This Letter to the Editor was originally published in The Olympian on Feburary 12, 2021.
In the Jewish tradition, the concept of tikkun olam means “to repair the world.” Recently, tikkun olam has become synonymous with the pursuit of social justice and is often invoked when discussing issues of social policy, providing extra protection to those potentially at a disadvantage, and when discussing our relationship to our natural environment.
We have a unique opportunity to practice tikkun olam right now, thanks to the recent plan put forward by Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson. Focused on restoring Snake River salmon on the brink of extinction, Rep. Simpson’s proposal is a much-need path forward for saving salmon, honoring treaty obligations to Northwest Native tribes, and benefiting farmers, businesses, and electric ratepayers in the region.
The scientific evidence is overwhelming: A free-flowing lower Snake River is essential to recovering wild salmon and steelhead in the Columbia Basin. We have a moral obligation to restore these iconic fish, to ensure that we invest in infrastructure improvements that strengthen Native tribes and to ensure the economic prosperity of our state’s farming and fishing communities.
Rep. Simpson’s plan is the most important step forward we can take for our collective future and to stand in solidarity with Native communities. Now it’s up to us.
Join me in asking Senators Murray and Cantwell and our new Representative Marilyn Strickland to seize this opportunity to work with others in the Northwest to restore salmon and invest in our communities. Together we can repair the world.
Rabbi Seth Goldstein, Temple Beth Hatfiloh, Olympia