The Surprising Secret To Becoming Your Best

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "The Surprising Secret To Becoming Your Best."

Even while we are each different and should become our best selves, we still all need to make sure we are driving towards good healthy goals.

There is no one-size-fits-all mold for us. Hashem has a destiny in mind for each of us, and we need to find out what that is and work to become it. As parents, we need to see our children for who they are and not who we may want them to be. Truly, it’s a blessing to be able to be ourselves! As long as we and they are doing good in the world and by our Creator, we are each and everyone on solid Jewish ground.

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

The Surprising Secret To Becoming Your Best

$$$Yachting Mean Some Big Dough$$$

Big yachts usually mean big mansions too, and that is certainly true here in Florida.

Often it means multiple mansions across states or even in different countries.

In one case, we saw two mansions demolished to build an even bigger single mansion in their place. 

All the while others are going homeless and are having difficulty making ends meet. 

The last boat isn't a yacht per se, but I like the ocean blue color!

(Credit Photos: Andy Blumenthal)

$$$Yachting Mean Some Big Dough$$$

Hollywood Beach and Boardwalk - City Walk

(Credit Video: Andy Blumenthal)

Hollywood Beach and Boardwalk - City Walk

Shake It Up

This bartender knows how to shake things up! 

She can do one drink or two at a time! ;-)

(Credit Video: Andy Blumenthal)

Shake It Up

When Branding is the Bomb

Putting your company name or logo on a grenade. 

Does that make you the bomb?

I guess it could mean that you're exploding with energy, creativity, quality, coolness, market share, revenue, profits, or more. 

Maybe it's a warning to your competitors to stay clear or they will suffer the explosive consequences.

Another reading is that your company is in trouble and is about explode, fragment, and leave a trail of dead bodies in its wake. 

If you love your brand, instead of a T-shirt with their logo next time, maybe you'll consider splurging for their very own branded grenade.

You can display it, throw it, or sit on it and hope for the best the brand has to offer. ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

When Branding is the Bomb

Beautiful Fresh Fruit Cups

Overflowing cups of fresh fruit.

Colorful and appetizing. 

Amazing natural foods that G-d has given us.

I don't think any metaverse can even come close.  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Beautiful Fresh Fruit Cups

Short of Closet Space

So what do you do if you are short of closet space or if your wife throws you out of the house?

Of course, you hang your clothing on a tree!

Calvin Klein shirts too. 

I wonder what happens when the squirrels come out.  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Short of Closet Space

Dancing on the Head of a Pin

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "Dancing on the Head of a Pin."

We’re all different, and we all have something to say and contribute to solve life’s challenges. While some of us may think that they are better than others, the reality is that we are all human, fallible, and subject to life’s circumstance and G-d’s mighty hand. However, too often, we let ego get in the way, and instead of taking on the huge, almost insurmountable challenges that we face, we end up fighting about who’s in charge and who gets the credit.

As we face the daunting challenges confronting America, Israel, and the world, we need effective “servant-leaders,” who are guided by a genuine moral compass and faith in G-d to take well-reasoned actions and not to punt the problems down the political road. Real leadership means leaving your ego at the door; it means self-sacrifice, compassion, creative thinking, and bold problem-solving. Big challenges can be dealt with, but we’ve got to have the right measure of ourselves, strength of character, and unity of purpose to finally overcome them.

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Dancing on the Head of a Pin

Happy Shabbat!

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Happy Shabbat!

Luv Is The Answer

Luv is cool. 

It's the answer. 

What's the question?

(Credit Photo: Dossy Blumenthal)

Luv Is The Answer

Panther Cat Car

Great panther on the sides of this ocean blue sports car! 

Love the orange and red rims too. 

Fast and fancy!

Functional art ready for the road.  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal) 

Panther Cat Car

Dreaming An Angel

So last night (on the last night of Hanukkah) I had the most amazing dream. 

In the dream, I saw a celestial being come to me.

And it was clearly my mom.

She didn't exactly have a physical body, but more like an angel and the manifestation of the spirit I recognized immediately as my mother. 

I experienced an unbelievable and overwhelming feeling of missing my mom. 

Like the feeling of the last years that I had been holding back suddenly burst forth. 

