Faced with managing scarce water resources in a desert ecosystem, the Israeli government has supported the solutions of kibbutzim-and more recently, those of "Dagim," the Fish Breeders Association-to promote healthy, environmentally sound, and profitable fish cultivation. Today, a close look at the country's thriving fisheries and available ponds reveals a rich history and a rapidly evolving, yet pragmatic business. The result has been new patents, improved fish quality, increased trade, and, perhaps most importantly, a comprehensive mapping of Israel's water use and untapped reservoirs.

As we prepare for the Days of Awe, it is easy to focus on tears and fears and not the joy that the holiday also invites. One of our central characters, Isaac, is named precisely for the experience of laughter. The first child born Jewish was named for happiness. Isaac was a much-awaited child, the product of much anguish. And his breathless fate on Mount Moriah that we read on Rosh Hashanah was also a time of anguish. And yet, he is still named for joy, perhaps because he was a source of relief and a sign that impossible things can be possible: an important message as we face any new year.