en-us https://www.intensedebate.com/users/74621 Comments by Gemma http://www.tzipiyah.com/2009/07/parshat-matot-masei-living-outside-of-israel.html#IDComment27676408 You refer to our individual spirituality. But as a Nation, our only center is in Eretz Yisrael. Even so, our individual spirituality is perceived in some places more than others. And it can't be denied that Israel, and Har HaBayit in particular (aka G-d's "resting place"), is the most concentrated source of spirituality and holiness to exist. Sun, 19 Jul 2009 13:28:56 +0000 http://www.tzipiyah.com/2009/07/parshat-matot-masei-living-outside-of-israel.html#IDComment27676408 http://www.tzipiyah.com/2009/07/where-did-the-temple-go.html#IDComment27676013 Thanks. Interesting point, Garnel. I never thought of it like that. Our repentance may well have been sincere then and thus accepted, but we still unfortunately fell in the same trap. Sun, 19 Jul 2009 13:21:42 +0000 http://www.tzipiyah.com/2009/07/where-did-the-temple-go.html#IDComment27676013 http://www.tzipiyah.com/2009/06/demonstrations-what-will-work.html#IDComment24321917 Agh! What a country, what a people! And I bet this woman would never have realised what an impact she'd made from one pair of eyes watching her, who has now passed on this message to possibly hundreds of others. A true kiddish Hashem. Mon, 15 Jun 2009 16:30:37 +0000 http://www.tzipiyah.com/2009/06/demonstrations-what-will-work.html#IDComment24321917 http://www.tzipiyah.com/2009/04/singing-hallel-for-israel-on-a-bus.html#IDComment20275189 That's really beautiful. And I feel like I've arrived in paradise just by looking at that picture. I've often wondered why I find Israel so incredibly beautiful, when, objectively there's so many other beautiful places in the world - and then I realised, it's because it's ours. Thu, 30 Apr 2009 15:03:06 +0000 http://www.tzipiyah.com/2009/04/singing-hallel-for-israel-on-a-bus.html#IDComment20275189 http://www.tzipiyah.com/2008/01/right-to-be-ambitious.html#IDComment14722630 Completely agree... and very relevant to my life right now actually. I have just made a gigantic decision based on "conviction." I've had so many people doubting my own ambition that I even started to doubt it myself. But no! You are right, great post. Thanks. Tue, 3 Feb 2009 10:01:11 +0000 http://www.tzipiyah.com/2008/01/right-to-be-ambitious.html#IDComment14722630 http://www.tzipiyah.com/2008/12/the-jewish-wheel.html#IDComment12574186 I don't think this post is a justification for their deaths in any way, chas v'shalom. It was merely an introduction to my main point, and a general fact; I think everyone is much more aware of Chabad's work now, certainly I am anyway, after watching videos about their work in Mumbai. And I do believe there is a way to make good out of everything, as Chabad *themselves* are doing - the Jewish way isn't to take revenge and kill, but it is strengthening outselves spiritually and as a people, and that's exactly how Chabad have reacted (getting people to take on extra mitzvot and good deeds etc). Sun, 14 Dec 2008 11:05:40 +0000 http://www.tzipiyah.com/2008/12/the-jewish-wheel.html#IDComment12574186 http://www.tzipiyah.com/2008/11/a-year-in-israel-its-all-about-perspective.html#IDComment10553236 While I 100% agree that Israel is the only Homeland and the most desirable place for a Jew to be in - I do not think that, for a lot of people anyway, it is going to be easy to leave your family and friends for a year. Israel still remains exciting and homely which is why more and more people are choosing a Year in Israel program. But with it comes challenges according to each individual. No parent wants to let go of their kid and most kids will find the transformation hard. That could happen anywhere in the world. Yet they are both making the sacrifice for the greater good of being in the Homeland, fullfilling the Torah and walking in holiness. We shouldn't be naive and think that just because it's our Home it's easy to leave our