The delicate balance of nature

Ecological disasters always give us pause to consider the delicate balance of the natural world. We confront this every year during hurricane season. But how does our theology help us understand disasters brought about by the hand of human error?

In Judaism, we believe that humans are called upon to “til and to tend” our Garden of Eden – our habitat and environment. But more often than not, we find our interaction with the natural world to be oppressive rather than cooperative. Is Mother Earth trying to tell us something by her incessant surge of oil into our precious water ways?

The lesson here is that while technology can often be a blessing, it can’t always trump the forces of nature. As scientists explore new ways of stopping up the Deepwater Horizons oil leak in the Gulf and diverting the suffocating slick from the water, we pray that the damage to our ecosystem will not plague us on the Gulf Coast for years to come.

As we ready ourselves to take part in restorative measures, to aid in the process of cleaning the Gulf, I offer this prayer to God for strength and healing:

A prayer for the Gulf of Mexico

Ribono Shel Olam, Master of the Universe, “Maker of the heavens and earth, the seas and all they contain, “Oseh shamayim va’aretz et ha’ayam v’et kol asher bam”(Psalm 146):

Grant protection and sheltering peace to the myriads of living creatures who make their watery home in the Gulf of Mexico. Shield them from the slick, suffocating forces of the oil geyser. Guard every turtle and every fish, every crawling creature and every swimming creature. Protect each and every organism, from microbe to mammal. As the Psalmist said: Mah Rabu ma’asecha Y-AH kulam b’chochmah asitah… “How great are your works, Oh, Breath of Life, with Wisdom you created it all. The earth is filled with your creatures. Here is the great, vast sea, teeming with numberless living things, great and small… All of them look to You” (Psalm 104). Let us cease from obscuring Your countenance with our contaminants.

Ha’Borei, Creator of the Universe: Grant us the ability to act responsibly with Your planet. To till and to tend it, to guard it and to guide it, to preserve it and to ensure that there is a healthy earth for us and for the next generation to enjoy. Awake in us the spirit of stewardship, to use our resources wisely, to create alternative sustainable energy , and to love and to live deeply in harmony with all of Your Creation. We are but sojourners on this planet of Yours, as it says in Your Torah, “Ki li ha’aretz, ki gerim v’toshavim, atem imadi” (Vayikra 25:23).

We recall Your covenant, never to destroy the earth again; may we be strengthened as partners in Creation, also, to never destroy the earth. May we return from our environmental aveirot, and set our path straight for a cleaner, clearer and healthier planet.

Let us say, Amen.

Written by Rabbi Danielle Upbin & Rabbi David Weizman

The Rabbinically Speaking column is provided as a public service by the Jewish Press in cooperation with the Pinellas County Board of Rabbis. Columns are assigned, on a rotating basis by the board.