Reading Pleasures
Recommended Books
Alphabetically by author’s last name:
The Sustainability Revolutionists: Heroes and Hope for Our Planet’s Future, by Lucia Athens, invites us to an imaginary dinner party to meet role models for a better future on earth.
Ecology and the Jewish Spirit, Ellen Bernstein (ed.), various writers present creative ways to approach Judaism with a renewed ecological awareness.
Spirit in Nature: Teaching Judaism and Ecology on the Trail, Matt Biers-Ariel, Deborah Newbrun, and Michael Fox Smart, is a handbook of exercises to use on hikes or other outdoor activity in a Jewish context.
A Wild Faith: Jewish Ways into Wilderness, Wilderness Ways Into Judaism, Mike Comins, is “a guide to the theory and practice of Jewish wilderness spirituality.”
The Avian Rebbe Takes Flight, and The Avian Rebbe Stretches His Wings, by Aaric Eisentein, combine beautiful bird photography with deep life lessons from Torah.
The Encyclopedia of Jewish Symbols, Ellen Frankel and Betsy Platkin Teutsch, An illustrated guide to Jewish symbols, many from nature, and their meanings.
The Jewish Book of Days: A Companion for All Seasons, Jill Hammer, A day by day guide connecting “sacred stories and nature’s rhythms” throughout the year.
God in the Wilderness: Rediscovering the Spirituality of the Outdoors with the Adventure Rabbi, Jamie S. Korngold, provides new perspective on the bible and Jewish spirituality in the great outdoors.
Kabbalah and Ecology: God’s Image in the More Than Human World, David Seidenberg, A scholarly work that takes a deep look at new ways to interpret our relationship with the natural world and develop an eco-theology rooted in Jewish tradition.
God is Here: Reimagining the Divine, Toba Spitzer. This inspiring new book shows how our biblical ancestors found God in nature and its symbols (water, rock, cloud, etc.) and how we might do so, too.
Torah of the Earth, Arthur Waskow (ed.), Many writers explore four millennia of Jewish teachings on nature from ancient to modern times in this two book series.
Look for other topical books recommended throughout this site.
