01x03 - 2047: The Fifth Question

[bunniefuu]

- You say something, Rabbi?
- Just praying.

- There's a prayer for this?
- There's a prayer for everything, Sophie.

So, yes, there is a prayer to save
the synagogue from falling into the ocean.

- Rabbi Zucker.
- Hey.

Come this way.

Kids. Nice touch, Reverend.

Thank you so much, Reverend.
That was beautiful.

Thank you.

Just the two of you?

No musicians? Holograms?

VR? AR? Baked goods?

It's just us.

A hundred years ago,
construction began on Temple Israel.

It was built out of hope, out of faith.

It was built by Holocaust survivors
who came to South Florida

and declared with every brick,
"This is our home, and we belong."

I know
that not every building can be saved,

and so, I stand before you today

in hopes that
the Department of Sea Level Mitigation

will look favorably
upon our application for protection.

As a person who believes there is power
in physical presence,

I'm grateful to stand before you today.

They were right over here,
for f*ck's sake.

I was at CRISPR Miami,
then I came home, then I left--

Alpha, where are my keys?

Alpha privacy settings
have been adjusted not to track keys.

All right, f*ck off, Alpha.

You could try praying to God.

Alpha, does God know
where my dad lost his keys?

Alpha cannot speak
for hypothetical deities.

Gabby, dónde está mis-- mis "llavas"?

It's "llaves," babe.
But that's better than yesterday.

The website suggested
we all wear these.

Did it mention where I left my keys?

Maybe God is hiding your keys because
he doesn't wanna see your face in person.

Enough, okay?

Your grandma and grandpa
love Temple Israel.

I was happy with Temple Emanu-El.

Temple Emanu-El
is not a good fit for us right now.

Because the community there
knows what you did to Mom?

- Why do you have to say things like that?
- You mean, things that are true?

Here they are.

Put your boots on, kiddo.
And get in the car.

It is a time of questions.

As Jews, we have always seen
the question mark

as our favorite piece of punctuation.

And as the Passover holiday begins,

we renew our willingness
to interrogate the world around us.

In our own lifetimes,
cancer has been defeated.

Humans have set foot on Mars.

Despite numerous attacks from within,

American democracy still survives,
albeit without Texas.

This year, energy from the sun
will cook many of our Passover meals.

And yet, for every question answered,
another one appears.

Miami is literally changing
beneath our feet.

Our city is flooded
one day out of every four.

For many of us, it is a time of exodus.

For others, it is a time
to stand and fight for our homes.

Yes. Yeah, that's true.

For me, this year, my prayer is simple:

that our leaders in Tallahassee
will save this building

and that next year,
we will all be together here in Miami.

A reminder,
my mother and I will be hosting

our seder for the climate-displaced
right here in the temple,

this week, for the fifth year in a row.

All are invited.

We close with words of peace.

Please rise.

You know, my father always said

that Dr. Klubeck is the best podiatrist
in southern Florida.

He did.

And Dahlia, I'm so grateful
for your help with the tree planting.

Well, listen, who wants to go?

What, with all this rezoning nonsense,
who can wait for them to sort it all out?

Yeah.

- Be well.
- Hey, you too.

- We'll miss you all.
- All right. Thanks again.

My family's never leaving, you know.

We would come and hear you speak even
if we had to tread water the entire time.

That's a-- That's a comforting thought.

It's very vivid.

- Shabbat Shalom.
- Shabbat Shalom.

Oh, yeah.

Thank you.

Rabbi. Harris Goldblatt.

Oh, yes, of course.

- And Gabriela.
- Gabriela, hello.

- David's son.
- Yes.

And this is my daughter, Alana.

Alana. Lovely to meet you.
Welcome to Temple Israel.

This is Sophie, my assistant.

- Hi. Welcome.
- Hi.

Yeah, we felt like
we needed something different.

Shabbat Shalom, Rabbi.

- Did I say that right?
- Yep. Perfect, Gabriela.

Do you think we'll all be here together
next Passover? Really?

Of course I do.

Why? Do you not believe in science?

Alana wants to talk to you
about her bat mitzvah.

She's been preparing
over at Temple Emanu-El, but--

We're in the middle
of a f*cking apocalypse.