family. Remember, most of these rabbonim are trying to ease worried parents (particularly Jewish mothers) and scared children into leaving their family and the place of their birth that they have been accustomed to for 18 years... It is a sacrifice but everyone involved know they have no other choice because it IS home and it IS exciting. Wed, 12 Nov 2008 20:22:30 +0000 http://www.tzipiyah.com/2008/11/a-year-in-israel-its-all-about-perspective.html#IDComment10553236 http://www.tzipiyah.com/2008/10/mr-bitter-cheshvan-and-the-world-of-concealment.html#IDComment9262163 Shkoyach. very well put. Wed, 29 Oct 2008 11:26:49 +0000 http://www.tzipiyah.com/2008/10/mr-bitter-cheshvan-and-the-world-of-concealment.html#IDComment9262163 http://www.tzipiyah.com/2008/10/were-you-aware-that-has-recently-just-hashem-saved-israel-from-destruction-chas-vshalom.html#IDComment9109183 Who knew pirates could be so useful?! There's a place for every creation. Sun, 26 Oct 2008 11:50:11 +0000 http://www.tzipiyah.com/2008/10/were-you-aware-that-has-recently-just-hashem-saved-israel-from-destruction-chas-vshalom.html#IDComment9109183 http://www.tzipiyah.com/2008/10/the-individual-the-community-a-study-in-genesis.html#IDComment9047863 Shkoyach! Great first post, good to have you on board! Fri, 24 Oct 2008 08:43:46 +0000 http://www.tzipiyah.com/2008/10/the-individual-the-community-a-study-in-genesis.html#IDComment9047863 http://www.tzipiyah.com/2008/10/654.html#IDComment7991003 Gah! I love it! Thu, 9 Oct 2008 13:35:02 +0000 http://www.tzipiyah.com/2008/10/654.html#IDComment7991003 http://www.tzipiyah.com/2008/09/special-offer-king-in-a-field-one-month-only.html#IDComment6470473 I don't think spirituality is such an abstract or lofty concept; it's simply (when I say simple, I refer it as the concept but it is by no means simple to attain) getting close to Hashem through every thing we do and every situation. Tell me, does eating kosher make you feel close to Hashem? Do the brachot you make strenghten your connection to Him? If you were male I would ask you if putting on tefillim and tzitzit enhances your growth? When you dress modestly, do you feel Hashem? When buying food for shabbos do you feel elevated? If you're answering yes that's great, there's spirituality and focus to your mitzvot and they're not just routine. Most of us will find it hard to say yes to all of the above but I believe that's what we have to work on and that itself is putting the spirituality back into Judaism. Thu, 18 Sep 2008 10:25:51 +0000 http://www.tzipiyah.com/2008/09/special-offer-king-in-a-field-one-month-only.html#IDComment6470473 http://www.tzipiyah.com/2008/09/fixing-our-communities.html#IDComment6283403 It's a bit like the kotel. How amazing would it be if there were set times where there was just one minyan?! Can you imagine how powerful it would be? Right in front of Har Habayit people are switching minyans; how ironic. Sun, 14 Sep 2008 15:09:08 +0000 http://www.tzipiyah.com/2008/09/fixing-our-communities.html#IDComment6283403 http://www.tzipiyah.com/2008/09/when-evil-striked-good-was-awakened.html#IDComment6202333 ... A midrash makes the point well: Pharoah had a plan to wipe out the Jews and he took a vote from Yitro, Bilaam and Iyov as to whether he would do it or not. Yitro found it absurd and walked out. Bilaam thought it was a great plan. Iyov thought that's it, whatever I do won't change it, so he remained "neutral." He later got struck with boils. He screamed out to Hashem, and Hashem asked him why he's screaming, it's not going to do any good! So he said "it hurts!" So Hashem replied back, "that's right, when something hurts you scream out for it and don't remain silent!" Maybe I seriously went off topic there, hmm maybe not, but I wanted to share it from what I heard from my rabbi today. Gavaldik! Thu, 11 Sep 2008 11:59:26 +0000 http://www.tzipiyah.com/2008/09/when-evil-striked-good-was-awakened.html#IDComment6202333 http://www.tzipiyah.com/2008/09/when-evil-striked-good-was-awakened.html#IDComment6202323 