Jewish Culture

Judaism Inspired Me To Advocate

Aviva Seigler

I was a Jewish teenager in a Jewish youth group. I did not have any friends at School and this is where the majority of my friends were.

North American Federation of Temple Youth (NFTY) to be exact. There are regions and different temples have their own youth group and the different youth groups have events together.

I was at a conclave (that’s what they call them) and in the different programs they were talking about Rabbi Hillel.

Who was Rabbi Hillel?

Hillel was a Jewish religious leader, sage and scholar associated with the development of the Mishnah and Talmud (Rabbinic commentary). He was active during the end of the first century BCE and at the beginning of the first century CE.

The one quote always stuck with me:

If I am not for myself, who will be for me? If am not for others, what am i? And if not now, when?

Rabbi Hillel

To me it meant defending and protecting people who need it most. This quote became a driving force throughout my life.

When my parents would bully my younger brother, I would step between them and my brother to protect him. I also defended people in school being bullied.

This quote stayed with me my entire life. I really do believe that discussing this quote with other Jewish teens inspired me to advocate for others later in life.

Other Hillel Quotes

That which is hateful to you, do not do to another. That is the whole Law. The rest is commentary. Now go and learn.

Rabbi Hillel

A single candle can light a thousand more without diminishing itself

Rabbi Hillel

Take care of yourself – you never know when the world will need you

Rabbi Hillel

Who does not grow, declines.

Rabbi Hillel

In a place where there is no humans, be human.

Rabbi Hillel

Judge not thy friend until thou standest in his place

Rabbi Hillel

The more flesh, the more worms; the more possession, the more worry

Rabbi Hillel

Say not:”When I have free time I shall study” for you perhaps never have any free time.

Rabbi Hillel

He who refuses to learn deserves extinction

Rabbi Hillel

Be of the deciles of Aaron, loving peace and perusing peace, loving your fellow creature and drawing them near to the law.

Rabbi Hillel

Moreover he saw a skull floating on the surface of the water and he said unto it,”Because you drowned others they drowned you; and those that drowned you will eventually be drowned.”

Rabbi Hillel

Now the question remains, if I am not for others, what am I?

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Published by Aviva Seigler

Aviva Seigler is the executive director at Fierce Autistics and Allies. She is a writer, an activist, and an advocate. She is an LGBTQ+ autistic from South Florida, is married to a very supportive husband, and has six children. She has been fighting the CD protocol and other quack treatments since 2014. She is a veterinary technologist (LPN for pets). She has her associates and bachelors degree in Veterinary Technology from St. Petersburg College. She is very involved with scouting with her six children. Three of the children are autistic but all are Neurodivergent. Her hope is to bridge the gap between allies and autistics while fighting the pseudoscience that threatens all people, not just autistics.

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