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Are there any issues I should be careful to avoid when approaching religious Jews on the topic of sustainability? The commandment of Bal Tashchit—do not destroy or waste—has long been considered central to a Jewish environmental ethic. What is the basis for the commandment? Ecology is a highly practical branch of science: nothing could be more “down to earth” than preservation of the planet. Yet there is a facet of ecological awareness that is often overlooked: the spiritual dimension.
The Mishnah teaches that Tu Bishvat is the new year for the trees. By Tu Bishvat, the majority of the winter rains have already fallen, sap is rising, and new fruits are beginning to form. Therefore, when it comes to mitzvot such as orlah (fruits prohibited in the first three years of a tree’s production), Tu Bishvat distinguishes between the last year’s fruits and the fruits of a new year.
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