This kinda relates to this week's parsha in a way when we are told not to hide our eyes when we see a lost object or someone's animal falling. We can be passive and pretend we didn't see it, because it's much more simple that way. Or we can stand up for truth and morality and assist, even if it's to our inconvenience. If it bothers us we will shout out and fight for it. Remaining silent is as good as agreeing to it... Thu, 11 Sep 2008 11:59:13 +0000 http://www.tzipiyah.com/2008/09/when-evil-striked-good-was-awakened.html#IDComment6202323 http://www.tzipiyah.com/2008/09/special-offer-king-in-a-field-one-month-only.html#IDComment6200873 Yes, it's more simple to perform in a ritualized lifestyle but I don't think as Jews our mission is at all simple. We're not supposed to go for the easiest route, but we are to l'amol, to toil. The very purpose for these obligations, mitzvot and rituals are to get us closer to Hashem. One should only have in mind Hashem when performing them. Actually the book Bilvavi Mishkan Evneh discusses this topic in length and can be purchased in Hebrew or in the English version, Building a Tabernacle in my Heart, or something to that effect. It's a crucial book which discusses how indeed we are to make spirituality part of our modern lives and the absolute necessity for it. Thu, 11 Sep 2008 11:10:31 +0000 http://www.tzipiyah.com/2008/09/special-offer-king-in-a-field-one-month-only.html#IDComment6200873 http://www.tzipiyah.com/2008/09/zemers-aliyah-files-3-collage.html#IDComment5989313 I remember meeting a man in a bookstore who wanted to learn Hebrew. So I showed him where the books for learning Hebrew are and recommended the one I use, and then I asked him what brings him to Israel. He was American and not particularly Torah-obsverant from what I could tell, but what he said was amazing. "I've come to Israel for 2 years to pray for the Jewish people." Another woman I met and she asked me why I was wearing a particular necklace and we got into a whole discussion about G-d. She then gave me hug and disappeared. Was most strange. And my favourite; I was waiting to pay for something and this Israeli woman asks if she can just put this t-shirt against me to see if it would fit nice against her daughter. Before I had chance to answer, she was holding it against me, changing positions, and re-examinng it for about 5 minutes, oblivious of anything else. It's just so nice how Israel attracts so many types of different people on their quest for meaning. Mon, 8 Sep 2008 11:02:08 +0000 http://www.tzipiyah.com/2008/09/zemers-aliyah-files-3-collage.html#IDComment5989313 http://www.tzipiyah.com/2008/08/announcement-big-changes-coming-up.html#IDComment5096253 Good work, Dan! Fri, 29 Aug 2008 05:53:40 +0000 http://www.tzipiyah.com/2008/08/announcement-big-changes-coming-up.html#IDComment5096253 http://www.tzipiyah.com/2008/08/why-i-appreciate-olympics.html#IDComment4672313 I think we should look at the Olympics not only as a source of our national pride, but also as a source of spiritual inspiration. How? If these athletes can put in so much work, training and sweat into something so physical, how much more so should we as spiritual Jews put in double their effort to achieve our spiritual requirements and achievements. We should be working, training and sweating in our Torah achievements much more than they are in their physical achievements. Fri, 22 Aug 2008 10:29:22 +0000 http://www.tzipiyah.com/2008/08/why-i-appreciate-olympics.html#IDComment4672313 http://www.tzipiyah.com/2008/07/question-paradox-of-emotions.html#IDComment3613523 I think it's because the mourning itself has to happen in order for the rebuilding to begin. Through mourning, we can achieve an elevated level of avodat Hashem and bein adam l'chavero which will provide us with merit for the third Beis HaMikdash. Fri, 1 Aug 2008 03:15:03 +0000 http://www.tzipiyah.com/2008/07/question-paradox-of-emotions.html#IDComment3613523