- Does God really care about a bat mitzvah?
- Alana.

I care.

I think God does too.

They're waiting for you, Rabbi.

Yes, of course.

Sea level rise doesn't observe
the Sabbath evidently.

If you'll excuse me.

Nice to meet you. Shabbat Shalom.

Really, Alana? Really?

If we have to take care of it,
then we will.

Absolutely.

Sorry, sorry.

I was just welcoming your son
to the congregation.

Did you meet our little Alana?

- So serious, that one.
- Yeah, I did. Yes. She is.

I blame her mother. A difficult woman.
She should have stayed in Israel.

I warned Harris.

I warned him not to marry her.

Well, I think Alana misses those years
she spent growing up in Haifa.

You know, she told me she considers
herself a citizen of the world.

I find that very charming, you know.
Very cosmopolitan.

Yes. Well, what's not charming
is the water in the sanctuary.

- We gotta do something about that quickly...
- Right. Right.

...or there's gonna be mildew,
structural damage.

- Well, I have two bids.
- Yes.

Did you go to Kustom like I suggested?

Wagner and United.
United did it the last time.

- They said to install pumps permanently...
- Who's--

- ...because there's gonna be a next time.
- Who is cheapest?

Just try Kustom.

Just go to Kustom,
like my husband said,

and then we wouldn't be here
having this discussion.

- Go with Wagner.
- Everything-- For Christ's sake.

Pumps are expensive,

and I don't think we need to be
spending for the future.

They said we could fix it with pumps.

Look, I know we are low on funds.

When people leave here,
they take their contributions with them.

But we still should be
planning for the future.

You know there's a future? You're sure?

Have you heard anything?

I have a good feeling
about the presentation.

Yeah, very positive.

Temple Israel does so much for Miami.
We deserve to be here.

Well...

- ...if we'd fixed it, it would be different.
- Go with Wagner.

- Try Kustom.
- If you'd gone to Kustom...

Excuse me, Rabbi?

Alana. Where's your father?

I told him I had an upset stomach.

He's probably somewhere wondering
if I have an eating disorder.

- Do you?
- Do you think God is watching us?

Yes.

Well, I mean, maybe not literally,

but we have to watch each other too.

Okay, sure. Not what I was asking.

Do you think the flooding is punishment
for our bad behavior?

What sort of bad behavior do you mean?

All of it.

- Why else would God be doing this?
- Doing what?

The sea level rise, the droughts,
the refugees, the diseases.

He's angry. He has to be.

If God made humans in his image,
why do they suck?

Or did we just evolve into sucking?

Well, I think we all have the choice
whether to suck or not.

The Torah says
that God is merciful and gracious,

slow to anger
and abounding in steadfast love.

My mom got mad because Dad chose
to start boning Gabriela,

and so she OD'd on painkillers,
and now she's in rehab.

She's also addicted to those CRISPR hacks,
her skin, her a*s.

Vanity is a deadly sin.

Well, Jews don't actually
have deadly sins. We just have sins.

And we have forgiveness.

My dad's developing Little Haiti,

and now that the higher ground
is more valuable,

they're buying up all the apartments
and selling them to millionaires.

Will he be forgiven for all that--

Alana?

There you are. I thought you said
you were going to the bathroom.

I lied. I learned that from you.

Aren't you proud of me?

I'm sorry.
Alana's under a lot of stress right now.

I was very much enjoying our conversation.

You-- Feel free to come find me
anytime you wanna talk.

Alana.

Did you use the klezmer music,

or did you decide to go with Prince?

No, Prince didn't really
seem appropriate, Ma.

Prince is always appropriate, Marshall.

- Well...
- "Soft and Wet"? "Purple Rain"?

See, those aren't songs
about climate, Mom.

I went with the klezmer
and some black-and-white photos.

The sanctuary is a swimming pool.

- Everyone's leaving.
- Nuh-uh, no. Not everyone, Mom.

And we need to be here
for the ones who are staying.

Not just the congregation either.
We take care of the whole community.

I would like to see
you find someone to take care of you.

Whatever happened to that Emily girl?
I liked her very much.

I think she moved to Alberta
to live on a commune.

A very warm smile from that one.

