Arcade Jester

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Menorah Decorative Plate

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Long and Skinny Racing Car

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Torah, Prayer, and Good Deeds

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Twelve viciously murdered by terrorist gunmen at Hanukkah Lighting in Australia

May G-d have mercy and grant us the courage and strength for good to win out over evil! 🇮🇱 🇺🇸

Turning AI Power Toward Human Purpose

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "Turning AI Power Toward Human Purpose."

A lighthearted exchange between friends reveals a serious truth: modern leaders often debate endlessly yet craft only temporary, superficial solutions. The rise of artificial intelligence epitomizes this problem—technological advances enrich a privileged few while deepening inequality and eroding human purpose. Across the world, immense wealth coexists with staggering poverty, creating a dual system of justice and dignity divided by class. We need a moral awakening rooted in religious values of compassion and justice where we align progress with empathy and action to heal a fractured world.

(AI generated image via Gemini)

Crystal Eyes

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Beautiful Daytona Beach

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Lighthouse Staircase

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Beach Living

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

The Jewish Cure for Anxiety

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "The Jewish Cure for Anxiety."

Anxiety has become a constant backdrop in a world shaken by rapid technological change, economic strain, geopolitical threats, and deep social polarization, leaving many people echoing the fearful question, “What’s gonna be?”. Jacob in the Torah portion Vayishlach models a healthy response to fear through his “Triad of Response”: he prays, uses diplomacy, and prepares defensively, showing that true trust fuses faith with decisive action. Rabbi Nachman of Breslov, despite immense personal suffering, teaches that worry is a spiritual poison and calls us instead to serenity grounded in prayer, gratitude, and confidence that nothing happens outside Divine will. Coelho’s The Alchemist echoes this wisdom through the seer’s insight that seeking to know the future only makes us suffer twice, urging us to embrace a “sacred alliance” of doing our part, trusting God, and focusing on appreciating today rather than surrendering our present joy to imagined tomorrows.

(AI generated image via Meta)

 

Bad Headache

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal) 

Thinking Cats

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Dream Catcher

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Aim Point Shooting Range

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

They Call It Fashion

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal) 

Rachel's Cry: Empathy's Thanksgiving Lesson

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "Rachel's Cry: Empathy's Thanksgiving Lesson."

Thanksgiving aligns seamlessly with Judaism's emphasis on gratitude to G-d and loved ones. In Parashat Vayetze, Rachel's desperate plea for children meets Jacob's angry rebuke, highlighting a failure of empathy over defensiveness. True thanks requires piercing beyond words to embrace others' inner pain, countering our self-focused tendencies with compassionate listening. Like our foreparents, we can elevate relationships through generous kindness, fulfilling love's essence this holiday.

(AI generated image via Gemini)

Native Putting Out a Fire

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Tower and Truck

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Bluey Threesome

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

The Barest of Heads

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Donut Tunnel

(Credit Photo: Minna Blumenthal)

Thanksgiving Squirrel

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Enough Is Enough: A Plan for Action

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "Enough Is Enough: A Plan for Action."

Supporters of Hamas have intensified a disturbing campaign of hatred and intimidation, targeting Jewish communities with hateful protests and violent threats. These actions seek not only disruption but the normalization of antisemitism and provocation of violence, exploiting legal protections and testing society’s resilience. Public officials’ inadequate responses risk legitimizing such hateful behavior, highlights the urgent need for decisive action. To confront this crisis, we must implement a comprehensive six-point strategy:

1. Strengthen laws and protections for targeted communities, enforcing hate crime and civil rights statutes and defamation laws.
2. Ensure venue-appropriate security for Jewish institutions and empower law enforcement to act swiftly and without political interference.
3. Hold individuals and public figures accountable for propagating antisemitism under the guise of political critique.
4. Counter misinformation and hate through accurate media reporting, education, and strategic communication campaigns.
5. Secure digital platforms by dismantling coordinated hate campaigns, bot networks, and stopping financial incentives for hate profiteers.
6. Strengthen community resilience through training, education on antisemitism, interfaith dialogue, cross-community alliances, and robust monitoring and reporting systems.

Good people can no longer remain silent as this dangerous tide of hate rises—we must confront it now with clarity, courage, and resolve to safeguard our future.

