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The Flint Water Crisis and The Flow of Torah

Sheets of a Torah scroll that were returned to Jewish hands from Poland earlier this year. Photo: Fromthedepths.org

The Talmud has a fascinating origin story for Rabbi Akiva, one of its greatest sages. His formative years were not spent in the study halls, but rather as a shepherd in the Judean hills. One day, as he tended his sheep, he observed how the constant drip of water onto a rock over a long period of time had worn it away, leaving a groove in its surface.

It was an “Aha!” moment for him. He realized that if something as soft as water could make an impression on something as hard as rock, then the teachings of Torah could surely penetrate his heart. With this realization, he immediately committed himself to a life of Torah study.

Rabbi Akiva would go on to become the formative rabbinic leader of his age, whose impact on Judaism is felt to this day. This remarkable story illustrates the power and persistence of water, a force that shapes and sustains life, and serves as a metaphor for Torah, spirituality, and the essence of faith.

In the Western world, water is considered as readily available as air—until it isn’t, and then all hell breaks loose. Recently, Flint, Michigan, passed a grim milestone—ten years since its water supply became so contaminated that residents have been forced to rely on bottled water for their daily needs.

Flint was once a thriving industrial hub known primarily for its involvement in the automobile industry, particularly as the birthplace of General Motors. This bustling city was home to a resilient community, largely composed of working-class residents, whose lives were shaped by the rise and fall of the automotive manufacturing sector.

The water crisis began in 2014 when the city switched its water supply from Lake Huron to the Flint River to cut costs. This ill-conceived decision led to the leaching of lead from old pipes into the water supply, exposing thousands of residents to toxic levels.

The health implications were devastating, particularly for children, who suffered from developmental delays and other serious health issues. The crisis revealed deep systemic failures and a breach of public trust, as officials repeatedly downplayed the severity of the contamination.

The long-term impact on residents of the Flint water crisis has been severe and multifaceted. Prolonged exposure to lead-contaminated water has resulted in numerous health problems, particularly among children, who have suffered from developmental delays, learning difficulties, behavioral issues, and a range of physical health problems, including kidney damage and impaired growth. The constant stress of dealing with contaminated water has also led to increased rates of anxiety, depression, and PTSD within the community.

Economic difficulties have compounded these health issues, with residents facing significant medical expenses, the need to purchase bottled water, and declining property values. The educational setbacks are notable, with a significant increase in the number of children qualifying for disability services due to the cognitive and behavioral impacts of lead exposure, straining the resources of local schools.

One of the most profound impacts has been the loss of trust in public institutions. The mishandling of the crisis and subsequent cover-up efforts eroded confidence in local, state, and federal authorities, making it difficult for residents to trust future public health and safety communications. Despite recent improvements in water quality and the completion of over 97% of lead service line replacements, skepticism about the safety of tap water persists among residents.

Earlier this week, restoration work began to repair lawns and sidewalks at over 1,800 homes in Flint where lead service lines have been replaced. The city, in partnership with the state, is funding this restoration, which is expected to cost over $4.5 million and will be completed by next August.

Despite these efforts, Flint has been ordered to pay $62,000 in attorney fees due to contempt of court for missing deadlines related to service line replacements. Thousands of lives have been scarred, political careers have ended in disgrace, billions have been spent—simply because of an interrupted and impaired water supply. It truly makes you think.

This situation brings to mind an episode from Parshat Chukkat – when the water supply for the Israelites in the wilderness suddenly ceased after the death of Miriam. The nation complained bitterly to Moses, and after consulting God, Moses sought out the rock that was the source of the spring water and ensured that the water began to flow again. But in the aftermath of this incident, God informed Moses that he had acted improperly and as a result would not lead the nation into Canaan for the conquest of the Promised Land.

The commentaries disagree about Moses’ “sin” – what did he do to deserve such a devastating consequence? According to Maimonides, Moses’ failure was rooted in his impulsive anger at the Israelites in the face of their desperate pleas for water. This lack of insight into the impact of not having water reflected a detachment that was not merely an error, but revealed a failure of leadership and a lack of empathy.

But there is a deeper metaphor here – the one that Rabbi Akiva stumbled upon so many centuries later. Just as society cannot survive without a ready supply of pure water, the Jewish people need a continuous flow of Torah, so that the rock of their material existence is dented by the spiritual impact of the water that steadily drips into their consciousness.

