The beginning of the spring season, with its renewal of life, is a good time to renew our spirit…deerm.jpg

The Bible and Jewish Law are full commandments to protect animals, nature and the environment. Indeed, such teachings are fundamental to Judaism and its traditions.

For example, God’s first commandment (genesis 1:22) was to the birds, whales, fish and other creatures to “be fruitful and multiply” and fill the seas and the skies. His first commandment to humans (genesis 1:2 8) was to “replenish the earth … and have dominion” over other creatures.

Both commandments concern the welfare and survival of animals and human-stewardship responsibilities toward them. So the Almighty must consider the care of animals an important thing.

Clearly, God was well pleased with the works of His creation. After He made each of the creatures, He blessed them, “saw” that each “was good,” and commanded them to “be fruitful and multiply.” And He pronounced the entire creation, when it was completed, “very good.”

Later, when God made his promise to Noah and generations to come never again to destroy the earth with a flood, He included in the covenant “every living creature … the fowl, the cattle and every beast of the earth” (genesis 9:12-17).

Psalm 104 extols the creatures of “this great and wide sea”: “O Lord, how manifold are thy works! In wisdom thou hast made them all: The earth is full of thy riches. … The glory of the Lord shall endure forever.” And a well-known Jewish blessing states, “Blessed art thou, Lord our God, king of the universe, who created everything for His glory.”

Kindness to animals is stressed throughout the Bible and is even required in the Ten Commandments, wherein God forbids us to make our farm animals work on the Sabbath; we must give them a day of rest (exodus 20:10, 23:12).

Psalm 36 states, “Man and beast thou savest, O Lord. How precious is thy steadfast love.”

Trees and forests are accorded a special reverence in the Bible, and one of the first things the Israelites were commanded to do when they entered the Promised Land was to plant trees and allow them to mature before eating the fruits thereof (leviticus 19:23).

“The day the Lord created hope was probably the same day He created Spring.”
- Bern Williams

Do i hear an amen?