The Jerusalem Post published an article by Hillel Shuval, professor emeritus at Hebrew University, entitled, "The roots of the water crisis".
His opening paragraph begins with the ominous words, "This country is facing one of its most severe water crises, triggered by the harsh droughts of 2006-2009. However the crisis is no less the result of the long-term chronic problem of overutilization of its limited natural water resources."
His solutions are posited at the end of the article.
" We must end wasteful water subsidies to agriculture. It is illogical and immoral to dry up the urban parks, gardens and green areas, while exporting flowers grown with subsidized drinking water to Europe. New ways must be found to maintain as many of the agricultural communities as much possible by subsidizing green areas as the Swiss do, but not by subsidizing water......"
The article ends with the author's opinion that "A solution to our water crisis is possible, but requires giving up many deeply imbedded dreams and visions of the past."
I respectfully disagree and feel that the solution to the crisis can only come from visions of the past - to the acceptance of the Torah at Mount Sinai.
The second paragraph of the Shema prayer clearly states,
" AND IT WILL COME TO PASS, IF YOU WILL DILIGENTLY LISTEN TO MY MITZVOS WHICH I COMMAND YOU TODAY TO LOVE HASHEM YOUR G-D AND TO SERVE HIM WITH ALL YOUR HEART AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL I WILL GIVE RAIN FOR YOUR LAND AT THE RIGHT TIME".
There it is in a nutshell - the solution to the water crisis.
Devorah,
ReplyDeleteI really enjoy your blog and the fresh, simple, uplifting perspectives it offers amidst a blogosphere rife with cynicism.
Keep those posts coming, one small voice really can make a difference.
I take issue with the blogger's solution to Israel's water crisis. You casually ignore what we as human beings can do to mitigate the crisis. Agricultural water allocation is slated to be cut back by the State of Israel. Good citizens must contribute as well by taking shorter showers and generally being less wasteful with the precious resource. Yes , praying is important , but so too is action. G-d only helps us when we put in an effort first. This idea is illustrated by our patriarch Yaakov , who , when having to face Esav prayed but also actively prepared his camp for war.
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ReplyDeleteYour point is well stated, however, I think you completely miss Devorah's point. She rightly, and poetically, criticizes Hillel Shuval's glaring omission of any reference to our nation's true waters which flow forth through the course of jewish history from wellsprings of our past - the waters of the Toirah Hakedoisha. Indeed, any human action we take must be predicated on our deep and abiding faith in Hashem who is the source of everything. To "casually ignore" this crucial element may place us at the greatest peril.
Devorah speaks words of wisdom, faith and humanity. Listen to her, always...
There is a Yiidish saying, "men tracht en de Eybesther lacht". People can try to make an effort for their plans to succeed and G-d laughs. So, people can conserve and come up with solutions to the water crisis, but without G-d's help, it will be for nought.
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