Kabbalah and Ecology
God's Image in the More-Than-Human World

Kabbalah and Ecology resets the conversation about ecology and the Abrahamic traditions.

David Mevorach Seidenberg (Author)

9781107081338, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 6 April 2015

420 pages, 1 b/w illus.
23.7 x 16 x 3 cm, 0.75 kg

'This book will be of interest in numerous disciplines, including Jewish studies, conservation and environmental studies, and religion. Recommended for all Jewish libraries.' David B. Levy, Association of Jewish Libraries News

Kabbalah and Ecology is a groundbreaking book that resets the conversation about ecology and the Abrahamic traditions. David Mevorach Seidenberg challenges the anthropocentric reading of the Torah, showing that a radically different orientation to the more-than-human world of nature is not only possible, but that such an orientation also leads to a more accurate interpretation of scripture, rabbinic texts, Maimonides and Kabbalah. Deeply grounded in traditional texts and fluent with the physical sciences, this book proposes not only a new understanding of God's image but also a new direction for restoring religion to its senses and to a more alive relationship with the more-than-human, both with nature and with divinity.

Acknowledgments
Notes on translation, transliteration, and bibliography
Overview of Kabbalah and Ecology
Introduction. Jewish ecological thought and the challenge for scriptural theology
Part I. Midrash: 1. Tselem Elohim (God's image) in Midrash and commentary, part 1: the angels and the heavens, the chain of Being, intellect and speech
2. Tselem Elohim in Midrash and commentary, part 2: the body, gender, dominion, and ethics
3. Tselem, dignity, and the 'infinite value' of the other
4. The soul and the others: humans, animals and other subjectivities
5. Ethics and the others: moral fellowship with animals and beyond animals
Intermediate conclusions: from Midrash to Kabbalah
Part II. Kabbalah: 6. Tselem Elohim in Kabbalah, part 1: the Sefirot, the soul and body, the hypostases, and the heavens
7. Tselem Elohim in Kabbalah, part 2: the more-than-human world - holism and unifications, trees, birds, animals, and colors
8. Of rocks, names, and codes: the letters of Creation
9. Adam Qadmon: the universe as God's image
10. Gaia, Adam Qadmon, and Maimonides
11. Qomah: the stature of all beings
Intermediate conclusions: from Kabbalah to ecotheology
Part III. Ecotheology: 12. Nigun, Shirah, the singing of Creation, and the problem of language
13. Further theological reflections
Conclusions: a new ethos, a new ethics
Excursus 1. Nefesh and related terms
Excursus 2. The prayer of P'ri 'Ets Hadar
Appendix. The Sefirot, the Tree of Life, and a brief history of Kabbalah
Bibliography of primary Jewish sources
General index
Index of scriptural verses
Index of scriptural sources.

Subject Areas: Applied ecology [RNC], The environment [RN], History of science [PDX], Theology [HRLB], Judaism [HRJ], Christian theology [HRCM], Comparative religion [HRAC], Philosophy of religion [HRAB], Religion: general [HRA], Philosophy [HP]