The size of the anti-disengagement efforts here in Israel is incredible. Aside from the road blocking "dry run" a few weeks ago and the other assorted acts of protest (locks on government offices accross the country were found to be glued shut a few mornings ago), about 80% of the cars around here carry an orange ribbon. (Granted, I'm not exactly in Tel Aviv...)

But is the disengagement of 9,000 Jews from a part of the land of Israel less of a concern than the disengagement of many thousands of Jews from their people? The Gaza Strip isn't going anywhere. But the Jews who go lost are gone.

Shouldn't we care? Shouldn't this have red-alert status in every Jewish organization around the world? Shouldn't we be wearing wristbands and sitting in intersections and tying ribbons to our cars and hanging posters from our windows to scream out the message that the spiritual disengagement of thousands of Jews is absolutely unnaceptable to us?

Stop the disengagement!

If you are chas v'sholom lo aleinu going to a college other than YU, and you have non-religious Jewish friends, at least bring up the subject of religion. Ask them if they believe in G-d. Ask them what they think about Orthodox Jews. Or (if those weren't pointed enough questions for you) ask them if they want their children to be Jewish. Encourage them to go on Birthright. Make them actually think about Judaism. That's all. In a world where they have no exposure to Torah, and their knowledge of Orthodoxy is based on second-hand knowledge, misinformation and stereotypes, you are their window to the Torah. Don't miss that opportunity. Don't let another Jew slide his way into religious oblivion.

Stay tuned for part two...
(coming before Shavuot)