Journeys of Faith in an Uber Ride

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "Journeys of Faith in an Uber Ride."

After attending a Hanukkah celebration, the author meets an Uber driver who, though long disconnected from Jewish life, still feels a deep love for her heritage. Her story reflects the quiet struggle of assimilation and the enduring spark of Jewish identity in the diaspora. Soon after, an antisemitic act in Kew Gardens—where a menorah was torn from a car and desecrated—underscores the persistence of hatred against Jews. Together, these moments reveal both the inner and outer challenges facing the Jewish people and affirm the need to keep the light of faith and knowledge burning brightly.

(AI generated image via Gemini)

Journeys of Faith in an Uber Ride

My Dear Fellow Jews: Where Are You?

 
Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "My Dear Fellow Jews: Where Are You?"

We may disagree on policies, and we may debate government actions and inaction, but standing with the Jewish people and the State of Israel is not optional—it is existential. To side with those who spread antisemitic propaganda and seek Israel’s destruction is not conscience; it is betrayal. As G-d called to Adam, He calls to us: Do not hide. Stand up. Be counted.

(AI generated image via Geminia)

My Dear Fellow Jews: Where Are You?

Tisha B’Av: Will the Darkness Ever End?

 
Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "Tisha B'Av: Will the Darkness Ever End."

Tisha B’Av, the ninth day of the Hebrew month of Av, is the most solemn day of Jewish mourning, commemorating a series of tragic historical events—including the destruction of the First and Second Temples and other calamities—that symbolize both profound physical loss and spiritual rupture. Despite this darkness, tradition holds hope through the promise of the Mashiach’s birth on this day and the eventual rebuilding of the Temple. Recent tragedies like the October 7, 2023 attack and rising global antisemitism remind us of ongoing challenges, but faith, kindness, and prayer sustain the Jewish people, empowering them to be active participants in redemption. Miracles continue to unfold with the return to sovereignty in Israel, and the day will one day transform from mourning into celebration.

(AI generated image via Gemini)

Tisha B’Av: Will the Darkness Ever End?

My Supernova

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "My Supernova."

Years ago, there was a time when I rebelled against religion, Judaism, and G-d. It was my version of running to the Supernova Music Festival, where I could dance and party to the music under the desert sky. I was young, and probably like many others, went through a stage when I wanted to express my freedom and independence.

On October 7, of the almost 1,200 people massacred that day, 364 were at the music festival. No one can say why anyone lost their lives, were brutally tortured and raped, or were abducted by these radical Islamic terrorists that day—it was pure evil—but like me missing Rosh Hashanah years ago, people at Supernova were also misplaced from the holy Shabbat services and the singing and dancing with the Torahs for the holiday. This is a kind of Jewish tragedy.

(AI Generated Image via Craiyon)

My Supernova

Checklist for Yom Kippur

 
Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "A More Important Checklist for Yom Kippur."

If we measure a person's life not by how long they live but by what they do with their precious moments in life, then maybe we can see our lives more in terms of outcomes in meeting our potential rather than purely as time present. Of course, we want to have more time, but whatever time we are granted, we should make the most of it.

(Credit Photo: Pixabay via https://www.pexels.com/photo/person-marking-check-on-opened-book-416322/)

Checklist for Yom Kippur

Rosh Hashanah Reflections

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "Rosh Hashanah Reflections."

Rosh Hashanah is the annual wake-up call for us to stop, get out of the car, actually see what we are doing and where we are going, and course correct while we still can in our lives. G-d gives us 60, 70, 80, maybe 90 years of chances to take stock of how we use our precious time in this world, our relationships with our loved ones, and the thoughts, words, and deeds that we evoke for good or, G-d forbid, otherwise. Rosh Hashanah is a blessing for us to back the car out of danger and get us on the road to success if we but take the opportunity, which, G-d willing, we will all do.

(Credit Photo: Ri_Ya via https://pixabay.com/photos/shana-tova-honey-sweet-jewish-4496748/) 

Rosh Hashanah Reflections

The Hypocrisy of False Repentance

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "The Hypocrisy of False Repentance."

We firmly believe that there is true Divine justice by the Almighty (even if not always by our court system), and that if we don’t do good and work at perfecting our deficiencies as is our purpose in Olam Hazeh (this world), then we will suffer the consequences in the World to Come.

