Judaism and Global Survival presents basic Jewish teachings on peace, justice, compassion, sharing, love of neighbors, environmental sustainability, and others, and urges that they be applied in order to reduce climate change and other environmental threats and help shift our imperiled planet onto a sustainable path.
This important book discusses the challenges facing humanity and the Jewish teachings related to these challenges, in order to galvanize Jews to help repair the world (tikkun olam), as required by Jewish law. It argues that we don’t need to discover new values and approaches to address current global threats. What is needed is a rediscovery and application of basic Jewish teachings and mandates, such as to pursue peace and justice, to love our neighbors as ourselves, and to act as co-workers with God in protecting and preserving the world.
Judaism and Global Survival is meant to be a wake-up call, the strongest that one can make, on the urgency of addressing climate threats and other environmental threats, and the importance of Jews applying Jewish values in addressing these threats. Among the issues discussed in the book are the following: Jews are to guardians of the earth, partners and co-workers with God in working toward tikkun olam, the healing repair and proper transforming of the world; climate change is an existential threat to the world and the only hope to avert a climate catastrophe is through a major shift to plant-based diets, as that would enable reforestation of the vast areas now used for animal agriculture, reducing atmospheric CO2 to a much safer level; vegetarianism, and even mores veganism, is the diet most consistent with Jewish teachings on preserving our health, treating animals with compassion, protecting the environment, conserving natural resources, and helping hungry people.
Judaism and Global Survival
20th Anniversary Edition
$19.95
392 in stock
Book Details
| Pages |
348 Pages |
|---|---|
| Size | 5 x 8 |
| Format | Trade Paperback |
| Pub. Date | 09/01/2023 |
| ISBN | 978-1-59056-706-7 |
| Publisher |
“For many years now, Richard Schwartz has been a clear, unwavering voice for a more compassionate, more humane and holier Judaism. Judaism and Global Survival offers Jews and non-Jews alike an authentic and inspirational view of what traditional Judaism is and should be.”
—Professor Alon Tal, former MK, former department chair at Ben Gurion University of the Negev; chairman of “The Green Movement” (Israel’s Green Party); author of Pollution in the Promised Land and many other books and articles on environmental issues in Israel.
“This is an inspirational and prophetic book that explores the deep issues that are facing us today, not only for the purpose of healing the ecological world, but more importantly for saving the soul of Judaism. The essential message Richard Schwartz, a modern Orthodox Jew, is promoting highlights that it is time to apply the deep God-centered and, consequently, moral and ethical way of living in which humanistic ideals and actions are essential outflowing of a God-centered way of life.”
—Rabbi Gabriel Cousens, MD, MD(H), DD, director of the Tree of Life Foundation; author of Torah as a Guide to Enlightenment, Spiritual Nutrition, Conscious Eating, and Creating Peace by Being Peace
“This book is so crucial and urgently necessary! We once again owe deep gratitude to Professor Richard Schwartz for opening our minds and hearts to the essence of Jewish ethics!”
—Rabbi Dr. Shmuly Yanklowitz, founder and CEO of Shamayim v’Aretz: Jewish Animal Advocacy; author and editor of over a dozen books of Judaica, including three on Jewish dietary teachings
“No one has been more creative, committed, and consistent than Richard Schwartz in arguing for a Judaism that can address in all its depth the world crisis that all humanity and all the life forms of our planet face today.”
—Rabbi Arthur Waskow, director of The Shalom Center; author of Down-to-Earth Judaism, Seasons of Our Joy, and many other works on Jewish thought and action
“The challenging title of this welcome new edition by Professor Richard Schwartz, one of the most insightful commentators on Jewish scriptural interpretation, says a great deal about his struggle to reclaim Judaism in the 21st century from those who would narrow its scope to ethnocentrism and self-interest. Schwartz is a major protagonist in the battle to present the humanitarian insights and universal truths that have been part of the Jewish tradition, from its earliest holy texts to the present day.”
—Rabbi Gerald Serotta, founder of Rabbis for Human Rights, North America; executive director of Clergy Beyond Borders “Once again Richard Schwartz has produced a thought-provoking book. This new edition of Judaism and Global Survival will be a very positive addition to our libraries. His writing is powerful and thought-provoking. As always, Richard is not afraid to challenge us.”
—Rabbi Michael M. Cohen, Director of Development at Friends of the Arava Institute for Environmental Studies
“Richard Schwartz has been a consistent, clear, compassionate voice for the planet. This book once again illustrates his wisdom, insight, and willingness to speak up. If the Jewish community takes this book to heart and makes the necessary changes, the world can follow. We can co-create a world that respects all life.”
