Resources and Articles by Anton Marks

Israeli Football:  The Three F's
My response to the question "What do you miss most about England?" always contains the three F’s – Family, Friends and Football [soccer]. My assumption is that most of you regard the first two as self-explanatory, and therefore I’m going to dwell on the latter. [Full article...]
Aliyah InfoBase > Life in Israel
Israel

Education in a Youth Movement Setting:  Indoctrination Vs. Education
Indoctrination versus education is one of those dilemmas that is often neglected as a debate in the Youth Movements. As an introduction to the issue, Anton Marks attempts to shed some light on the responsibility of madrichim and the importance of placing the matter firmly on their agenda. [Full article...]
Education
Judaism > Jewish Identity
Youth and Hagshama Movements / Organizations

Jewish Holidays:  Hagadda for Shavuot
The Tikkun Leil literally “night of healing” is a tradition which refers to a night of learning and discussion on the festival of Shavuot. This haggadah is intended to guide you through the evening with readings, discussion points, songs, activities and recipes for that cheesecake it is customary to eat on Shavuot. [Full article...]
Judaism > Holidays with a Twist > Shavuot
Judaism > Jewish Texts

A Secular-Cultural Perspective:  Jewish Conversion
When one considers conversion in Israel, Orthodox conversion is an accepted fact. This article explores why this may be neither reasonable nor appropriate. [Full article...]
Judaism > Conversion

A Delicate Balance:  Criticizing Israel in a Youth Movement Setting
Anton Marks explores the complicated issue of what it means to be a Zionist and a supporter of Israel, particularly within a youth movement setting, when one does not always agree with its policies. [Full article...]
Media and the Press
Youth and Hagshama Movements / Organizations

What does that mean anyway?!:  Jewish Identity
Anton Marks shares with us some ways in which his Jewish identity has developed and changed- particularly since moving to Israel. [Full article...]
Judaism > Jewish Identity

How well do you know your Zionism?:  Zionism Quiz
How well do you know Zionism? Try our brand new quiz and see if you are as clever as you say you are! [Full article...]
Quiz

Biblical Heroes and Heroines:  Samson
Samson (Shimshon in Hebrew) was a legendary warrior whose incredible exploits hint at the weight of Philistine pressure on Israel during much of the early, tribal period of Israel in Canaan (1200-1000). The Book of Judges ranks him with other divinely inspired warriors who delivered the community to establish themselves as its judges. [Full article...]
Judaism > Jewish Texts
People > @ Beginnings of time - 70: Biblical Age

Jewish symbols:  The Dreidel
One of the best known symbols of Chanukah is the dreidel, also called a "s'vivon," in Hebrew. A dreidel is a four-sided top with a Hebrew letter on each side. Dreidel is a derivative of a German word meaning "top," and the game is an adaptation of an old German gambling game. Hanukkah was one of the few times of the year when the rabbis permitted games of chance. [Full article...]
Judaism > Holidays with a Twist > Chanukah
Judaism > Jewish Symbols

Jewish Symbols:  The Menorah
One of the oldest symbols of the Jewish faith is the menorah, a seven-branched candelabrum used in the Temple. The kohanim lit the menorah in the Sanctuary every evening and cleaned it out every morning, replacing the wicks and putting fresh olive oil into the cups. Our Sages explain that the purpose of the menorah was not to illuminate the Sanctuary, but rather to spread its light throughout the entire world. For this purpose, the windows of the Temple were constructed in a unique manner, wide on the outside, narrow on the inside, clearly indicating that their purpose was for the light of the Temple to shine outward. [Full article...]
Judaism > Holidays with a Twist > Chanukah
Judaism > Jewish Symbols

Biblical Heroes and Heroines:  Moses
Moses was the greatest prophet, leader and teacher that Judaism has ever known. In fact, one of Rambam's 13 Principles of Faith is the belief that Moses's prophecies are true, and that he was the greatest of the prophets. He is called "Moshe Rabbeinu," that is, Moses, Our Teacher/Rabbi. Interestingly, the numerical value of "Moshe Rabbeinu" is 613: the number of mitzvot that Moses taught the Children of Israel! He is described as the only person who ever knew God face-to-face (Deut. 34:10) and mouth-to-mouth (Num. 12:8), which means that God spoke to Moses directly, in plain language, not through visions and dreams, as God communicated with other prophets. [Full article...]
Judaism > Jewish Texts
People > @ Beginnings of time - 70: Biblical Age

Biblical Heroes and Heroines:  Miriam
Miriam was the big sister of Moses. It was Miriam who was watching the basket of baby Moses as it floated on the river (Exodus 2). It was her that suggested to the daughter of Pharaoh the ideal of finding a women from the Israelites to take care of Moses. Miriam's quick thinking meant Moses was brought up by his own mother. If there was anything to know about Moses, Miriam knew it. [Full article...]
Judaism > Jewish Texts
People > @ Beginnings of time - 70: Biblical Age

Biblical Heroes and Heroines:  King David
David, a shepherd, was the son of Jesse of Bethlehem. He was anointed by Samuel to be successor to Saul who was first king of the united Israel. David entered Saul's service as a musician, but when David defeated Goliath, the Philistine champion, Saul became jealous. Soon Saul tried to kill David, but Saul's son Jonathan, who was David's close friend, helped him to escape. David lived as an outlaw for a time. Once Saul entered a cave where David was hiding. Instead of killing Saul, David secretly clipped off the corner of Saul's robe, showing his loyalty to the king. Eventually, Saul died in battle with the Philistines, the men of Judah made David their king. [Full article...]
Judaism > Jewish Texts
People > @ Beginnings of time - 70: Biblical Age

Biblical Heroes and Heroines:  Sarah
Sarah is found among the most prominent women of the Torah. Originally named Sarai, she was given the new name Sarah, meaning princess, after she had married Abraham. Sarah also means 'mother of nations'. Every time someone called Sarah or anytime she introduced herself to someone she was making a statement of faith, calling herself the mother of many nations even before she had a child. She later became the mother of Isaac, and through Isaac the grandmother of Jacob, who was renamed Israel. Sarah is therefore one of the ancestors of all of the Israelites. [Full article...]
Judaism > Jewish Texts
People > @ Beginnings of time - 70: Biblical Age

Jewish Symbols:  Challah
A special feature of the three Shabbat meals is the Shabbat loaf of bread, or challah. Each Shabbat meal begins, as do all meals, by saying the blessing for bread. [Full article...]
Judaism > Holidays with a Twist > Shabbat
Judaism > Jewish Symbols

Jewish Symbols:  The Shabbat Candles
The original function of Shabbat candles was a practical one. They were intended to enhance the enjoyment of the day by improving visibility. The sages realized that the domestic peace (shalom bayit) appropriate to the holy day would be diminished if members of the household were constantly stumbling over one another in the darkness. [Full article...]
Judaism > Holidays with a Twist > Shabbat
Judaism > Jewish Symbols

Jewish Symbols:  Havdalah
As Shabbat left with the evening darkness, our sages must have regarded that departure as a time of foreboding, a waning of holiness, as the week's trials approached. The ceremony of Havdalah, which means distinction or separation, was created not only to consciously separate the special time from the approaching regular time, but to send us into the coming week with the experience of Shabbat still lingering, "a good week, a week of peace". [Full article...]
Judaism > Jewish Symbols