- Maybe they need a rabbi in Alberta?
- Mom, this is Miami.

They're not just gonna let it disappear.

Alpha, how many climate refugees
will there be this year?

Estimates suggest there will be
23 million climate refugees in 2047.

What is the population of Miami, Alpha?

The population of Miami is 803,935.

And how many do you think
are worth saving?

That is not a calculation
I am equipped to make.

- Can I come in?
- I'm naked.

I just wanted to say good night.

Thanks, Dad. That fixes everything.

The bid from Kustom came in,
and it's definitely the lowest.

And David Goldblatt called
to ask about the zoning decision.

Yeah, have we heard anything?

Wasn't the state supposed to
let us know this week?

Well, they just announced
that they're saving First Baptist,

the Fontainebleau Hotel
and the dog track at Hialeah so far.

More announcements to come.

- Mr. Zucker?
- Sophie, the nurse is here.

- Dr. Shah will see you now.
- Talk later.

So, there's that old Clash song,
"Should I Stay or Should I Go."

You know the song?

Darling, you got to let me know
Should I stay or should I go?

If you say that you are mine

Yeah, Doc, maybe that's before my time.

The point is, risk factors are mounting.

Summer's approaching. Mosquito season.

Extreme heat days
are stressors for the brain.

And with her history,
Miami is dangerous to her health.

But everywhere is dangerous. Come on.

We are hearing that hurricane season
this year is gonna be the worst one yet.

The moon is wobbling
like nobody's business.

Wobbling. The moon's been wobbling
since the beginning of time.

- It wobbles.
- It's worse now.

- Yeah, can't-- Hey.
- I assume the doctor told you?

Yeah. Yeah, he did, Ma.
You sure this is what you want?

Want?

The world is no longer interested
in what I want.

The world is in it for itself.

You love it here.

You love the mah-jongg,
the soft-shell crab.

They are making those in Duluth now,
out of cauliflower.

Thank you, Doctor.

- You love Dr. Shah too. Dr. Shah is here.
- I'm moving to Milwaukee actually.

I took the relo deal.

Not bad.
I can share the details, if you like.

They threw in an as*ault r*fle
as an incentive.

No. See, my--
You don't want to move anywhere

- that's throwing in an as*ault r*fle as--
- All my friends are taking the relo deals,

either in Milwaukee or Duluth.
Or the cemetery.

Your mother said
she has a sister in Chicago.

Thought you hated your sister.

It's too hot out
to hate people these days, Marshall.

It's better to be on the first boat
out of town than the one that never left.

- You want me to come with you?
- Oh, sweetheart. You can't do that.

People need you here. They love you.

What is that you always say?

- "Comfort the afflicted and"--
- "And afflict the comfortable." Yes.

Right.

A spiritual first responder,

saving people from drowning
in confusion and despair.

You left Israel to take care of me.

Maybe me leaving Miami now...

is my way of taking care of you.

June 17th, 2047.

The forecast for Miami today
is partly cloudy

with a high of 93 degrees
and 70% humidity.

Be advised, the following areas
are closed due to flooding:

Ocean Drive south of 5th Street,

Coral Way between 22nd and I-95.

South Beach
and Virginia Key remain closed.

I guess I need a new date
for my bat mitzvah.

Some kid named Max Borenstein
has my date here,

and I already learned the portion
for that day. The story of Noah.

Yes, yes. I have been working
with Max on that one.

The story of Noah and the covenant.

- I'm a big fan.
- Yeah, it's a beautiful story of renewal.

That's one way to look at it.

Would Max consider
moving to another date?

I could probably get my father
to pay him to swap

if I promise
to stop hiding Gabriela's birth control.

How would you feel if I agreed to that?

How would you feel?

Why don't we find you a new date...

and a new portion of the Torah?

Something a little bit later in Genesis,
I think.

What's it about?

It deals with a time of great corruption
and justice,

with having the punishment
for evildoing fit the crime.

What we call "middah keneged middah."

I actually had the same portion
for my bar mitzvah, believe it or not.

Nobody has this one?

Apparently, the Gorins are taking
a relo deal and moving to Winnipeg,

so it leaves the date open for you,
if you want it.

