Genesis Rabbah, 13:6

בראשית רבה (וילנא) פרשת בראשית פרשה יג

Original Text:

עובד כוכבים אחד שאל את רבי יהושע בן קרחה א"ל אתם יש לכם מועדות, ואנו יש לנו מועדות, בשעה שאתם שמחים אין אנו שמחים, ובשעה שאנו שמחים אין אתם שמחים, ואימתי אנו ואתם שמחים בירידת גשמים

Translation:

A certain non-Jew asked Rabbi Yehoshua: “You have festivals, and we have festivals. We do not rejoice when you do, and you do not rejoice when we do. When do we both rejoice together?” “When the rain falls,” answered Rabbi Yehoshua. [AJWS translation]

Suggested Discussion Questions:

1. What kinds of occasions call for separate celebrations? What kinds call for a cross-communal celebration?
2. Why is rain a cause for mutual celebration?
3. How can communities work together to improve our access to environmental resources?

Time Period:	Rabbinic (Maccabees through the Talmud)
Type:	Legal Text
Categories:	Sustainable Development, Environment
Keywords:	environment, community
Related Texts:

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RuthBalinsky

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