Ellen Bernstein

Writer, Teacher, Consultant, Founder, Shomrei Adamah, Keepers of the Earth

Speaking & Teaching

Topics and Courses
Endorsements
Past Lectures

Topics and Courses

Ellen is available for speaking engagements, teaching and scholar-in-residencies. In addition to the presentations listed below, Ellen has worked with many Jewish and Israeli environmental organizations as a board member or consultant and is happy to provide an overview of the current work in the field.

Topics include:

  • The Bible's Ecological Roots
  • How Judaism can Help the Environmental Movement
  • Creating Inspiring Jewish Communities: Infusing Jewish life with Ecological Vision and Practices
  • Creation theology isn't Creationism and why this is Good News for Jews
  • Creation Theology, a Feminine Ecology
  • Ecological Understandings of the Jewish Holidays
  • Land, Literacy and Jewish Identity
  • The Eco-Theology of Jewish Prayer
  • The Ecology of Shabbat
  • Song of Songs from an Ecological Perspective

Ellen teaches a 3-credit course entitled The Place of Nature in the Bible at Hebrew College in Newton, MA. Beginning in September 2008 this course will be available ONLINE through Hebrew College. Contact hebrewcollege.edu. In time other courses will be developed.

Course Description

In light of climate change and a host of environmental dilemmas, many are turning to religious traditions in search of a spiritual and ethical framework by which to understand and grapple with these problems. This course addresses such questions as: How does the Bible understand nature? What vocabulary does the Bible use to express ecological ideas and values? What is the meaning of Dominion? What is our place in nature--are we lords, servants, stewards, co-creatures? Does human "sin" yield environmental consequences? Does the Bible offer an inherent ecological theology? If so, why are many Jews unaware of it? In Part 1 of this course, we will be reading closely selections of Biblical texts including the Creation stories, Noah, other tales from Genesis, Exodus and psalms and will determine whether asking new questions might reveal new readings of ancient texts