Miriam’s rock was a spring that symbolized a pure and life-giving source of spiritual nourishment. The nation’s urgent thirst for Miriam’s water should have been seen by Moses for what it was – the need for the springwaters of Torah to flow continuously, without break, so that the spiritual existence of God’s chosen nation could continue uninterrupted.

Reflecting on the lessons of the Flint water crisis and its biblical parallel in the water crisis after Miriam’s death, we see that water is not just a physical necessity but also a profound symbol of life, trust, and the intricate relationship between a community and its leaders. Just as the Israelites’ survival depended on the continuous flow of pure water from Miriam’s well, so too does the well-being of any community depend on the integrity and purity of its foundational resources, whether it is empathetic leadership or steady spiritual nourishment.

For the Jewish people, this means maintaining a steady and untainted flow of Torah, free from personal agendas and self-indulgent needs. We need it to guide and sustain us through all challenges, ensuring a future rooted in trust, resilience, and enduring faith. Rabbi Akiva’s insight—that consistent, pure Torah study can shape and sustain us—illustrates how the steady-drip approach to Torah has helped the Jewish people endure and thrive despite numerous challenges.

Rabbi Pini Dunner is the senior spiritual leader of the Beverly Hills Synagogue.

The post The Flint Water Crisis and The Flow of Torah first appeared on Algemeiner.com.

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Marco Rubio Says US Denying Visas to Foreigners ‘Celebrating’ Assassination of Charlie Kirk

Marco Rubio speaks after he is sworn in as Secretary of State by US Vice President JD Vance at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building in Washington, DC, Jan. 21, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Monday that the US is denying visas to foreigners who publicly celebrate the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, a move he cast as part of a broader posture against extremist rhetoric.

While traveling in the Middle East, Rubio told reporters that the State Department has been denying visas to individuals glorifying Kirk’s murder online. He added that officials are also reviewing existing visas and that he expects some to be revoked.

“It isn’t just about Charlie Kirk. If you’re a foreigner and you’re out there celebrating the assassination of someone who was speaking somewhere, I mean, we don’t want you in the country,” Rubio said. “Why would we want to give a visa to someone who think it’s good that someone was murdered in the public square? That’s just common sense to me.”

When asked if the US has actually revoked any visas yet, Rubio responded, “We’ve revoked visas of people. I don’t know if we’ve revoked visas of people that are inside the country. We’ve most certainly been denying visas.”

Rubio also addressed the issue in a social media post on X while sharing a video from a Fox News interview during which he was asked if he planned to restrict visa access or revoke visas for those celebrating Kirk’s killing.

“America will not host foreigners who celebrate the death of our fellow citizens,” Rubio said in the post accompanying the video. “Visa revocations are under way. If you are here on a visa and cheering on the public assassination of a political figure, prepare to be deported. You are not welcome in this country.”

Kirk, a prominent conservative activist and founder of the influential Turning Point USA organization, was shot and killed last week while speaking at Utah Valley University. Authorities have formally charged 22‑year‑old Tyler Robinson of Utah with aggravated murder and several related offenses, including discharge of a firearm, obstruction of justice, and witness tampering.

Rubio’s announcement comes amid intensifying efforts by the Trump administration to expel foreigners who express support for violence or terrorism. The administration has launched an overhaul of the US visa system, part of what officials describe as an effort to root out individuals deemed a potential threat to the country. The sweeping measures include expanded social media vetting for new applicants, continuous monitoring of the 55 million current visa holders, and the revocation of thousands of student visas.

Several of the online posts praising Kirk’s assassination have emerged from the Middle East, with individuals condemning the slain political activist over his vocal support for Israel. During his life, Kirk repeatedly spoke in defense of the Jewish state and expressed support for its military campaign in Gaza.

Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau concurred with Rubio’s statement, calling on consular officials to prevent the distribution of visas to anyone “praising, rationalizing, or making light of” the murder of Kirk.

Rubio has not explained the standards the State Department is using to determine what qualifies as “celebrating” the assassination. Some critics have speculated that this ambiguity could set up legal challenges from advocacy groups, who are already warning about the First Amendment and due process implications.

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‘Down With Fascists’: Columbia Activist Who Said ‘Zionists Don’t Deserve to Live’ Celebrates Charlie Kirk’s Murder

Khymani James, Columbia University student who filmed himself saying Zionists should be murdered. Photo: Screenshot

A former leader of the anti-Israel movement at Columbia University expressed full support for the murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk last week.

