Haveil Havalim Blog Carnival

First of all, the latest edition of Haveil Havalim has been posted. What is Haveil Havalim? Well, go to the link and you'll see but it's basically a roundup of many interesting blog posts from around the internet. To see why it fits well with the message of Tzipiyah.com, please read on.

Also, we will be honored to host the next Haveil Havalim! So make sure to stay tuned. It will come out right after pessah. Hopefully, by that time, we will also have started out with the Yom Haatzmaut Project!

Now, how is this blog roundup related to Tzipiyah.com's message?


This is something I already posted once but I think everyone should read again.

I was once sitting in a meeting with my Rav, HaRav Mordechai Elon Shli"ta, and we started speaking about different organizations working together for the purpose of Jewish Education. We spoke about the problems which arise when you work with an organization which disagrees on key issues with you: be it a non-zionist orthodox organization, or a secular zionist organization. His answer (which he had said many other times in yeshiva) was clear: Communication between Jews is ALWAYS good! This is the first premise.
So what about our disagreements?
Rav Elon said that we should never budge from our positions. Always say what we think and believe and when we disagree with the people we work with, there is no problem in making clear what our position is. However, that being said, why should that stop us from working on what we have in common?
If me and Chabad both provide programming for Jewish Students, why not make an event? Is their Non-Zionism a good enough reason? What does a Channukah Candle Lighting event for students have to do with being Zionist or not ?

I think this perspective is a very clear one: We believe what we believe. We believe it strongly. But we are willing to listen. We are willing to talk with people who disagree with us. We are willing to discuss, argue, disagree etc... This should be even more true when "the other" is our Jewish Brother.

The truth is: History has shown us that anyone who needs to censor someone else is not holding the truth. If you need to censor someone else, it means your truth cannot stand against their arguments.

Haveil Havalim shows us posts from all around the internet, with different perspectives, many with which I completely disagree. However, I will not censor them. I will argue with them, disagree with them. But I will listen to them respectfully realizing that EVERYONE has a contribution to add to my understanding of the Emet.