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8

September 28 • 2017

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M

ship with We the People of Detroit
any of us traveled to lakes
Community Research Collective,
and ponds to perform
have recently declared a public
the tashlich ritual last
health crisis after finding “signifi-
week. We stood by the water’s edge
cant connection between Detroit
and cast hunks of bread into the
government-imposed water
liquid expanse, waiting
shutoffs and water-related
for nature’s response of
illnesses experienced by
dainty ripples and hungry,
a sample of Henry Ford
descending birds.
Hospital patients.” The ill-
Performed on the first
nesses include skin and soft
day of Rosh Hashanah, the
tissue infections, as well as
custom serves as a sym-
water-borne bacterial infec-
bolic casting away of sin,
tions. Children, pregnant
and its positioning beside
Talia Schechet
women and disabled people
a body of water brims with
are among those affected
various spiritual meanings.
when the city shuts off water
One explanation posits that
with impunity.
it is to remind us of God’s
There is no economic jus-
omnipotence and mercy:
tification for the events in Detroit.
God might have chosen to flood the
In fact, residents are paying retail
dry land this year, but, in keeping
prices for their water as the city
with His promise following Noah’s
sells the utility at wholesale rates to
flood, did not. This explanation
suburban water authorities. Though
might invite unsavory contempo-
Detroit residents buckle under a
rary associations; for example, the
disproportionate burden that sub-
recent flooding in South Asia and
the American South. One can hardly urban-dwellers can hardly fathom,
we cannot pretend that their issue
make a case for “heavenly restraint”
is not ours, too. We all know that a
in times like these.
more robust, economically sound
Take the opportunity in the
Detroit means the same for its sub-
upcoming month to reflect on mat-
urbs — and the inverse also holds
ters both spiritual and political, but
true.
don’t think on too cosmic a scale
I’m active in a local group called
and overlook those things happen-
Detroit Jews for Justice that is build-
ing in your own backyard.
ing a Jewish base to take action on
I think of the water shutoff
this issue in solidarity with Detroit
emergency happening right now
community partners. We invite you
in Detroit. You probably are aware
to take a first step by attending a
of the tragic poisoning of water in
Flint, which is very connected to the Jewish community forum on the
shutoffs in Detroit, as a consequence health impact of our regional water
crisis, featuring activists and pub-
of emergency management institut-
lic health experts. The forum will
ed by the state. Some history: In the
wake of Detroit’s 2013 declaration of be in partnership with Temple Kol
Ami, who will host the event on the
bankruptcy and during emergency
management, the Detroit Water and evening of Oct. 23. Register today at
detroitjewsforjustice.org/events.
Sewerage Department initiated a
As I begin my junior year at Yale
water shutoff campaign against resi-
University, I regret being far away
dents who could not afford to pay
from home, limited in my capacity
their water bills. Since 2014, more
than 100,000 homes have lost access to help. This Rosh Hashanah, as I
looked out at the lake only a rock’s
to water services, a number that is
skip from campus, I remembered
predicted to rise in 2017. The time
that water exists for life, for all peo-
for the Jewish community to act is
ple. Home was on my mind. •
now.
The situation bears grave medi-
Talia Schechet is a graduate of Akiva Hebrew
cal consequences. Researchers from
Day School (now Farber Hebrew Day School)
the Henry Ford Health System’s
and the Frankel Jewish Academy. She studies
Global Health Initiative and Division English literature and energy studies at Yale
of Infectious Disease, in partner-
University.