Khymani James, who made the posts, was a “campus a leader in the pro-Palestinian student protest encampment” at Columbia, according to The New York Times.

In the aftermath of Kirk’s assassination, James posted on X, “More. MORE!!!,” referencing the killing. He followed up that post by saying, “Down with all the fascists 😍.” (He later also called California Gov. Gavin Newsom a fascist.)

In another post, James wrote, “‘Be careful what you post’ and it’s people rightfully celebrating the inevitable and just fate of fascists. anywho… NO ONE MOURNS THE WICKED 😩🤣.”

In addition to the posts he wrote, James also reposted statements such as “Thoughts and prayers for the bullet,” “rest in piss,” and “saw that s–t and started giggling and kicking my feet and shouting YOOOOOO.”

In James’s biography on the social platform X, he notes, “Anything I said, I meant it. DEATH TO EMPIRE.”

This is not the first time James has rhetorically supported violence. Last year, he was on video saying, “Zionists don’t deserve to live,” and proclaiming that people should “be grateful that I’m not just going out and murdering Zionists.”

He also said, “I don’t fight to injure or for there to be a winner or a loser. I fight to kill.”

The comments triggered widespread backlash, and James was suspended by Columbia. The incident also resulted in what was widely seen as an apology for James on behalf of Columbia University Apartheid Divest (CUAD), one of the most notorious anti-Israel campus groups in the US. Months later, however, the group retracted its previous apology.

“All CUAD organizers were complicit in not maintaining our political line, keeping the statement public on our Instagram, and in neglecting the mental and physical safety of Khymani,” the post read. CUAD apologized for causing “irrevocable harm” to him.

Despite James’s comments about the possibility of murdering Zionists, CUAD’s post claimed that he was criticized and socially ostracized for “fight[ing] back against state violence.”

James also responded to this post, writing on X, “Thank you to my comrades for posting this beautiful, powerful letter. I never wrote the neo-liberal apology posted in late April, and I’m glad we’ve set the record straight once and for all. I will not allow anyone to shame me for my politics.”

“Anything I said, I meant it,” he concluded.

Kirk, 31, was shot and killed during a speaking event at Utah Valley University, where he was engaging in dialogue with students. He is survived by his wife and two young children. A young Utah man — Tyler Robinson, 22 — was taken into custody last week as the suspected shooter, about 33 hours after the assassination, according to state and federal law enforcement.

Kirk was an outspoken supporter of Israel and advocate against antisemitism. He regularly debated students on the subject of Israel and brought his ideas to young people at a time when, according to recent polling, that age group was turning decidedly against the Jewish state.

“There’s a dark Jew hate out there, and I see it,” Kirk told a student during a podcast episode which aired earlier this year. “Don’t get yourself involved in that. I’m telling you it will rot your brain. It’s bad for your soul. It’s bad. It’s evil. I think it’s demonic.”

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Spain’s PM Sánchez Faces Backlash for Fueling Anti-Israel Hostility Amid Surge in Antisemitic Incidents

Cycling – Vuelta a Espana – Stage 21 – Alalpardo to Madrid – Madrid, Spain – Sept. 14, 2025: Barriers are smashed by anti-Israel protesters during Stage 21. Photo: REUTERS/Ana Beltran

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez is facing backlash from his country’s political leaders and Jewish community, who accuse him of fueling antisemitic hostility after incidents at the Vuelta a España disrupted the prestigious cycling race.

Amid a sharp rise in anti-Jewish hate crimes and anti-Israel sentiment, Lorenzo Rodríguez, mayor of Castrillo Mota de Judíos in northern Spain, accused the country’s leader of “fueling a discourse of hatred” against Israel and the Jewish people.

“The government is fostering antisemitism that will prove deeply damaging for Spain,” Rodríguez said in an interview with the local outlet El Español.

“Sánchez’s moves are less about serious foreign policy and more about deflecting attention from his trials and failures in governance,” he continued. “Spain isn’t leading anything — it’s merely whitewashing Hamas and other terrorist groups.”

On Sunday, anti-Israel protests forced the finale of the Vuelta a España cycle race to be abandoned as police tried to quell demonstrations against the participation of an Israeli team.

In his interview, Rodríguez blamed Sánchez for fostering a hostile climate in Spain, saying the country is witnessing “hatred toward an entire people.”

He also criticized the Spanish leader for failing to take a strong stand on other international crises, including those in Russia and Venezuela.

“We all recognize that the Palestinian people are suffering, but the solution cannot be to blame the Jewish people,” Rodríguez said.