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

The Hypocrisy of False Repentance

What Are You Refusing To See?

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "What Are You Refusing To See?"

Rabbi Yosef Mizrachi’s incredible book, Divine Information, opened my eyes in explaining about “Torah and Science,” how G-d’s word to us in the Torah is fully and absolutely divine from Hashem.

The Torah was given in 1,312 BCE, before most of the discoveries of the world, modern science, and tools like telescopes and microscopes. Yet, the Torah tells us secrets of the world and science long before they were known.

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

What Are You Refusing To See?

The Irreligious Religious

 
Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "The Irreligious Religious."

If some “religious” people do the wrong thing, disrespect their fellow Jews, hate on them, curse them, defile their prayers, that doesn’t mean they are really religious. Rather to the contrary — they are the irreligious religious!

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

The Irreligious Religious

True Self Is Helping Others

 

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "True Self is Helping Others."

The Rebbe’s message was that self-improvement was really about helping others! All the changes we commit to around the Jewish New Year and make in ourselves is not really about us, but rather about us being able to develop ourselves in order to “give it all away” to help others. Too often, people think in terms of self-help, self-improvement, where everything is sort of in terms, well, ourselves–my looks, my degrees, my career, my bank account, my family, and so on. However, people should not lose sight that everything that Hashem gives us is really for a higher spiritual purpose, for giving to others or “paying it forward.”

In this vein, we learn Torah not just for the sake of learning, but rather in order to actually do Mitzvot! Rabbi Kaplan explained that the Rebbe would make each and every person feel special and important. Why? Because by building up the individual, each could then go out and build up the world. And this is one of the reasons that I love and respect Chabad so much—from my experience, people like Rabbi Kaplan and Chabad in general, are all about living this life lesson from the Rebbe and giving, giving, and then giving some more in order to really improve the Jewish community globally and by extension the world.

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

True Self Is Helping Others

How Hashem Was Found

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called, "How Hashem Was Found."

This disabled man was then charged with DUI and spent the next 8 1/2 years in prison. But the Rabbi of the prison helped him to find G-d in all this suffering and slowly he returned to his Jewish roots. Now, for the Jewish holiday of Shavuot, commemorating the giving of the Torah to all the Jewish people, he was in synagogue, holding his prayer book and receiving the Ten Commandments with the rest of the congregants.

If this man who's body was crushed, leg lost, and who spent so many years in prison could find the good and his way back to Hashem, then there is hope for all of us who can learn, grow, and turn our lives around as well. G-d is there in the darkness and in the light, and we have to find Him and believe.

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

How Hashem Was Found

Making Things Right When There Is Still Time

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called, "Making Things Right When There Is Still Time."
 

Over the years, I heard bits and pieces about him, including that he was ill, and I tried through my other friends to reach out to him. Somehow, it never worked, and more time wore on. Recently again, when another old friend lost their parent, I read something that reminded me that I still had unfinished business with my friend that I had hurt. So now was as good a time as any to reach out.

Somehow hurting someone never really goes away. Those feelings are sort of immortalized in time. The hurt is tangible and become concrete in the genetic fabric of our souls. My soul told me that it was time to try to correct for a mistake I made. You never know how much time is left, and it is important to try to make things right.

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Making Things Right When There Is Still Time

Every Little Thing

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called, "Every Little Thing." 

Every little thing that Hashem provides for us is truly a big deal. It’s so easy to become complacent, arrogant, and overconfident in all that we have today. But if we just remember that without every little thing we have, we could be in some big, big trouble tomorrow.

Our bodies, minds, and spirit can be strong, but without the ingredients we need to survive, we are all just dust and ashes. Before the High Holidays, when we ask Hashem to forgive us, and we try to make amends, and pray for a good New Year, now is a great time to appreciate every little thing!

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Every Little Thing

30,000 Chances To Get It Right

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called, "30,000 Chances To Get It Right."

Teshuvah (Repentance) is really not just a yearly process, it is a daily one. And 80 years is almost 30,000 days, with every day that we wake up, get up, and start up the process of another day again, we have the opportunity to get it right this day, this time around!

Every day that we awake and arise is a great opportunity to try again where we failed in prior days and we can potentially think holier thoughts, say kinder words, and treat each other better, more compassionately and righteously.

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

30,000 Chances To Get It Right