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Water
The Jewish Nature Center is proud to welcome WATER as our Sponsor of the Month. Water is without question one of our most important natural resources.
Every living thing on the face of the earth needs water to survive. And, half of all of the fresh water in the entire world is found in North America.
Water has also played a key role in the development of the world and in the history of the Jewish people. We have the Torah's story of the Great Flood
which altered the entire history of the world. And then there is the story of baby Moses (who's name means "one who was drawn from the waters") was carried to freedom on the waters of the Nile
River. Of course, later in the Exodus story we learn that the Red Sea divided so that the Israelites could cross it safely. Equally as important is the fact that the Red Sea closed up again when
Pharaoh's troops were crossing it.
And water still plays an important role in our celebration of Jewish life. We "cast off" our sins onto flowing water during the holiday of
Rosh Hashanah. On Yom Kippur we read the story of Jonah who was swallowed by a whale. And it is a custom of many men and women to submerge themselves in the spiritual waters of the mikvah.
Water would like to remind us that half of all of the fresh water in the world is found in North America - and half of this water is in the Great Lakes.
This water does not belong to us. It belongs to all of the world and to all future generations. It is our task to use water wisely and to be certain that fresh water remains the birthright of all Creation.
The next time you take a drink of clear, fresh water - remember to give thanks for this special gift.
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