I started crying hysterically how I had missed her and that I was sorry for any way that I may have failed her (and my dad). 

She stood completely straight and beautiful like an angel, truly. 

And I could feel her love for me and she told me in a soft and genuine voice that "It is okay."

This was not like a regular dream, but completely real in a metaphysical sense, and I not only saw, but also remembered every detail vividly.  

Afterwards, I felt immobilized for about 20 minutes; just feeling all the feeling and still seeing it all in my mind's eye. 

I was shaken from such a life-changing "dream" and still can't really get over it.

It was wonderful to see my mom and know that she is okay and at peace, and everything is okay. 

Thank you G-d for letting me experience this and to connect with my mom once again. 

May it be for a blessing for us. ;-)

(Credit Photo: Janbaby at Pixabay)

Dreaming An Angel

Don’t Let The Light Go Out: Hanukkah

(Credit Video: Andy Blumenthal)

Don’t Let The Light Go Out: Hanukkah

Israel: A Uniquely Jewish Miracle

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "Israel: A Uniquely Jewish Miracle."

What a difference 73 years of the State of Israel makes! While the anti-Semites and anti-Zionists out there like to call us occupiers, colonizers, and an Apartheid state, it couldn’t be any further from the truth. The Jews are indigenous to Israel for four thousand years, and it is the Promised Land by G-d to our forefathers: Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Moreover, Israel is a free and democratic nation driven to equality and progress, and with outstanding opportunity for all that are able to live peacefully together.

From a historical perspective, it is absolutely clear that after the Jewish people had been forcibly expelled by the Romans in the year 134, Israel fell into a state of wasteland and utter desolation...Contrast what Mark Twain and the others saw for hundreds of years in terms of the ruin, decline, and depopulation of the so-called “Palestine” (as named by the Romans “Syria Palaestina” to delegitimize the Jews from their promised homeland) with what Israel is today, and it is nothing short of a truly miraculous transformation back to its essence as the Garden of Eden.

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Israel: A Uniquely Jewish Miracle

Appetizing Falafel Platter

Hummus

Israeli Salad

Tomato Salad

Cole Slaw

Baba Ganoush

Eggplant

Onions

Spicy Sauce

Falafel Balls

Tehina

Good enough to eat it all up!  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Appetizing Falafel Platter

Absolutely Mind Blowing Humanoid Robot

This is definitely an amazing, exciting look into Robots in our future. 

Compliments to Engineered Arts in the UK. 

Gives you something big and visionary to think about over the weekend.  ;-)

Absolutely Mind Blowing Humanoid Robot

Rapper Rabbi Motti Flikshtein Celebrates Hanukkah

(Credit Video: Andy Blumenthal)

Rapper Rabbi Motti Flikshtein Celebrates Hanukkah

Sleeping or Dead?

Is this person sleeping or dead in the airport?

The flight isn't even delayed!  

It's like 9 or 10 in the morning. 

These days everything goes. ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Sleeping or Dead?

Threaded Blue Chair

This threaded blue chair was not only really good looking, but comfortable. 

Although getting in was easier than getting out of it!  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Threaded Blue Chair

Now That's Relaxation

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
 

Now That's Relaxation

Happy Hanukkah 2021

 (Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Happy Hanukkah 2021

The Plan Amidst The Pain

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "The Plan Amidst The Pain."

In life, not only do we have to be determined and work hard, but G-d throws us curveballs and challenges all along the way that can often make us drop to our knees or throw our arms up in despair. However, we need to be faithful like Jacob and Joseph, knowing that it’s all a part of G-d’s plan and mission for us, and through these we learn and grow and become better versions of ourselves.

Moreover, if we but open our eyes to the miracle of our creation and our sustainment every moment of every day by Hashem, and remember that He put us all here for a purpose, then we can pay the daily price for what G-d puts in front of us and how we choose to handle it.We can do this knowing that it’s all really just a small price to pay in the end for so much that we gain in this world and that we will carry forward to the hereafter. In the end, nothing is free, but the price and the reason is always just what G-d wants it to be.

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

The Plan Amidst The Pain

Beautiful Flowers

Approaching the end of Friday.

Beautiful flowers to end, to start. 

Peace, rest, Shabbat!  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Beautiful Flowers

Thanksgiving Beach

 

Everybody is getting ready for the beach.

