Nature in the Pandemic

“When the Blessed Holy One created the first human, He took him and led him round all the trees of the Garden of Eden and said to him: “Look at My works, how beautiful and praiseworthy they are! And all that I have created, it was for you that I created it. Pay attention that you do not corrupt and destroy My world: if you corrupt it, there is no one to repair it after you.”

(Kohelet Rabbah, Parasha 7:13)

Over the course of the past year, as the world has been faced with the COVID-19 pandemic; implemented lockdowns; and significantly reduced air traffic, road traffic, and sea traffic, human behavior has been altered and allowed animals and nature to thrive in certain ways. 

Some examples of this can be found in this video from the end of April 2020: 

  • What elements of nature are you most grateful for? 
  • As we begin to glimpse a return to life as we knew it before, what can we learn from our experience? 
  • When you look at the elements of nature, which is the one that you are concerned is in danger of being destroyed by humans? What can you do to repair and prevent its corruption?  
  • How can we balance the needs of humans and human development while respecting and recognizing the needs of nature?