“Growing Without Consuming” – Olameinu – Our World, Our Environment
There is a wonderful concept that comes through the learning of Jewish Mysticism called ‘Tzimtzum’. It is the concept of pulling inward into yourself. It is slightly different in process from self-constraint since self-constraint involves an imposed discipline of limitation. ‘Tzimtzum’ on the other hand implies drawing inward in order to allow room for the other – space for growth.
I believe this concept is key to many of our interpersonal relationships in allowing room for partners, parents, children, friends etc. If they get too close to us without our engaging in ‘tzimtzum’, then we feel they have overstepped but if we prepare ourselves by pulling inward, we have created the space for them to draw near to us without intrustion.
I’d like to bridge this concept into Jewish environmentalism. Rather than viewing sensitivity toward the environment and limiting consumption as a negative thing (negative in the sense of something I’m NOT doing), I suggest we view it as the positive behaviour of ‘tzimtzum’. By not needing to extend myself onto and into everything around me, I consume less, I discard less and I impose less. I have an effect on the environment because I exercised my power to withdraw inward and I have thereby created space for the environment and for growth.
Tags: environment, Mysticism