Don your bathing suits.

Set up the chairs.

Get the inflatables ready.

Jump into the ocean waves.

Who needs turkey on Thanksgiving.  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Thanksgiving Beach

Loads of Skittles

50 cents (used to be 25, 10, 5).

20 calories per piece! 

At least it's colorful.

And fruity.  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Loads of Skittles

Strong and Knowledgeable

If you know your own strength and what you can do...

Then you also know what you can't do.

While our dreams and imagination can be "the sky's the limit,"

The reality is we are human and we have to learn, grow, and make progress incrementally.

Still it's a fight every day to get stronger as people and as souls. ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Strong and Knowledgeable

Losing Your Head At Golf

Some people get overly invested at play.

They lose their head over a simple game. 

Golf anyone?  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Losing Your Head At Golf

Sad Sad Umbrella

Not an umbrella that you'd want in the sun or rain. 

It's the saddest umbrella in the world.  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Sad Sad Umbrella

When Hypocrisy Leads To Abuse

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "When Hypocrisy Leads to Abuse."

As many of you, I have been following the news about sexual abuse allegations against Rabbi Chaim Walder and have been horrified and disgusted that this renowned ultra-orthodox Children’s book author and therapist is now accused of abusing the same. Like community Rabbis (e.g. Rabbi Barry Freundel) or Jewish educators (e.g. Stanley Rosenfeld), this phenomenon of using a privileged position to take advantage of women and children is certainly, by this time, not new and remains a stain on the Jewish community, no different than that of the Catholic Church or the Boy Scouts for the abuse by its priest and leaders on those that trusted them and the religious values and ideals they represent.

Truly, these horrible acts of hurting, abusing, and scarring for life women and children (including boys) are regrettably all around us, whether with domestic violence, rape, sexual abuse, and human trafficking. But fortunately now they are at least “out of the closet” where rather than have the community deny the possibility that such evil exists or even circle the wagons to wholly protect the perpetrators (before fully investigating the facts), we now have greater recognition and are working towards accountability of these wrongs, and hopefully, far greater protection for people in the future.

(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

When Hypocrisy Leads To Abuse

Ready To Drag Race

I'm not sure a Nissan is generally "all that." 

But this guy definitely souped it up so that it looks pretty nice! 

Why don't call cars look exciting like that?  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Ready To Drag Race

Way To Go Girl Power

Powerpuff Girls.

That's messaging girl power! 

And women empowerment, as it should be. ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Way To Go Girl Power

Gorgeous Fall Leaves

Wow, gorgeous fall change of colors for the leaves. 

It almost looks like the tree is golden, heavenly and floating. 

We're so lucky to get to experience the wonders of nature. 

Thank you G-d!  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Minna Blumenthal)

Gorgeous Fall Leaves

Dog Likes Starbucks

Dog(s) like Starbucks coffee.

And people like (dog) biscuits.

What's the world coming to?  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Dannielle Blumenthal)

Dog Likes Starbucks

Purple Polka Dot Balloon

Purple polka dot (PPD) balloon.

Just hanging around on the window sill.

Caught up in the draw strings from the shades and electrical wires. 

It's an odd sighting of a PPD balloon.  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Purple Polka Dot Balloon

“Rock and Roll” With Chabad

 

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "Rock and Roll With Chabad."

People are often blocked from moving forward by uncertainty, indecision, insecurity, self-doubt, hesitancy, worry, and fear, yet one man, such as Jacob, can stand up and move that big rock off the well if he just sets his mind to it and tries!

The bottom line is that when people say it can’t be done or to wait because it will take an entire village of shepherds to simply move the rock from the well, instead we can see that even one determined person can “rock and roll,” make a difference, and start to make something special and meaningful happen.

(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

“Rock and Roll” With Chabad

Service With A Smile

Best bell to ring for service. 

The smile is contagious. 

One ring, and the customer service representative comes running. 

Excellence starts with the first ring! ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Service With A Smile

Been There Done That

Funny bumper sticker:

Been There Wrecked That!

And all I got was this lousy t-shirt.  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Been There Done That

The Amazing Turtle

Love Turtles. 

Peaceful and protected. 

They live in water and land. 

