blog: Ari Enkin 04 pollution

28 Elul 5770

September 7 2010

On Pollution

While I can brag that I have always made an effort to keep the environment clean, particularly with regards to the temptation of littering when holding on to my waste is inconvenient (i.e. gum wrappers), I can say that I make even more of an effort in Israel. It would just seem horribly sacrilegious to soil the land mentioned in the Torah, the land that God Himself constantly watches with His own eyes, (Dvarim 11:12) and that He gave us as our national inheritance. There is actually a complete code of conduct and a variety of halachic issues dealing with littering and our responsibility to the environment. For example, what are the halachic issues involved, in say, spitting your chewed up gum out of a moving car on the highway, tossing a tissue out the window, or throwing out the end of a cigarette? I hope it comes as no surprise to learn that indeed, littering is absolutely forbidden by Torah and Talmudic law in all times and places, not to mention that the offenders are sentenced to corporal punishment in Singapore.

Garbage, as any other item, must only be put in places designated for it. If people were to merely put their garbage or other refuse in any place they chose, it would (and does!) endanger the public from both a health as well as a safety perspective. The Talmud records a story about a juvenile delinquent who was throwing rocks from his yard onto public property. A neighbor then shouted: “Your rocks are from your own property! Why do you throw your rocks into an area that doesn’t belong to you?" Of course, he ignored the rebuke of his neighbor and this rock thrower was later injured by his very own rocks. (Bava Kama 50b) When one places garbage in an area not specifically intended for it - that person is responsible for all damages or injuries it causes (Bava Kama 6a). Nevertheless, not all refuse is forbidden to be ejected into the public thoroughfare. For example, the dirty waters from washing floors may put placed in a way that it runs into a sewer. But again, should someone slip and hurt himself from even this permissibly placed dirty water - responsibility is the polluter’s (C.M. 414:2). We are told that a righteous person is one who is extra meticulous and careful in the disposal of any waste that could possibly hurt someone (Bava Kama 30a).

It is interesting to note that in ancient times, Jerusalem had a very efficient waste removal and sanitary program. (Bava Kama 82b). Unfortunately today, Jerusalem, the holy and capital city of Israel has severe garbage and sanitation issues in need of immediate attention. Far beyond the prohibition of soiling the environment, there is also a positive commandment on maintaining a high quality of environmental life. For example, the Talmud prohibits one from opening a shop too close to a residential area if it may bring in noise and disturb people’s sleep. Air pollution and offensive odors are also regulated. Indeed, olive wood as well as grape vines were not allowed to be used on the altar in the Temple due to the air pollution that burning these materials would cause. Littering is a common “yetzer hara”, evil impulse. Fight it! When you do you will have participated in “Tikkun Olam” - repairing the world and gain a mitzvah for it as well.