This week's episode is part one of a double episode exploring a text from Bamidbar about the Israelites’ intense craving for meat and the subsequent arrival of the quail. We examine the tension between the miracle of the manna—a versatile food that nonetheless left the people feeling unsatisfied—and their nostalgic, potentially idealized memories of the diverse diet they left behind in Egypt. This narrative provides a framework to discuss the environmental impact of modern meat consumption and the challenges of transitioning toward more sustainable, plant-based diets, even when innovative alternatives are available. We reflect on the historical Jewish model of treating meat as a "sometimes food" reserved for special occasions, exploring how economic and cultural factors have shifted our relationship with animal protein. Ultimately, we view the Israelites' longing as an invitation to celebrate the vast biodiversity of our planet’s offerings and to investigate how we might find vitality and pleasure in a more varied and sustainable abundance. Follow along with the source sheet here: www.sefaria.org/sheets/658896

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