SPEAKING, TEACHING AND CONSULTING

Topics

I am available for presentations, scholar-in-residencies, and teaching on the following topics:

  • The Climate Emergency: Does Religion Matter?

  • Communicating the Environmental Message to Religious (and Jewish) Audiences

  • The Ecological Meaning of Creation

  • Finding God Outdoors: A Creator God and A Sense of Place

  • Shabbat as the Centerpiece for an Ecologically Sound Life

  • Reading the Bible Ecologically

  • Toward a Holy Ecology: Reading the Song of Songs in the Age of Climate Crisis

  • The Original Earth Day: Tu B'Shvat, the Jewish New Year of the Trees

Yale Forum on Religion and Ecology: Conversation with Ellen Bernstein

Moment Magazine: Conversation with Ellen Bernstein and Natan Margalit

 Courses

I teach a semester-length course entitled The Place of Nature in the Bible. 

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 Hebrew Bible understand the natural world?  What vocabulary does the Bible use to express ecological ideas and values?  What is the meaning of Dominion?  What is our place in the world—are we lords, servants, stewards, co-creatures? Does human “sin” yield environmental consequences? Does the Bible offer a coherent ecological theology?  If so, why are so few Jews aware of it?  We will be reading closely selections of Biblical texts including Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy and will determine whether asking new questions might reveal new readings of ancient texts.

Passover Earth Seder (2020) with Rabbis Ellen Bernstein, George Mordechai and friends

Conversation on the Bible and Ecology with Rabbi Ellen Bernstein and Ted Hiebert Phd at the Temple of Understanding

Spiritual Environmentalism with Ellen Bernstein, Ariel Mayse and Adam Berman

TESTIMONIALS

  • Rabbi Ellen Bernstein is widely recognized as the pioneer thinker and activist who helped define modern "Jewish environmentalism." She is an inspirational speaker. It is a rare privilege to learn from someone who is at once knowledgeable about the environmental crisis and also completely conversant with Jewish perspectives on it. Her ability to merge scholarship with personal passion coupled with her activism and vision makes for particularly compelling presentations and classes.

    — Alon Tal, Ph.d, Ben Gurion University, Founder, Arava Institute, Winner, Bronfman Prize, 2006

  • Rabbi Ellen Bernstein's work has provided the firm foundation on which contemporary Jewish environmentalism rests. She is an inspiring educator and scholar-in-residence who connects theory and practice in her teaching and in her own life's journey.

    — Rabbi Leonard Gordon, Congregation Mishkan Tefil

  • A wise and passionate teacher, writer, and activist, Rabbi Ellen Bernstein is a brave pioneer in the field of Jewish environmentalism.

    — Rabbi Or Rose, Director, Center for Global Judaism, Hebrew College Rabbinical School

Partial List of Past Presentations

    • Chautauqua Institution

    • Bioneers Conference

    • Brown University

    • C.A.J.E. Conference

    • Creighton University: Jews and Environment Symposium

    • Davidson College

    • DePaul University: Religion and Environment Conference

    • Dickenson College

    • Environmental Journalists Conference

    • Earth Day 1990, Philadelphia All Species Parade

    • Emory University

    • General Assembly of Jewish Federations

    • Grounding: Ecology, Faith, Hope conference in association with the Muskoka Summit on the Environment

    • Hadassah National Convention

    • Hampshire College

    • Harvard University Hillel

    • Hebrew College

    • Institute for Southern Jewish Life

    • Isabella Freedman Retreat: Adamah Fellowship

    • Jewish Funders Network

    • Jewish National Fund Conference

    • Lutheran School of Theology

    • Mount Allison University

    • Parliament of World Religions Conference

    • Religions for the Earth Conference

    • Reconstructionist Rabbinical School

    • Siegal College

    • Smith College

    • Society for Biblical Literature Conference

    • St. Michael's University: Religion and Environment Conference

    • Swathmore College

    • Teva Conference

    • Union Theological Seminary

    • University of Oregon

    • University of Pennsylvania

    • University of Vermont

    • United Jewish Communities: General Assembly

    • Women's League of Conservative Judaism International Convention

    • Yale University Divinity School

    • Adath Jeshurun, Elkins Park, PA.

    • Beth Israel Congregation, North Adams MA.  

    • Cape Cod Synagogue, Hyannis, MA.

    • Congregation Bet Haverim, Atlanta, Georgia

    • Congregation B'nai Israel, Northampton, MA.

    • Congregation B'nai Jehudah, Kansas City, KS.

    • Congregation Emanu-el Witchita, Kansas

    • Germantown Jewish Centre, Philadelphia, PA.

    • Jewish Community of Amherst, Amherst, MA.

    • Jewish Theological Seminary of America, New York, NY.

    • Jewish Center of the Hamptons, East Hampton, NY.

    • Jews of Montana Conference, Bozeman, Montana

    • Kehillat Lev Shalom, Woodstock, NY.

    • Or Hadash, Fort Washington, PA.

    • Poughkeepsie Jewish Community Center, Poughkeepsie, NY. 

    • Rimon, Lenox, MA.

    • Steven Wise Free Synagogue, New York, NY.

    • Temple Emmanuel, Haverhill, MA. 

    • Temple Shalom, Medford, MA.