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D I R T
The Jewish Nature Center is proud to welcome Dirt as our Sponsor of the Month. Dirt is one of those things in nature that we see every day but rarely
take the time really to look at, or feel or smell.
Our sponsor would like for us to remind you that all dirt is not the same. The dirt from the hills of West Virginia is completely different from the dirt found in Maine or the dirt found in an Oregon rain forest. Some dirt is dry and sandy. Some dirt comes in the form of rich red clay. Whatever form it comes in, dirt is very special in Jewish tradition. It goes all of the way back to the third day of Creation (Genesis 1:6). God said, 'The waters under the heaven shall be gathered to one place and dry land shall appear.' It happened...
Dirt has a lot of names in Hebrew - eretz, tevel, adamah and arka.
We speak about the Land of Israel as Eretz Yisrael and the first human creature was named Adam from the word adamah which is what very fertile dirt is called.
And now a word from our sponsor:
The
next time you start complaining about dirt getting into your house or car or tent just remember that you are speaking about yourself. That's right, my friends.
It says so in the Torah. First, I gave of myself to let plants grow (Genesis 1:11). Then I gave of myself to bring forth all of the different animals that walk the earth (Genesis 1:24). And last, but certainly not least, I gave of myself to bring forth the first person, Adam. God formed Adam out of the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils a breath of life (Genesis 2:7). Treat me kindly and you treat yourselves kindly.
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