Not the fastest, but the most determined.  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

The Amazing Turtle

Colorful Drinking

That's an "absolut"ely friendly-looking bottle of vodka. 

You drink it one ribbon at a time? ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Colorful Drinking

Joke of a Pumpkin

 

Wow, someone made a real joke(r) out of this pumpkin!

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Joke of a Pumpkin

Jewish Unity Is Strength

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "Jewish Unity Is Strength."

It didn’t matter what race or nationality the person who had been hit by the car was, she was a human being in pain and who needed the help of others. We Jews need to remember that this is life in a nutshell. Life can change in split instance for better or G-d forbid, for worse. We need one another. No man is an island. We can’t afford to play holier than thou with anyone else. Only G-d can judge who is really “religious” and who is wanting.

It brought to my mind the irony that with the Jewish people, we are a small minority in the world, and yet we often disagree, fight, and can be intolerant and neglectful of one another despite facing anti-Semitism and other crises. This is far from the ideal of demonstrating love and acceptance, unifying ourselves together, and becoming as strong and effective as a “light unto nations” that we could and should be.

We can have our personal and communal ideals and standards, but at the same time have empathy for the journey that people are on. Therefore, we should strive to treat each other with kindness and tolerance and put aside the lofty and phony airs of personal judgement and exclusivity. Because in the end, no one knows who is laying next on the street waiting for that ambulance to come.

(Credit Painting: Dannielle Blumenthal)

Jewish Unity Is Strength

Hatchet Halloweenie

That hatchet says it all. 

You know what they'll do to you if they catch you.

Mohel on steroids. 

Maybe that's what the big scare is on Halloweenie.  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Hatchet Halloweenie

Bath Time Ducks

I'm not sure what's the novelty of all the ducks. 

Yes, they float in the bath tub! 

That's nice, so what.

They make a squeaky noise. 

Again, so what. 

They are not soft and cuddly.

They look sort of goofy.

Why in the world are we proliferating ducks???  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Rebecca)

Bath Time Ducks

Delicious Knafeh

Soft pastry, hot cheese, smooth cream, sweet syrup, crunchy almonds and pistachio.

What a scrumptious treat!

Straight from Jerusalem market. 

It literally melts in your mouth.  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Itzchak) 

Delicious Knafeh

Sleep Apnea and Respiratory Disorders

The pharmacy now has all these options on display for respiratory disorders (Sleep Apnea, COPD, etc.)

You can get full face, nasal mask (2 versions), or nasal "pillows".

How does one choose? I guess your doctor knows.

Looks challenging to try and sleep with these, but I guess you may have to do what you have to do. 

At least, there are therapeutic options these days, and hopefully many more in the future for all the illnesses out there!  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

(Note: Not intended as medical advice in any way!)

Sleep Apnea and Respiratory Disorders

What’s Your Kindness

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "What's Your Kindness."

When we are happy, we are able to graciously and generously give to others, and when we give to others, we are able to be happy! All the other pursuits in life such as wealth, ego, good looks, and so on are nothing but vanities (like King Solomon said in Ecclesiastes), and in the end lead to nothing but loss and suffering. However, giving and the happiness and positive spiritual energy it creates endures.

(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

What’s Your Kindness

Japanese Umbrella

Waiting on line with a Japanese Umbrella. 

Anime boy and girl with big eyes

Rain on one side, and sunny on the other. 

Big sunshine in the middle and flowers all around.

Definitely another standout!  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Japanese Umbrella

Horse on Blue

Nice horse on blue background. 

Seems so alive and is a real standout!  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Horse on Blue

Metaverse Arriving Soon

This little guy looks like he's right out of the Metaverse. 

Follow me and let's hang out, play video games, have a meeting, or do a little shopping. 

It's a world within our world and nothing is beyond your imagination!  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Metaverse Arriving Soon

Xylophone in Park

Cool instrument.

Lousy musician.  ;-)

(Credit Video: Andy Blumenthal)

Xylophone in Park

Looking Up

Took this photo laying under a tree and looking up at the sky. 

Feel the connection between earth and heaven. 

Hi G-d!  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Looking Up

@Watkins Regional Park

 

(Credit Photos: Andy Blumenthal)

@Watkins Regional Park