This is a poster calling on the public to reduce their water usage at a time of drought in Israel. The design conveys the message by comparing two drops of water (in blue) with two drops of blood (in red). The Hebrew line in between the two types of drops reads: “Save water – it’s the blood of the country.” In the background there is a city landscape with many houses.
The striking image of the drops of blood ensures attracting the viewer’s attention. Although it is not known in what year this poster first appeared, water conservation has been a critical issue ever since the first Jews returned to the Land of Israel and attempted to create a widespread farming industry. Concerns rose once again in more recent years due to drought and water pollution, and there continues to be public education about not wasting water unnecessarily. In the meantime, Israel has become a leader in water conservation and desalination, so despite limited water sources, the country’s water balance is positive.
The poster was published by the Tel Aviv Municipality, and the image of houses in the background is likely to portray Tel Aviv.
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Connection to Parashat Va’Eirah
In Parashat Va’Eira, the Torah tells us about the first seven of the Ten Plagues. The first, and most famous, is the plague of blood, in which all the water in Egypt turned into blood.
In the parasha, God tells Moses that “Pharaoh will be out at the water,” and the medieval commentator Ibn Ezra explained that Pharaoh followed this procedure every day in order to investigate the level of the River Nile, which was the lifeblood of the Egyptian economy.