—Rae Sikora, co-founder of Plant Peace Daily, Institute for Humane Education, and Vegfund
“This book by Professor Richard Schwartz not only offers the reader a comprehensive research of Jewish teachings and their relevance to contemporary science and world affairs, but also challenges the reader with an urgent cry for action. For about forty years, Schwartz has been a world authority on the deep linkage between Judaism and vegetarianism. Now he shows that a vegan revolution has started—in Israel and worldwide. But is it fast enough to save us from ecological catastrophe? And is the Jewish establishment assuming the role it should play within it? These are questions Schwartz addresses.”
—Yossi Wolfson, vegan and animal rights activist in Israel; coordinator of the Israeli Jewish Vegetarian Society in Jerusalem
“This pioneering book by Richard Schwartz, the world’s greatest living authority on the teachings of Judaism on protecting animals and nature, provides nothing short of the revolution in our way of thinking and acting that is now required in efforts to avert a climate catastrophe and other environmental disasters. This compelling, magisterial book is a must-read. Its message must be heeded. Our future depends on it.”
—Lewis Regenstein, author of “Commandments of Compassion: Jewish Teachings on Protecting the Planet and Its Creatures,” Replenish the Earth, and other writings on Judaism and animals
—Professor Alon Tal, former MK, former department chair at Ben Gurion University of the Negev; chairman of “The Green Movement” (Israel’s Green Party); author of Pollution in the Promised Land and many other books and articles on environmental issues in Israel.
“This is an inspirational and prophetic book that explores the deep issues that are facing us today, not only for the purpose of healing the ecological world, but more importantly for saving the soul of Judaism. The essential message Richard Schwartz, a modern Orthodox Jew, is promoting highlights that it is time to apply the deep God-centered and, consequently, moral and ethical way of living in which humanistic ideals and actions are essential outflowing of a God-centered way of life.”
—Rabbi Gabriel Cousens, MD, MD(H), DD, director of the Tree of Life Foundation; author of Torah as a Guide to Enlightenment, Spiritual Nutrition, Conscious Eating, and Creating Peace by Being Peace
“This book is so crucial and urgently necessary! We once again owe deep gratitude to Professor Richard Schwartz for opening our minds and hearts to the essence of Jewish ethics!”
—Rabbi Dr. Shmuly Yanklowitz, founder and CEO of Shamayim v’Aretz: Jewish Animal Advocacy; author and editor of over a dozen books of Judaica, including three on Jewish dietary teachings
“No one has been more creative, committed, and consistent than Richard Schwartz in arguing for a Judaism that can address in all its depth the world crisis that all humanity and all the life forms of our planet face today.”
—Rabbi Arthur Waskow, director of The Shalom Center; author of Down-to-Earth Judaism, Seasons of Our Joy, and many other works on Jewish thought and action
“The challenging title of this welcome new edition by Professor Richard Schwartz, one of the most insightful commentators on Jewish scriptural interpretation, says a great deal about his struggle to reclaim Judaism in the 21st century from those who would narrow its scope to ethnocentrism and self-interest. Schwartz is a major protagonist in the battle to present the humanitarian insights and universal truths that have been part of the Jewish tradition, from its earliest holy texts to the present day.”
—Rabbi Gerald Serotta, founder of Rabbis for Human Rights, North America; executive director of Clergy Beyond Borders “Once again Richard Schwartz has produced a thought-provoking book. This new edition of Judaism and Global Survival will be a very positive addition to our libraries. His writing is powerful and thought-provoking. As always, Richard is not afraid to challenge us.”
—Rabbi Michael M. Cohen, Director of Development at Friends of the Arava Institute for Environmental Studies
“Richard Schwartz has been a consistent, clear, compassionate voice for the planet. This book once again illustrates his wisdom, insight, and willingness to speak up. If the Jewish community takes this book to heart and makes the necessary changes, the world can follow. We can co-create a world that respects all life.”
—Rae Sikora, co-founder of Plant Peace Daily, Institute for Humane Education, and Vegfund
“This book by Professor Richard Schwartz not only offers the reader a comprehensive research of Jewish teachings and their relevance to contemporary science and world affairs, but also challenges the reader with an urgent cry for action. For about forty years, Schwartz has been a world authority on the deep linkage between Judaism and vegetarianism. Now he shows that a vegan revolution has started—in Israel and worldwide. But is it fast enough to save us from ecological catastrophe? And is the Jewish establishment assuming the role it should play within it? These are questions Schwartz addresses.”
—Yossi Wolfson, vegan and animal rights activist in Israel; coordinator of the Israeli Jewish Vegetarian Society in Jerusalem
“This pioneering book by Richard Schwartz, the world’s greatest living authority on the teachings of Judaism on protecting animals and nature, provides nothing short of the revolution in our way of thinking and acting that is now required in efforts to avert a climate catastrophe and other environmental disasters. This compelling, magisterial book is a must-read. Its message must be heeded. Our future depends on it.”
—Lewis Regenstein, author of “Commandments of Compassion: Jewish Teachings on Protecting the Planet and Its Creatures,” Replenish the Earth, and other writings on Judaism and animals
