viewpoints » S end letters to: letters@thejewishnews.com DETROIT JEWISH NEWS theJEWISHNEWS.com publisher’s notebook Arthur M. Horwitz Publisher / Executive Editor ahorwitz@renmedia.us No Divine Intervention For Flint’s ‘Bitter Water’ “Then Moses made Israel set out from the Red Sea, and they went into the wilderness of Shur. They went three days in the wilder- ness and found no water. When they came to Marah, they could not drink the water of Marah because it was bitter; therefore, it was named Marah. And the people grum- bled against Moses, ‘What shall we drink?’ And he cried to the LORD, and the LORD showed him a log, and he threw it into the water, and the water became sweet.” ence to the Lord, the Israelites are assured that they will be spared from diseases like the ones experienced by the Egyptians and, presumably, from tainted water. As we gather with our family and friends across the Detroit metropolitan area, we take for granted that “sweet water” is enter- ing our homes through pipes linked to the Detroit Water & Sewerage Department, which now operates under the newly formed umbrella of the Great Lakes Water Exodus 15:22-25 Authority. Look around your seder table. he annual retelling of “Sweet water” is everywhere. It’s in the story of the Exodus the chicken soup, the matzah balls, from Egypt at our the homemade gefilte fish, the cof- Passover seders is framed and fee and tea. It is used to clean the enhanced by the evening’s many dishes, pots, pans and utensils. It’s symbolic actions. We wash our in the ritual washing cup and the hands. We invite all who are hun- ice cubes dropped into our glasses. gry to come and eat. Our seder It boiled the potatoes and eggs and table contains items representing Arthur Horwitz steamed the vegetables. It rinsed the bricks, mortar and bitter tears. fresh fruit. It’s in your grandchild’s Our young ask: Why? Why? bottle of baby formula and Miriam’s Why? Why? We recline in freedom. We spill symbolic cup. a drop of wine after each of the 10 plagues For the people of Flint, their waters are revealed. We mash a hard-boiled egg were once “sweet,” too … drawn from the into a bowl with salt water. We leave a identical water source and treated with the cup of wine for Elijah and open a door to same additives that we utilize. Their waters, welcome him. In some homes, a goblet however, were made bitter — not through of water is placed to honor Moses’ sister, Divine intervention — but through those Miriam. duty-bound to protect and serve them. Regardless of the Haggadah utilized (I In the wilderness, the Israelites com- grew up with the Maxwell House coffee ver- plained about the undrinkable water and sion; we now use A Night to Remember by Moses — perhaps the greatest biblical Mishael and Noam Zion), the underlying leader — heard their complaints with his message endures for the ages … the aspira- own ears. We see no mention of advisers, tion of freedom over slavery and oppres- councils or others who stood between the sion. And, in every generation, there are people and Moses, shielding him so he those who enslave and oppress, or attempt could focus on other pressing matters. We to do so. see no evidence that Moses pondered the There is one portion of the biblical story issue, ordered a study to determine if the of the Exodus that, today, has special reso- quality of the water met minimum stan- nance. dards and encouraged or allowed the thirsty In Exodus 15:22-25, we learn of the masses to continue consuming the water in Israelites sojourning through the wilderness the interim period. Rather, Moses cries out of Shur and lacking fresh water. When they directly to the Lord for immediate interven- come to Marah, the water is undrinkable tion and is presented with a remedy. and the people complain to their leader, Yet in Flint, when the people voiced Moses. He hears their pleas and cries out their concern about the bitter water, their for Divine intervention. Moses is then pro- complaints were dismissed, discounted or vided with the means to make the water ignored. Just the same bunch of kvetches drinkable. In exchange for ongoing obedi- who are unhappy about everything any- T way … They were powerless in the face of long-established structures of indifference represented by people whose hearts turned out to be as hardened as Pharaoh’s. And as a result, people died. Children were poi- soned. All from the same spigot that once connected them and us. Belatedly, efforts are under way to treat Flint’s bitter waters. Allocations of safe, bottled water are provided to individuals and families for drinking, cooking and bathing. Periodic readings show levels of lead are abating in the public water system. But the basic trust — between the govern- ment and those being governed — has been shattered. If the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) said your tap water was now safe, would you drink it? If MDEQ said drilling for oil in Southfield would not pose any environmental damage, would you accept it? If MDEQ said air qual- ity in Southwest Detroit posed no unusual health risks, would you take a deeper breath of it? As you reflect upon the story of the Exodus and what it means to move from slavery to freedom, survey the many sym- bolic items adorning your seder table. Then, consider the following: • When symbolically washing your hands at the outset of the seder, please offer a prayer for the people of Flint; • Place a glass of “sweet water” drawn from your tap next to Elijah’s cup. Let it serve as a reminder that clean water — which you are consuming in myriad forms as an integral part of your seder — was poisoned for the people of Flint. • Visit the www.flintkids.org site and make a contribution — perhaps the kids can donate dollars they received in exchange for the afikoman and the house- hold can contribute the equivalent of what it would have expended if it had two more guests — from Flint — at the seder table. May you and your family have a festive and meaningful Passover. As we yearn for “next year in Jerusalem,” may we also pray that our hearts will not harden in the face of unprecedented challenges facing the people of Flint and the governmental bod- ies responsible for protecting their health and safety. * F. Kevin Browett Chief Operating Officer kbrowett@renmedia.us | Editorial Managing Editor: Jackie Headapohl jheadapohl@renmedia.us Story Development Editor: Keri Guten Cohen kcohen@thejewishnews.com Arts & Life Editor: Lynne Konstantin lkonstantin@renmedia.us Senior Copy Editor: David Sachs dsachs@renmedia.us Editorial Assistant: Sy Manello smanello@renmedia.us Senior Columnist: Danny Raskin dannyraskin@sbcglobal.net Contributing Editor: Robert Sklar rsklar@renmedia.us Contributing Writers: Ruthan Brodsky, Suzanne Chessler, Annabel Cohen, Don Cohen, Shari S. Cohen, Shelli Liebman Dorfman, Adam Finkel, Ryan Fishman, Stacy Gittleman, Judy Greenwald, Ronelle Grier, Esther Allweiss Ingber, Harry Kirsbaum, Barbara Lewis, Rabbi Jason Miller, Alan Muskovitz, Steve Stein | Creative Services Corporate Creative Director: Deborah Schultz dschultz@renmedia.us Graphic Designer: Rebecca Schock | Advertising Sales Sales Director: Keith Farber kfarber@renmedia.us Account Executives : Kathryn Andros, Wendy Flusty, Vivian Friedman, Andrea Gusho, Annette Kizy, Paige Lustig Sales Manager Assistants : Joelle Harder, Karen Marzolf | Business Offices Billing Coordinator: Pamela Turner Collections Analyst: Hazel Bender | Production By FARAGO & ASSOCIATES Manager: Scott Drzewiecki Designers: Amy Pollard, Pam Sherevan, Michelle Sheridan, Susan Walker | Detroit Jewish News Chairman: Michael H. Steinhardt President/Publisher: Arthur M. Horwitz ahorwitz@renmedia.us Chief Operating Officer: F. Kevin Browett kbrowett@renmedia.us Controller: Craig R. 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