Water: A Valuable and Increasingly Rare Resource

Like numerous states, California is in the midst of a heated election season. With the governor’s office up for grabs and one of the most influential seats in the Senate in question, California’s state election will certainly affect the entire country. While the exciting contests in states like Delaware and West Virginia are garnering the attention of media outlets, California’s election could prove very volatile for agriculture in the US.

For more than 50 years, California has been the number one producer of food and agriculture in the US. From onions and olives to kiwifruit and strawberries, California is America’s bread basket. While it is true that the Mississippi River valley produces an incredible amount of grain and soy for the nation, much of that produce is dedicated to livestock, whereas most of California’s produce is distributed to grocers nationwide and bought by American consumers, not to mention the food which is exported to our neighbors to the north and south and overseas.

What makes this year’s midterm election in California so important for agriculture in the US is that Senator Barbara Boxer’s seat, a longtime member of Senate, is up for election. Senator Boxer chairs the Environment and Public Works committee, which oversees water rights and distribution. Water is as valuable a resource as it ever has been in history and one which is becoming more and more rare. Senator Boxer’s reelection of defeat will surely affect the ability of that committee’s ability to reform and hopefully fix California’s broken system of water distribution.

The importance of water can be seen in this week’s Torah portion, Parashat Va’yera. Numerous times in parsha water plays an integral role. Abraham is quick to offer water (Gen 18:4) to his heavenly visitors who come heralding the birth of Isaac in a year to come. When Hagar is cast out of Abraham’s home on Sarah’s demand, she has but a small skin of water to provide for her son, Ishmael, who she has chosen to abandon in the desert, but God hears his cry and shows her a well of water to save them (Gen 21:19). And then Abraham and Avimelekh, the Philistine ruler, make a treaty over a dug well delineating both borders and water rights in Be’er Sheva (Gen 21:30).

Just as in ancient days, the ability to procure and use water is an essential part of life. Without sound and just water regulations, California farmers cannot produce the food which the nation relies on. This year’s midterm election reminds of this fact and also reminds us of the important role California plays in our nation. Likewise, the parsha reminds us of just how valuable of a resource water is, even today.