It's here, Rabbi, from the state.

Well, Alana, why don't you
take a look and see if it speaks to you?

- Sophie, if you could...
- Yeah.

- Come on, dear.
- Hi.

That is a wonderful...

That's a very, very special portion.

You know, it was the rabbi's...

Rabbi Zucker, we regret to inform you

that Temple Israel is not currently
a candidate for preservation

by the Florida State Department
of Sea Level Mitigation.

If you believe this ruling
has been made in error--

Damn it.

Excuse me.
I didn't know anyone was in here.

- And you are?
- Julia. The plumber.

Marshall. The rabbi.

Really?
I never met an actual rabbi before.

I didn't mean to interrupt
your talking to God.

No, God could have chosen
a better rabbi for you to start with.

Well, I wonder if God knows

where I should put the moisture sensor
for the pumps.

Maybe in that closet up there?

That's where we keep the Torah.

If it touches the ground,
I'd have to fast for 40 days,

so it's not actually a closet.

Can I see it?

This Torah was in a fire in Israel.

Forest fire near a refugee camp.

It was given to me
on the day I became a rabbi.

What does it say?

It tells you everything you need to know
to live a righteous, fulfilling life.

So, are you?

What?

Fulfilled.

Let us all dip the parsley
in salt water twice.

Hard to forget the ocean.
We're the ones getting dipped.

Four days this week.

There's another question.

- I thought there were three.
- Yeah.

The book says there's four.

That's why they call them
the four questions, Gabriela.

Don't be a jerk, Dad.

He was not being a jerk.
He was teaching her.

When you use someone's name
in every sentence, Mom,

then, Mom, you're being a jerk.

Let's hear the fourth question, Alana.
I'm listening.

"On all other nights,
we eat our meals in any manner.

Why, on this night, do we sit
around the table in a reclining position?"

Do you wanna take that one?

Oh, yeah.

"This question goes back to ancient Rome,

when it was the custom
for rich people to eat

while lying on a couch,
leaning on one elbow

as sl*ves and servants fed them.

Our people thought
of this relaxed type of eating

as a sign of freedom and prosperity,

so we lean to one side,
eating at the seder

as a reminder of how it was
when our people longed for freedom."

I refuse to recline.

Why is that, honey? What?

Because there are many people
right here in Miami

that are working for wages
that keep them below the poverty level

so other people can play golf.

And other people work their asses off

to provide for their daughters
and parents and ex-wives

and yet, are made to feel bad about it
in their own homes night after night

for simply having
the unmitigated gall to succeed in life.

I have another question.

There are only four questions.
You nailed 'em. Now we eat.

I will ask my question.

Why is God doing this to us?

That is my question.

Doing what? What-- What is God doing?

Are you kidding me, Dad?

Do you even see
what's happening around you?

Do--

- Oh, sweetheart.
- Alana.

- Alana, honey.
- No, no, no. Just sit.

Alana.

I love what you said
about the people in Miami.

- I love your empathy.
- What?

Aren't you glad you had a son?

Yeah.

Let's all refill our cups.

May I have your glass, Rabbi?

There you go.

Isabel?

Get to the part
about the plagues, Marshall.

I love that part.
God frees the sl*ves in the end.

Although, he does seem to take
his sweet time about it.

As we rejoice
at our deliverance from sl*very,

we acknowledge that our freedom
was hard-earned

and that it can be taken away at any time.

So, let's appreciate
this time we have together.

It could be our last.

Glad the homeless get to hear that. Jesus.

Sophie. Sophie.

We pour out a drop of wine
for each of the plagues as we recite them.

Blood. Frogs.

Lice. Beasts.

Pestilence, boils, hail,

locusts, darkness, death of the firstborn.

Lice and locusts, they seem like
they can be combined, right?

Get it down to nine?

Passover doesn't have a suggestion box.

You know what?
This year I would like to add.

Corrupt government, wobbling moons,

extreme heat, rising sea levels.

- Amen!
- Amen.

You know,
there is an appeals process, Rabbi.

So there's hope?

We got out of Egypt. There's always hope.

Your father is fondly remembered

for the donation
that made that window possible.

Yeah, he loved this temple.

He would have done anything to save it.

