Ruth Berlin’s Inspiring Journey: Fighting for Health and Climate from Auschwitz to Annapolis

When we think of the Holocaust, words like bullets and gas chambers come to mind. But for Ruth Berlin, a psychotherapist from Israel and founder of an environmental health group, pesticides are a haunting part of her family’s story.

Ruth lost many family members during the Holocaust. They were murdered in concentration camps, gassed with Zyklon B, a pesticide made by Bayer, a company that also profited from the atrocities. This dark connection reminds us that even ordinary companies can play roles in extraordinary evil.

Years later, Ruth faced pesticide exposure herself. In 1990, aerial spraying of malathion, a neurotoxin from Bayer, made her ill and sent her young son into anaphylactic shock. After moving to Annapolis, Maryland, she found the same pesticide was still being used for mosquito control. Instead of giving up, Ruth became an environmental activist, ultimately banning malathion in Maryland for mosquito control.

In 1994, she founded the Maryland Pesticide Network, now known as the Maryland Pesticide Education Network. For over thirty years, Ruth has fought to protect families and ecosystems from toxic chemicals.

One of her key victories came after her son was poisoned a second time in his school. Discovering that pesticides were often sprayed during school hours, she spent five years advocating for change. Her efforts led to the first Integrated Pest Management in Schools Law in the U.S., protecting not just children in Maryland, but serving as a model for 36 other states.

Since then, Ruth’s group has passed several important laws, including the first statewide ban on neonicotinoids, which harm bees, and chlorpyrifos, linked to brain damage in children. Despite fierce opposition from companies like Bayer, Ruth’s commitment to science and justice has led to significant victories.

For many Jewish communities, Ruth’s journey resonates deeply. Her life reflects the idea of l’dor v’dor—ensuring that the suffering of one generation leads to protection for the next. It echoes the Jewish principle of pikuach nefesh, or saving lives. Ruth’s work isn’t just policy; it’s about protecting children from cancer, safeguarding workers, and ensuring clean air, soil, and water.

Moreover, Ruth sheds light on the relationship between pesticides and climate change. Few people know that pesticides are linked to environmental harm:

• They are made from fossil fuels, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions.
• Some pesticides, like sulfuryl fluoride, serve as potent greenhouse gases.
• They degrade the soil’s ability to store carbon, hindering our fight against global warming.

As temperatures rise, pest populations boom, pushing farmers to use even more pesticides—a vicious cycle that worsens climate issues.

Ruth’s story serves as a warning not just for Maryland but for everyone. Countries like Israel, where agriculture heavily relies on pesticides, are also at risk. Farmers and policymakers must consider how to balance food production with health. They need to think about how to protect children from harmful chemicals while adhering to the Jewish commitment to safeguard life.

Solutions do exist—organic farming, integrated pest management, and policies prioritizing health over profits. These require collective effort and determination. Ruth’s accomplishments show that even small groups can challenge giant corporations and succeed.

In 2024, Ruth’s Maryland Pesticide Education Network was named on a list of 1,000 advocates the global pesticide industry aims to undermine. This highlights her impact and bravery.

Ruth’s story is about resilience and redemption. The same chemical industry that once contributed to her family’s tragedy is now something she actively fights against in her community. Instead of being silenced, Ruth built an organization that protects millions.

Her journey is a poignant reminder of the Jewish call to “Choose life, so that you and your children may live” (Deuteronomy 30:19).

Ruth’s experience invites reflection:

• What harmful substances are we allowing into our lives?
• How can we align our actions with the value of protecting life?
• What partnerships can we create to stand up against powerful industries?

The intertwined crises of pesticides and climate change demand urgent attention. Ruth’s story shows that one determined individual can spark change, even in the face of immense challenges.

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