Every good deed is a flame

I have just returned from a video presentation about tsnius, (modesty) and heard the sister of one of the bochrim imprisoned in Japan who read a letter from her brother. He requested that women should take upon themselves to strengthen their commitment to tsnius. Mrs. Blau, the sister of Yossi, described in heartrending detail, how the bochrim strive to keep mitzvot in their prison cells. On Rosh, Hashana, she related, one of the bochrim used his mouth to blow the sounds of the shofar (tekia, shevarim and teruah). On Chanukah, her brother drew a menorah, and each day, he drew another candle on his drawing. Mrs. Blau suggested that we, too, can contribute by doing a good deed. Every good deed is a spark, a flame.

Before the sentencing of the youngest boy, the women in my neighborhood gathered to recite tehilim on their behalf. A special prayer was handed out and we were instructed to recite the prayer daily. Please pray for these bochrim, as the trials of the two older ones draw near. Let's try to take upon ourselves to perform a good deed, in their merit and let us hope for a positive outcome. Thankfully, we are not in prison and mitzvot are easily available to us.

The Jpost published an article by Mel Bezalel about a reality tv show where two troubled teens went to live with a religious family in Israel for one week. Both the teens faced adaptation to a strict dress code. The following is what Gemma, a sixteen year old from Hampshire, had to say. "When they explained the reason behind it, I understood it more and wanted to give it a go," she said. "When I go back to England, I'm going to dress a lot more modestly."

To access full article, click here.
Let's give it a go, as well.

יהי רצון מלפניך אבינו שבשמים אב הרחמים והחסדים שתתמלא ברחמים ובחסדים על יואל זאב בן מירל ריסא חוה יעקב יוסף בן רייזל יוסף בן איטא רבקה ותבטל מעליהם כל מיני גזרות קשות ורעות ותקרע רוע גזר דינם לטובה וימצאו חן ושכל טוב לפניך ותתן חינם בעיני כל אדם. אבינו שבשמים אב הרחמים והחסדים מאוצר מתנת חינם תחוננו ותעננו ותעשה ברחמיך הרבים שלא יחושו צער וכאב ותשגיח עליהם ברחמיך הרבים ותמתיק הדין מעליהם, וכשם שריחמת על יוסף הצדיק והוצאת אותו מבית האסורים, כך תוציא אותם מבית האסורים. מלפניך מלכנו ריקם אל תשיבנו חננו ועננו, ושמע תפילתנו כי מלך חנון ורחום אתה