My family's the same way.

We have all benefited
from the largesse of the Goldblatts.

I remember when you appeared
before the board.

I was doubtful,
but your father reassured me.

No, no, don't get me wrong.
I'm glad we hired you.

Although, it sounds like you
sh*t the bed on the presentation.

I am preparing an appeal.
Frontline leaders...

- Appeal? Look at you.
- ...from all the faith communities--

What, I shouldn't appeal?

Do you know why
the Fontainebleau is being saved?

Or the racetrack?

Or your pal the Reverend McGhee's
house of worship?

Or any of those places
over on Biscayne Boulevard?

Do you know why?

This is Florida, Rabbi.
This is not heaven.

To keep your feet dry,
you gotta grease some palms.

I don't know what you're suggesting.

What I'm suggesting
is that you call my son.

Because he makes things happen, okay?

- Are--
- Harris is a good boy, Rabbi.

He won't steer you wrong.

Okay.

She said, "Why is God doing this to us"?

Yeah, and then she ran off to her room
and listened to the weather report.

Why is God doing what?

She wasn't clear exactly,

but the overall impression
is that it wasn't good.

That God has an issue with us.
Me, in particular.

It's just a question.

You said questions were good, right?

Yes, but they have to be
the right question.

Can you give me
a moment with the rabbi, sweetie?

Yeah. Of course.

How--

Here, let me walk you out.

How can I help you?

Actually, Rabbi, my father says
it's me that can help you.

These politicians.

Filthy business.

Nothing you would ever want
to be involved in. Trust me.

I prefer my work here.

No, of course, and you're great at it.

I know Alana is already benefiting
from your attention,

and she can be difficult.

Well, I mean, we all were at that age.

And we all appreciate the work
you do here in the community.

I mean, you're a real humanitarian.
A "mensch," as my father would say.

"Mensch." That's the highest praise.

Nobody wins from having
the temple sink beneath the waves, Rabbi.

Nobody.

I think we can agree on that. Am I right?

Nobody.

Good.

What part are you doing?

Sodom and Gomorrah.

What happens in that one?

God burns both cities to the ground.
It's a total wipeout.

He saves a guy named Lot
but turns his wife into a pillar of salt

because she maybe forgot
something at home.

Harsh.

- I'm Max, by the way. What's your name?
- Alana.

So, you have Noah
and the covenant, right?

"I have set my rainbow in the clouds,

and it will be the sign of the covenant
between me and the Earth."

Really?

It doesn't say anything about
the red algae bloom in Tampa this year,

or reef bleaching in Biscayne Bay?

My dad's snorkeling business
shut down last year.

Reefs are all dead.

You should come to my bat mitzvah.

I plan on doing a deep dive
into the transgression of humanity

and divine retribution.

I think you might find it interesting.

Thanks. I don't get a lot of invitations.

Alana Goldblatt.

Look at the temperature.

It's not even the middle of the century,
and we're already past 1.8 degrees.

Hurricane season used to start in August.
Now it starts in April.

And the Thwaites Glacier in Antarctica,
if God breaks that off...

- Okay, okay. So-- And God is doing that?
- ...the sea level will be going up--

Isn't it God's ice shelf?

Okay, so, is your question,
"Why is God doing this?"

Or-- Or, is it,
"Why isn't God stopping this?"

But maybe the better question is,
"Why aren't we stopping it?"

Right? Yes, maybe it's our glacier too.

Okay. Do you have an answer for that?

The sage Alana Goldblatt once said,

"Maybe it's because humans suck."

Leave the linen blouses.
It's freezing in Chicago.

Just the cashmere.

Okay. You know,
it does get warm in Chicago, Ma.

You might want the linen.

I'm gonna miss it here.

Yeah. Here's gonna miss you.

Not much left on the new map
other than Little Haiti.

Wish they could move the synagogue there.

Well, I actually have reason to believe

that the temple will be zoned
for preservation.

Temple Israel will endure.

You're getting some linen.

I'm sure you would do anything
to save that place.

When do you find out?

Should be any day now.

Alpha, what is the penalty
for conspiracy to commit bribery

of a public official
in the state of Florida?

Bribery is a second-degree felony,

which is punishable
by up to 15 years in prison

and a $20,000 fine.

