isofenormous

RIVER OUT OF EDEN 73 advisors orreviewers. views ofourexpert team, contributors, project FoEME anddonotnecessarily represent the The views expressed are thoseofEcoPeace / their thoughtfulcontributions. Schwartz. Ourtoolkits are greatly enrichedby Rabbi DavidSaperstein and RabbiMichael Miron, RabbiYonatan Neril,RabbiDavidRosen, toolkits includingRabbiNatan Levy, Rabbi Ayala essays, commentaries, andreferences for the leaders whovolunteered to contribute time, grateful to themanyexperts andreligious and guidance throughout thisprocess. We are her extensive editorial review, contributions the University ofIllinoisatChicago, USAfor Professor ofJewish StudiesandEnglishat would like to thankRachelHavrelock, Associate to thisseriesofpublications. Specifically we faith leaders for theirreview andcontribution international, regional, andlocal experts and Additional thanksare dueto themany Rehabilitation Project. Foundation for theirsupportoftheJordan River Cooperation Agency(SIDA) andtheOsprey the Swedish International Development FoEME would like to recognize andthank NOTE OF GRATITUDE Society (JPS)Bible (1985). are taken from theNew Jewish Publication All English-languageexcerpts from theTanakh BILICAL TRANSLATIONS V. CREDITS Intern Inbal Haskell, Israeli Jordan River Project Development Director Rabbi MichaelSchwartz,Resource for Projects andInternational Affairs Y Projects Coordinator Elizabeth Koch-Y River Rehabilitation Project Coordinator Abdel Kareem Shreiteh, Palestinian Jordan Relations Officer Anwar AbuHamour,Jordanian Government F Daniel Adamson,Exterior Consultant Author AND PRODUCEDBY THIS PUBLICATION WAS WRITTEN generous contribution ofwork to thiscampaign. Many thanksto thesephotographers for their ©Daniel Adamson/FoEME, ©Ofer Stein. Gerald /Pixmedia,©Jesse Blatutis/FoEME, ©Francesco Zizzola,©Josvan Wunnik,©Eddie Photography: ©Jonathan Kalan/FoEME, Photography ana AbuTalab, Jordanian Assistant Director oEME Project a’ari, Israeli Jordan River Team

RIVER OUT OF EDEN 75 For more information on FoEME or to download any of our publications please visit: www.foeme.org visit: please anypublications ofour FoEME on to or download information For more Bethlehem, and Amman, in FoEME offices Tel-Aviv. has our region. in peace lasting conditions for of the and creation necessary development regional both sustainable to advance seek we doing, In so heritage. environmental our shared to protect efforts cooperative of the is promotion objective our primary environmentalists, Israeli and Palestinian, Jordanian, together that brings organization atri-lateral As movement. peacemaking of the environmental (FoEME) at aunique the is forefront organization East Middle ofthe Earth Friends EcoPeace/ OF THEEARTHMIDDLEEAST ABOUT ECOPEACE /FRIENDS Email: [email protected] Email: Fax: +962 65866604 Tel: +962 65866602/3 11181 Jordan, -Amman, Box 840252 PO Office Amman Email: [email protected] Email: Fax: +972 22745968 Tel: +972 22747948 Palestine Box –Bethlehem, 421 PO Office Bethlehem Email: [email protected] Email: Fax: +972 35604693 Tel: +972 35605383 Israel Road–Tel Begin 90 Aviv, 67183 Tel Office Aviv

RIVER OUT OF EDEN 77 CONTACT US the Earth Middle East. the Earth of to Friends accreditation EcoPeace/ full with purposes research and educational for used be can text The Middle East. of the Earth Friends EcoPeace/ by permission prior without commercial use for otherwise, or recording, photocopying, mechanical, any means, by or in any form transmitted or system in retrieval stored reproduced, be may of this publication Nopart Reserved. Rights © All #SaveTheJordan Hashtag: Twitter: @FoEMidEast the Jordan Facebook: Save Web: www.SaveTheJordan.com [email protected] Email: You - this FoEME campaign about to welcome contact are

RIVER OUT OF EDEN 79 SUPPORTED BY

The Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) and the Osprey Foundation