Parashat Bereshit | It All Begins
Parashat Bereshit begins with two creation stories, which can be confusing. Historically, most people focus on the second story - the one that emphasizes humans’ domination over the world, with men created first, followed by animals and nature, and the first woman emerging from the man. This version has led society to prioritize human control over the environment and hierarchy between genders.
But I’d like to focus on the first creation story. It’s one of interconnectedness and inclusion. Here, humans come last in the order of creation, reminding us that we are not superior to nature but part of it. In this version, humans are created as non-binary beings, encompassing all genders. It’s a narrative that promotes equality and highlights the sacred relationship between humanity and the natural world.
From the very beginning of this creation story, we learn that the Earth, its ecosystems, and all living creatures, including us, are part of a single, divine web. No part is greater than another. This interconnectedness means that every action we take impacts the whole. We must live in harmony with nature, not exploit it.
Reb Zalman’s concept of Eco-Kashrut builds on this foundation. It's not just about technical rules for what we eat; it’s about understanding our responsibility to the Earth and all its creatures. Every food choice we make should honor the planet and the people who work to bring that food to us. It’s about sustainability and care, just as the first creation story teaches us.
The world has suffered from focusing on the second creation story, the narrative of domination. This has led to over-exploiting the Earth’s resources, harming ecosystems, and creating inequality among humans and between humans and the natural world. We need to reclaim the message of the first story, the one that shows us as caretakers of the planet.
Eco-Kashrut urges us to consider not just how we treat the animals we eat, but also the plants, the air, the soil, and the people who labor in the fields. The interconnectedness of creation means that treating one part of the system poorly harms the whole.
The Earth, as part of creation, is a partner. We must respect the balance that has been created. We cannot deplete resources, harm animals, or mistreat workers without breaking this balance. Just as we are part of creation, so is every other living being, and we must live in a way that reflects this.
We see this in the ocean. Overfishing depletes fish stocks, and when we harm one species, like whales, we disrupt entire ecosystems and leads to destruction for all of us. And it’s not happening to only one species. It’s happening to every species. In harming the balance of the seas, we harm ourselves. Just as the first creation story teaches us, all life is interconnected.
The first creation story reminds us that the Earth is “very good,” whole, and sacred. Our role is not to dominate but to nurture this wholeness. Eco-Kashrut is a way of living that honors the goodness of creation by ensuring that what we consume sustains the planet, not depletes it.
To live ethically, we must return to the values of the first creation story - one where humans are part of a greater system, not the rulers of it. Our wellbeing is tied to the wellbeing of every other part of creation, and Eco-Kashrut helps guide us in this responsibility.
Furthermore, the Cain and Abel story of this week’s parasha teaches us that we are our brother’s keeper. When we neglect the needs of the people who grow, harvest, and prepare our food, we are neglecting this duty. Exploiting workers is as harmful as exploiting the Earth. Both violate the interconnectedness of creation.
When we mistreat workers, we harm not only them but the entire system that sustains life. Just as the first creation story teaches us that all of creation is interconnected, our actions toward other humans ripple through the entire ecosystem. Also, as all humans are made in the Divine Image, mistreating anyone is a slap in the face of all that is Holy.
Eco-Kashrut is not only about what we eat but how our food is produced. It demands that we honor the dignity of those who work the land and bring food to our tables. This respect reflects the sacredness of every person, created in the image of the Divine.
The ethical treatment of workers is central to sustaining the balance of creation. If we exploit those who grow and prepare our food, we undermine the very interconnectedness that the first creation story teaches us to honor. The way we treat workers is a reflection of how we treat the Earth and all living beings.
When we ensure fair wages, safe working conditions, and respect for workers, we are living in alignment with the first creation story’s message of balance and care. By treating workers fairly, we acknowledge that the entire system, people, animals, plants, and the Earth, depends on each other. Just as Cain was called to be his brother’s keeper, we are called to be keepers of one another, especially those who make our sustenance possible.
As we reflect on Parashat Bereshit this weekend, let’s return to the first creation story’s vision of a balanced, interconnected world. The concept of Eco-Kashrut invites us to honor the Earth, all living creatures, and the workers who make our sustenance possible. In doing so, we live in harmony with creation, as the Divine intended.
Shabbat Shalom!
