In this week’s episode we conclude our Ten Plagues series with the plague of the death of the firstborn. We explore how this unprecedented disaster mirrors the modern climate crisis, where significant action is often delayed until a crisis impacts everyone with the same unavoidable universality. By comparing the sudden, collective shock of this plague to our experiences with the pandemic, we examine how upending rigid power structures and traditional leadership can make room for more collaborative, harmonious models to arise. Ultimately, we find hope in the possibility of rebalancing these systems to move away from strife and toward a unified commitment to our planet. Follow along with the source sheet here: https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/694341

In this week’s episode we celebrate Tu Bishvat by exploring the Shulchan Aruch and the Pri Etz Hadar, examining how a day historically framed as a legal timekeeper and distinguished only by the omission of somber prayers is now seen as a cornerstone for modern Jewish environmentalism. We discuss how the holiday’s timing is rooted in the Gemara’s observation of accumulated rainfall, serving as a ritualized reminder of the essential role water plays in our lives and the shifting patterns of our climate. We examine how the Tu Bishvat seder and the practice of eating dried fruit foster a deeper connection to the land, cultivating gratitude for nature's future abundance and finding hope in the promise of growth during the year’s leanest months. Follow along with the source sheet here: voices.sefaria.org/sheets/694301

In this week’s episode we continue our Ten Plagues series with the plague of darkness. We explore the stark power imbalance in Egypt, where Pharaoh holds all the agency while his people are rendered immobile, drawing a parallel to our modern struggle where those most affected by climate change often lack the power to enact the changes that those in authority refuse to make. We look at the plague’s unique nature—though not inherently deadly, its disorienting and isolating effect move Pharaoh more than any previous plague. We analyze this darkness as a poignant metaphor for climate despair, representing the feeling of being paralyzed and cut off from one another in the face of an overwhelming crisis. Ultimately, we find hope in the Israelites' transition from their own historical despair toward a new-found purpose, concluding that the antidote to such darkness is to gather a community of like-minded people to take collective action. Follow along with the source sheet here: https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/694340