Asher Lo HaYam
Water Torah
While we are taught that God is omnipresent and there is no place where the Divine presence does not dwell; there are few places that evoke a spiritual experience or a connection with the Divine more surely than water. Stand on a beach and look out to the endless expanse of the sea, and we feel God’s power. Contemplate the still, calm surface of a quiet lake and we feel God’s peace. Sit on the bank of a meandering river and feel God’s presence.
What is it about water that touches us so deeply?
Psalm 95:5 says אשר לו הים "the Sea is God’s." Of course the whole world is God's,
but Psalm 115:6 says והארץ נתן לבני אדם "The dry land was given to humans."
So, while we can commune with the Divine anywhere, we especially feel that presence on the water, because the Sea is God's... not ours.
Marine Conservation
If the Sea is God's, we must treat it as such. No decent human being would vandalize a house of worship. You wouldn't desecrate it or treat it like a garbage dump. If the Sea is God's, then why should we not treat it with the same respect that we show to a synagogue, a church, a mosque or a temple?
What We Are Doing
Tikkun HaYam Educates on Marine Conservation
College
Programs
Tikkun HaYam's primary program is Scubi Jew, a Hillel run marine conservation through scuba diving club. Students get scuba certified and participate in hands on marine citizen science projects.
Community Initiatives
From Reserve Tashlich, to our Scuba Concierge program, Tikkun HaYam offers opportunities for the greater Jewish community to get involved in marine conservation and learn about the spiritual wonders of the Sea.
youth
Education
As part of a Scubi Jew program, our college students offer educational programming for community day schools and Hebrew schools, to pass on the knowledge of marine conservation and the spirituality of the Sea to the next generation.
What You Can Do
Most people don't know the vast number of issues that affect our ocean, and the changes they can make in their lives to make a difference. But knowledge is power; we urge you to educate yourself on these important topics, and join the movement in a way that speaks to you.
That can include joining our programs, or finding other organizations that align with your interests. Check out our Connect With Others page to learn about the amazing work being done by other marine conservation organizations.