Torah portion

SPIRIT TORAH PORTION

Pursuing Climate Justice

When we have story according to comconversations mentaries that aren’t as about climate often referenced to rethink change, it often feels like our relationship to climate doom and gloom. Scary justice work? facts, worst-case scenarios 1. Jacob wrestled himand ticking clocks. Even Rabbi Nate self: According to Pirkei our language: “fighting” Degroot DeRabbi Eliezer (37), Jacob climate change places us in an adversarial relationship. Parshat Vayishlach: wrestled himself that night: “And [the angel] called But it doesn’t need to be Genesis [Jacob’s] name ‘Israel’ like this way. 32:4-36:43; his own name, for his own

In this week’s portion, Obediah name was called ‘Israel.’” Jacob wrestles an adver- 1:1-21. 2. Jacob was the one to sary. We don’t get many engage: Based on notedetails of the match, but com- worthy grammar, biblical scholar mentators typically see this man Aviva Zornberg argues that Jacob as a hostile angel who attacked initially approached the angel: Jacob unprompted. We know the “Perhaps, in some enigmatic struggle lasted until dawn when sense, Jacob is the aggressor.” the man wrenched Jacob’s hip. (The Beginning of Desire, 234).

But what happens if we reread 3. There was embrace: There four different elements of this seems to be an element of embrace to this wrestling (Rashi and Ramban). Zornberg: “This is clearly a passionate experience, involving the closest confrontation (literally face-to-face) of the whole body” (ibid). 4. A blessing: Jacob refused to let the “angel” go without receiving a blessing. Regardless of the tenor of the encounter, Jacob demanded that its conclusion be blessing.

I suggest we consider our approach to climate justice in this light: 1. Let us recognize that we are really wrestling with ourselves. Individually, it is upon us to make choices that we are proud of and that contribute to a healthier, more sustainable and more equitable world for all. 2. It’s up to us to engage first, to read that article, recycle that container, call that representative. 3. Climate work must be rooted in love. We embrace nature because we’ve been nourished by nature’s embrace. Let that drive our work, even as we struggle. 4. We won’t stop until we are blessed. Despite whatever hardships and challenges, our North Star is abundant blessing for us and all of God’s creatures.

Jacob is transformed by his encounter and given a new name, “Yisrael,” the one who wrestles with God, namesake of our people.

In our pursuit of climate justice, may we be inspired by Yisrael, wrestling with the Divine for personal growth, taking initiative, centering embrace and stopping nothing short of blessing. In so doing, may we honor the Divine creation of which we are all part.

Rabbi Nate Degroot is the Hazon Detroit associate director and spiritual and program director.

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