It is ranked level seven out of ten
under Florida criminal punishment...

The world is in it for itself.

Do you think we'll all be here
together next Passover?

They said to install pumps permanently...

I'm sure you would do
anything to save that place.

There's gonna be a next time.

It sounds like
you sh*t the bed on the presentation.

- Go with Wagner.
- Actually, Rabbi,

- it's me that can help you.
- Pumps are pricey.

This is Florida.

To keep your feet dry,
you gotta grease some palms.

I'm singin' in the rain

Just singin' in the rain

What a glorious feeling

I'm happy again

I'm laughing at clouds
So dark up above

The sun's in my heart
And I'm ready for love

Let the stormy clouds chase

Everyone from the place

Come on with the rain
I've a smile on my face

I walk down the lane
With a happy refrain

Just singin'
Singin' in the rain

Hello, Rabbi Zucker.

The Department of Sea Level Mitigation
had a chance to reevaluate

Temple Israel's application
for preservation,

and we have some good news.

It is tempting on days like today,
in times like these,

to contemplate the idea
of the chosen people.

Chosen for what?

Chosen...

to survive.

I am pleased to announce,
our temple will not be destroyed.

We praise the Lord

for preserving our spiritual home,

and we accept the responsibility
that comes with it.

And we thank our leaders in Tallahassee
for this blessing.

NoYeFe-47.

I encourage anybody who is yet
to get their vaccine to do so,

and report standing water
to the mosquito eradication centers.

- Rabbi?
- Yeah?

Did the Lord really save this temple
or is it the work of a man? A certain man?

- Why would--
- You feed us one day and f*ck us the next?

- Excuse me?
- Shame on you, Rabbi.

- I don't know-- I don't-- I--
- We trusted you! All of us!

You all deserve what's coming!

- Wait. Wait, what-- What--
- Hey, hey, you know what's coming?

Social services to haul your a*s away!

Mr. Goldblatt, are you okay?

- What?
- Nasty mosquito bite.

No, no, no, it's a cyst.
I get 'em all the time. Yeah.

My son wants to speak with you. Okay?

Yeah.

What did you get me into?

For someone to win, someone has to lose.
I think it says that in the Torah.

No, that's basketball, not Torah.

For what it's worth,
I didn't know keeping the synagogue

meant giving up the homeless center,

but the state can't save
everything, Rabbi.

Only God can do that,
from what I understand.

Where are all of those people
supposed to go?

Not to be a d*ck, Rabbi,

but, technically speaking,
they already were homeless.

Can't they be that anywhere?

We won, Rabbi. Focus on that.

Think of all the good you can do
now that we're safe.

Alpha, please bring up
all available content for Marshall Zucker.

Social media, published articles,
interviews, purchases?

All of it.

From Alpha social, July 17th, 2037.

We live in a time of crisis.

Not far from here,

environmentally displaced people
are in need of food and water.

And rest assured...

- Go away.
- It's like Elie Wiesel said,

- It's your grandfather, sweetie.
- "We must take sides.

He's dead.

Neutrality helps the oppressor,
never the victim."

He said it was a sebaceous cyst.
Who dies of a sebaceous cyst?

Mom, the doctor said
it was a mosquito bite.

- A mosquito bite.
- What happens next, Rabbi?

Pestilence. Floods. Heat.

Fires all over Georgia.
Famine in Latin America.

Wars in Indonesia.

Do you still don't think
God is trying to get our attention?

God should always have our attention.
In good times, in bad.

The closer we are to the Lord,
the closer the Lord is to us.

That's how love works.

But Alana is right, Rabbi.
What is happening to our world?

Well...

- a man has died.
- Yes.

A powerful man.

- Powerful.
- A man who--

who made a difference in the world.

Well...

But we all will die.

It's not the tragedy of life,
just the end.

To be precious, it must end.

All I can tell you is that...

sometimes faith means that we must
move forward without an answer,

armed only with the knowledge
that an answer will come.

In time.

- Can I help you?
- Stand back.

- Do you understand anything?
- We're here for Harris Goldblatt.

You can't just--

Harris Goldblatt, it's the FBI.

You're under arrest.
You have the right to remain silent.

