The Shavuot Harvest – Olameinu: Our World, Our Environment
The holiday of Shavuot has a special connection with Jewish environmentalism. Shavuot in the Torah is described as a Jewish harvest of celebration and unity. The unity first begins in the fields when landowners begin their grain harvest and abide the laws of the Torah by not harvesting the corners of the field. These corners were reserved for those less fortunate to harvest grain as well.
Since a productive harvest is part of the vision of covenant, it is important that all the people are included and given a chance to participate. In fact, we can imagine the process of the whole country involved together, harvesting together and celebrating together.
In today’s world, we no longer celebrate our covenant through harvest and pilgrimage festivals. But the celebration of the Torah and our receiving of it is timeless. Within the Torah are all the laws of Jewish environmentalism and respect for the world and all creatures in it. The Torah is our focus document for living our lives and demands respect for the environment even if it is not the popular stand of a secular society.
Celebrating Shavuot today includes remembering that the source of our environmentalism is the Torah and it dates back to the very formation of the Jewish people.