Tzipiyah.com

Important Quote:

According to Riskin, there are two aspects to conversion. The religious aspect entail acceptance of an Orthodox lifestyle. But the second aspect of conversion, which is symbolized by immersion in the ritual bath, is national.

“A person who converts is reborn into the Jewish nation. The mikve water is symbolic of the embryonic fluid. And when a convert remains a citizen of Israel, serves in the army, [he or she] identifies with the plight of the Jewish people and ties his or her destiny to their fate.”

3 years in captivity on 25/06/09

Every year, after Yom Haatzmaut, I have a bunch of thoughts bottled up which end up being put down on paper. This year is no exception, so I thought I would dedicate my Monthly update to these thoughts. Only one thing – Beware, I’m sure it’ll be quite long. Maybe the first draft for a book lol. But I plan on communicating some incredibly important ideas – Ideas you can comment on, discuss, or simply just read and think about. I think it’ll be a worthwhile read. (more…)

I started getting involved with an absolutely incredible organization called Im Tirtzu. I encourage you all to join the facebook group of the organization and also to visit the website to learn of ways to support the organization.

‎Im Tirtzu is an extra-parliamentary movement that engages in on and off campus Zionist advocacy, in an effort to strengthen the values of Zionism in Israel, with the aim of securing the future of the Jewish people and the State of Israel and advancing Israeli society in its struggle to overcome the challenges it is currently facing.

Regrettably, in recent years, anti-Zionist trends have been proliferating in Israeli universities, which have gradually displaced, marginalized and excluded the Zionist discourse, preventing the Zionist majority from making its voice heard. For the past two years, Im Tirtzu has been the only entity that has provided a response to the spread of post-Zionist and anti-Zionist currents among the faculty and student body in Israeli universities.

Im Tirtzu believes in the capacity of every person to influence his environment. We believe that a return to Zionism and an ethical Zionist renewal is the solution to the problems and crises Israeli society is currently facing. Once we regain our belief in the validity and justice of the Zionist cause and in our ability to make a difference in steering our reality we shall be able to deal successfully with the challenges that confront us.

In the words of Herzl:

“If you will it is no dream … and if you do not will then everything I have told you is only a dream and will continue to remain a dream”. If we only dare to do so, we can transform the dream that is the State of Israel into a more just, more modern, more democratic and more Jewish place.

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=61128912848

One year ago, on Rosh Chodesh Adar II, eight holy and devout Jewish boys were murdered in a senseless terrorist attack on Yeshivat Merkaz HaRav. On that day, the entire Jewish Nation stood together in mourning for those who were murdered. On February 24th, one year later, we need to once again all unite in a constructive response, inspired by the words of Rav Avraham Yitzhak Hakohen Kook, founder of the attacked Yeshiva:

“The purely righteous do not complain about evil, rather they add justice.
They do not complain about heresy, rather they add faith.
They do not complain about ignorance, rather they add wisdom. ”
Arpilei Tohar p. 39

Let us respond to this tragedy with courage and inspiration. Let us confront the incredible darkness created that tragic day with as much hope and light as man can offer!

On this day, let us each accomplish a noteworthy, positive deed in memory of the murdered boys. This action will not only merit the souls of those murdered, but will also add light to this world, countering the incredible darkness brought on that day.

These two website, already organized in memory of the boys, offer two of many options on how you can take part in this worldwide effort:

‎http://www.merkazmemorial.com
‎http://www.blevechad.com/live/

Any positive action will do; whether it be the accomplishment of a religious precept or a good deed rendered toward your neighbour, community, nation or the world. Whether you decide to wear Tefillin; commit to lighting Shabbat candles; give to a charity; help a friend in need; visit a sick or lonely relative; or volunteer at a soup kitchen, every positive action will help bring light to a world so desperately in need.

I ask that everyone share their chosen response on the wall of this event in order to inspire others to do the same.

Let us not forget the shock we felt on that day of tragedy. May we transform the depth of that shock into even greater good, through positive, inspired actions.

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=61128912848