His father just passed away.

This man is in mourning.

- Make this easy, Harris.
- Excuse me.

What's going on? I'm the rabbi here.

- Mr. Goldblatt is under arrest.
- For what?

Bribery of a public official.
Conspiracy to commit bribery.

- Harris?
- Racketeering. Extortion.

- No, I don't believe it.
- Look, whatever I did, I did for you.

And you.

And you, Rabbi.
I did what needed to be done.

It's all sinking.

And evidently, I'm the only one
of you who knows how to f*cking swim.

What is this?

- It's okay, sweetie.
- What do you mean it's okay?

Would you please stop those--

Just stop them at the--

Hurricane Stanley
is the 41st storm of 2047.

Landfall is expected later this week
as a category 4 hurricane,

bringing maximum sustained winds
of up to 150 miles per hour

and a storm surge
of approximately 22 feet.

Heavy rainfall will lead to flooding,

and residents of Miami's low-lying areas
are encouraged to seek higher ground.

Today, Alana Goldblatt
joins our congregation on this,

the day of her bat mitzvah.

She becomes a daughter of the commandment

and becomes officially responsible
for her actions

in the eyes of our community and God.

Alana is a devoted student,
a seeker of truth.

Today, Alana will speak to us

about the destruction
of Sodom and Gomorrah.

Genesis 19.

You all know that God burned Sodom
and Gomorrah to the ground,

k*lled 65,000 people,
but the question is why?

What did they do to deserve it?

The rabbis speak of
"middah keneged middah."

"Let the punishment fit its crime."

Were they selfish? Were they cruel?

Were they materialistic
and lacking in humility?

Were they any different than us?

Come on. Did you think God was
just going to let your behavior slide?

No.

There is flooding five days a week
and houses on stilts

because our city now floats
on the bodies of the poor.

So make no mistake.

Category 4 retribution
is coming at us at 153 miles an hour,

and his name is Stan,
the 41st storm of the year.

- So f*ck the covenant, saith the Lord.
- Hey. Okay.

Hey, Alana, that's about enough.

God is going to wipe the planet clean
and start over.

And who will he pick to survive?

Clearly not my dad.
He bribes public officials.

I don't have time
to wait for God's judgment.

It's okay. Let's take a break.

That's why I called the cops on him.

- Could somebody stop her?
- Hey, hey. No, hey.

Alana, that's enough, all right.

Now, I'll remind you
as a daughter of the commandments,

you have to honor your father
and mother. Now--

- You want me to remind you of some things?
- Relax. It's fine.

- Alpha, play Marshall Zucker...
- We'll go back. We'll--

...July 17th, 2037.

We live in a time of crisis.

Not far from here,

environmentally displaced people
are in need of food and water.

And rest assured,

any leader who is not trying
to improve the situation is complicit.

It's like Elie Wiesel said,
"We must take sides.

Neutrality helps the oppressor,
never the victim."

But you left Israel, didn't you?

You let those refugees
fend for themselves.

No, you have no idea
what I went through in Israel.

- Or why I left.
- I do know that you stood by here again,

and right here in Miami,

while the homeless you so dearly love
lost their shelter.

- I didn't know.
- Or maybe you didn't wanna know.

You can't just resign.

Yeah, of course I can. That's what you do
when you disgrace the position.

So, we're letting a 13-year-old girl
tell us who we are in the world?

Maybe she should be rabbi.
At least she didn't sell out the homeless.

I don't see what the problem is.
Are we somehow better people

if we just silently sink below the waves?

Maybe Alana Goldblatt was right.
Maybe this is Sodom and Gomorrah.

What are you talking about, Rabbi?
Nobody's turning to a pillar of salt.

We've been zoned for preservation.

What-- Like you said, next year in Miami.

What the f*ck?

So, is your dad going to jail?

The Miami jail is already flooded,

so as soon as the bat mitzvah was over,
they shipped him upstate to Raiford.

- Does that make you an orphan?
- Not technically.

My dad still has one of his snorkel boats.
We're leaving soon.

Alpha, when will Stanley make landfall?

Hurricane Stanley is now expected
to make landfall at 8:00 p.m.