(AI generated image via OpenAI) 

Cannabis Museum

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Acrobat Robots

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Stained Colored Glass

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Lighthouses

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Bubblicious It's the Ultimate Bubble

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

The Powerful Legacy of Jewish Women

 
Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "The Powerful Legacy of Jewish Women."

The Israeli women who suffered during the October 7 terrorist attacks faced unimaginable horrors—they were degraded, raped, murdered, mutilated, and forced to witness the brutal slaughter of their husbands and children, then tragically disbelieved by many. In sharp contrast, Sarah, our biblical foremother, whose son Isaac was spared during the binding, exemplifies unwavering faith and resilience amid hardship—qualities these women embody as they endure. The Torah portion Chayei Sarah teaches that true legacy arises from virtues like faith, kindness, service, rather than worldly achievements. Together, Sarah's enduring strength and the courage of the October 7 victims inspire us to cultivate lasting virtues that define a meaningful, resilient life beyond tragedy.

(AI generated image via Gemini)

Twin Cupcakes

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Israel, the Land of Zion!

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Stuck on Wall

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Turkey Cake

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Colorful Vodka

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

From the Binding of Isaac to October 7

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "From The Binding of Isaac to October 7."

The story of Abraham and Isaac reveals how fragile life can be, yet also how faith transforms fear into purpose. For centuries, from Egypt to the Holocaust to October 7, the Jewish people have faced the knife at their throat, believing that G-d would not abandon them. Time and again, His hand has guided us from despair to renewal, from persecution to promise. When we live with righteousness and steadfast faith, the knife meant to destroy us turns instead upon the ram caught in the thicket of evil.

(AI generated image via Gemini)

Flower Hair

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Plush Stuffed Animals

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Mario Suspenders

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

There is Always a Bigger Fish

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Extra Large Water Bottle

(Credit Photo: Minna Blumenthal)

The Imminent Danger of Zohran Mamdani

 
Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "The Imminent Danger of Zohran Mamdani."

The rise of radical socialism in New York threatens not only democracy but the safety of its Jewish community. As antisemitic incidents surge, Zohran Mamdani manipulates and gaslights the public, hiding behind claims of social justice and anti‑genocide rhetoric while refusing to condemn Hamas or calls for global intifada. His deception weaponizes resentment and division, turning ideology into an instrument of hate and racism. This escalating threat puts Jews and the city’s moral foundation at grave risk. If New Yorkers do not awaken quickly, history may again repeat its darkest chapters.

(AI generated image via Meta)

Cheesy Quesadilla

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Noah's Ark

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

NYC Bookstore Face

(Credit Photo: Dannielle Blumenthal)

Sparkling Waters

(Credit Photo: Dannielle Blumenthal)

Skeleton Coming Out of Book

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

When a Jew is Torn Between Freedom and Family

 
Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "When a Jew is Torn Between Freedom and Family."

Shulem Deen’s All Who Go Do Not Return is a powerful memoir chronicling his escape from the insular Skverer Hasidic community. Deen’s world was shaped by strict prohibition of secular influences, arranged marriage, and demand for total conformity, enforced by harsh punishments and social control. After being cast out for his growing doubts, Deen lost his family, faith, and community, and struggled through loneliness and depression. His story is both a lament for what was lost and a testament to the steep, lasting price of freedom, raising profound questions about the cost of authenticity and the challenge of losing everything. 

(AI generated image via Meta)

5 Little Cats

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Hanging Fish

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Diver and Aquarium Treasure

 

(Credit Video: Andy Blumenthal)

Tongue Twister

(Credit Video: Andy Blumenthal)

Profits, Prophets, and the AI Craze

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "Profits, Prophets, and the AI Craze."

This article explores the extraordinary rise of AI and quantum technology stocks since the 2022 downturn, questioning whether this boom is driven by innovation or speculation. It notes that while some companies show real promise, many valuations far exceed fundamentals and future earnings potential. The article draws on Jewish wisdom to emphasize prudence, humility, and moral purpose amid market euphoria. Ultimately, it suggests that technology’s true value lies not just in profit but in its potential to advance humanity toward a more ethical and enlightened world.

(AI generated image via Meta)