“People are afraid. There’s growing concern because our town was recently targeted,” he continued. “We are being singled out and threatened even though we have nothing to do with this war.”

Before the incidents on Sunday that led to the race’s cancellation, Sánchez expressed “admiration for the Spanish people mobilizing for just causes like Palestine” through their protests.

Madrid’s Mayor José Luis Martínez-Almeida strongly condemned Sánchez’s statement, accusing him of encouraging hostility and fueling tensions.

“The prime minister is directly responsible for this violence, as his statements this morning helped instigate the protests,” Martinez-Almeida said after the race was canceled.

“Today is the saddest day since I took office as mayor of this great city,” he continued.

Santiago Abascal, leader of the far-right Vox party, also criticized Sánchez’s remarks, accusing him of stoking division to maintain his hold on power.

“The psychopath has taken his militias to the streets,” Abascal wrote in a post on X. “He doesn’t care about Gaza. He doesn’t care about Spain. He doesn’t care about anything. But he wants violence in the streets to maintain power.”

Shortly after the incidents, the Federation of Jewish Communities of Spain (FCJE) publicly denounced the violence, urging authorities to respond quickly and decisively.

“Violence and intimidation have no place in a democratic society and cannot be excused under the guise of freedom of expression,” FCJE said in a statement.

“These violent demonstrations fuel hatred and contribute to a concerning rise in antisemitism in Spain, which we have been warning about over the past two years,” the statement read. “It is unacceptable that violence is justified on ideological grounds and hostility is directed toward the Jewish community”

Since the start of the war in Gaza, Spain has become one of Israel’s fiercest critics, a stance that has only intensified in recent months, coinciding with a shocking rise in antisemitic incidents targeting the local Jewish community — from violent assaults and vandalism to protests and legal actions.

On Monday, Sánchez called for Israel to be barred from international sports events after pro-Palestinian activists disrupted the finale of the Vuelta cycling race in chaotic scenes in Madrid.

“The sports organizations should ask whether it’s ethical for Israel to continue participating in international competitions. Why was Russia expelled after invading Ukraine, yet Israel is not expelled after the invasion of Gaza?” Sánchez said while speaking to members of his Socialist Party.

“Until the barbarity ends, neither Russia nor Israel should be allowed to participate in any international competition,” the Spanish leader continued.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar condemned Sánchez’s remarks, labeling him “an antisemite and a liar.”

“Did Israel invade Gaza on Oct. 7th or did the Hamas terror state invade Israel and commit the worst massacre against the Jews since the Holocaust?” the top Israeli diplomat wrote in a post on X.

The Palestinian terrorist group Hamas started the war in Gaza on Oct. 7, 2023, when it led an invasion of southern Israel, murdered 1,200 people, and kidnapped 251 hostages while perpetrating widespread sexual violence against the Israeli people.

Israel responded with an ongoing military campaign aimed at freeing the hostages and dismantling Hamas’s military capabilities and political rule in Gaza.

As part of its anti-Israel campaign, Spain announced on Tuesday that it will boycott next year’s Eurovision Song Contest if Israel participates, citing the country’s military offensive against Hamas in the war-torn enclave.

Last week, Sánchez also unveiled new policies targeting Israel over the war in Gaza, including an arms embargo and a ban on certain Israeli goods.

The Spanish government announced it would bar entry to individuals involved in what it called a “genocide against Palestinians,” block Israel-bound ships and aircraft carrying weapons from Spanish ports and airspace, and enforce an embargo on products from Israeli communities in the West Bank.

In one of its latest attempts to curb Israel’s defensive campaign in Gaza, Spain has canceled a €700 million ($825 million) deal for Israeli-designed rocket launchers, as the government conducts a broader review to systematically phase out Israeli weapons and technology from its armed forces.

Saar has denounced Sánchez’s latest actions, accusing the government in Madrid of antisemitism and of pursuing an escalating anti-Israel campaign aimed at undermining the Jewish state on the international stage.

“The government of Spain is leading a hostile, anti-Israel line, marked by wild, hate-filled rhetoric,” Saar wrote in a post on X, accusing Sánchez’s “corrupt” administration of trying to “divert attention from grave corruption scandals.”

“The obsessive activism of the current Spanish government against Israel stands out in light of its ties with dark, tyrannical regimes — from Iran’s ayatollahs to [Nicolás] Maduro’s government in Venezuela,” the Israeli diplomat continued.

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