Storm surge is expected to exceed 27 feet
in the greater Miami area.

What about the sea wall?
That'll hold, right?

The Biscayne Bay sea wall has been built

to withstand storm surges
of up to 25 feet.

Alana, honey, Max really needs to go now.

I think you'd better leave.

- Will I see you again?
- Who knows?

f*ck 'em. You saved the synagogue.

You think other religions
don't have problems?

Mom.

Your father would be
so proud of you right now.

- You know that, don't you?
- Okay. Mom, why are you using an avatar?

What's an "atabar"?

- Is that a sex thing?
- It's-- No, it isn't.

Is your sister there
to help you with this?

You go back to the temple,
and you tell that Margo Tillman

that your mother knows
she used to give hand jobs

to the golf pro at Mar-a-Lago.

Look, the news is saying
we have to evacuate,

Mom, so you were right to leave.

I thought you were
a spiritual first responder.

The people need you now.

The people of Temple Israel,
they need their rabbi.

No, Mom, I'm not their rabbi anymore.

- I can't hear you. Sounded like you said--
- I said I'm not their rabbi anymore.

Then what are you?

You go back to the temple, and tell--

Civil defense alarm.

The sea wall in Biscayne Bay
has been breached by Hurricane Stanley.

Please head to higher ground.

- Hey.
- Hey.

I didn't know who to call.
The pumps are failing. Too much water.

The Torah.

Okay.

All right.

Can you...

Okay.

- Cover it.
- Yeah. Yeah, like that. Exactly.

Just-- I mean-- I mean, right?

That works.

- I think it's all right.
- Yeah.

We gotta get out of here.

A storm descends on a town.

- Be careful. Watch out.
- Could be yours, could be mine.

The downpour soon turns into a flood.

As the waters rise,
the rabbi goes to the synagogue

to save the Torah.

The rabbi goes out into the street

when Moishe, the butcher,
comes by in a canoe.

"Better get in, Rabbi."

- What about your car?
- Yeah.

The waters are rising fast.

"No," says the rabbi. "I have faith
in the Lord. He will save me."

Still the waters rise.

Look at it out there, Rabbi.

Technically, I don't think
I'm the rabbi here anymore.

Look.

- Can they see us?
- I don't know.

Hey! Hey!

- Hey! Hey!
- Down here!

Hey! What do we do?

We can go up.

The rabbi is trying to get himself
and the Torah to higher ground,

when Benyamin the tailor
zips up to him in a motorboat.

"Come on, Rabbi.
We need to get you outta here.

The levee is gonna break any minute."

But the rabbi waves him away.

"I believe in the Torah.
The Lord will see me through."

Let me help you with that, Rabbi.

Hey. If you could call me Marshall,

I'd really appreciate it.

And the levee does break.

And the flood rushes through the town,
sweeping away everything in its path.

Still, the rabbi clings to the Torah
as the waters carry him away,

and he ends up snagged

in the highest branches
of the highest tree...

...when, out of the storm,
a helicopter appears.

Hey!

And a state trooper calls down to him
through a megaphone,

- Hey!
- "Grab the ladder, Rabbi!

This is your last chance!"

But the rabbi insists
the Lord will deliver him.

- And predictably, he drowns.
- Hey!

A pious man, the rabbi goes to heaven,
where he asks,

"Lord, I had unwavering faith in you.

Why didn't you deliver me
from that flood?"

Come on, Rabbi. Finish it.

So, God turns to the rabbi and says,

"Well, I sent you two boats
and a helicopter. What more do you want?"

I guess we're all homeless now, Rabbi.

I'm sorry, Elijah.

You made it.

So did you.

I'm glad you're alive.

Me too.

Hey, Rabbi,
you never really answered my question.

What question might that be, Alana?
You have so many.

If God loves us, why not intervene?
Why so much suffering?

Yeah, why is that?

Moses, he asked God
the same question you have.

"Why so much suffering?

And if you're so powerful,
why not stop it?"

And did God give him an answer?

Yeah, he did.

What was it?

Basically, it was,
"I'd tell you, but you wouldn't understand

because you're a human, and I'm God."

That's it? That's the answer?

Being human? Yeah, it has to be.

I think the answer is...

it's up to us.