which is better version?

[Anonymous]

To the Hurricane-weary Jewish communities of Florida and the Gulf Coast, these words from the High Holiday prayers resonated more deeply than ever as they welcomed the New Year with a sense of optimism and sanguinity; even as the tree branches and debris which litter the streets remind them that life is ephemeral and should not be taken for granted.

or

To the hurricane-weary Jewish communities of Florida and the Gulf Coast, these words from the High Holiday prayers resonated more deeply than ever as they ushered in the New Year 5765. The tree branches and debris which littered the streets around the synagogues served as grim reminders that life is ephemeral and should not be taken for granted, and yet, everywhere there was a sense of optimism and hopefulness.

 

[Dingal2000]

To the Hurricane-weary Jewish communities of Florida and the Gulf Coast, these words from the High Holiday prayers resonated more deeply than ever as they welcomed the New Year with a sense of optimism and sanguinity; even as the tree branches and debris which litter the streets remind them that life is ephemeral and should not be taken for granted.

or

To the hurricane-weary Jewish communities of Florida and the Gulf Coast, these words from the High Holiday prayers resonated more deeply than ever as they ushered in the New Year 5765. The tree branches and debris which littered the streets around the synagogues served as grim reminders that life is ephemeral and should not be taken for granted, and yet, everywhere there was a sense of optimism and hopefulness.

I like the second one , but i would have finished it like :

reminders that life is ephemeral and should not be taken for granted, but yet, everyone seems to have a sense of optimism and hopefulness in their lives.

But its just a suggestion