Showing posts with label 613. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 613. Show all posts
October 27, 2026
June 14, 2026
Be Bold and Settle Our Entire Land of Israel
Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "Be Bold and Settle Our Entire Land of Israel."
As Prime Minister Netanyahu’s government boldly allocates $350 million to establish 61 new Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria, he acts as a modern Caleb and Joshua—faithful and courageous in claiming our biblically mandated and historical land despite international condemnation. We must be clear: we cannot and will not let Hamas and its terrorist affiliates steal our Jewish ancestral land or erase our indigenous connection to it. The Bible reinforces this imperative, teaching that fear blinds us to God’s promise while faith empowers us to overcome seemingly impossible obstacles, just as the spies once trembled before the giants of Canaan. Just as the rabbi today courageously corrected a congregation drifting into herd mentality during Shabbat Mussaf, so too must we—especially today’s B’nai Mitzvah, celebrating on the symbolic date of 6/13 (613 mitzvot)—reject secular conformity and stand firm in Jewish responsibility. We are commanded not to blend into the global herd but to break from it, sanctify our actions, and move forward with unyielding faith to build and secure the Land of Israel.
(AI generated image)
May 17, 2026
Why I Came Back to Shul
After drifting away from synagogue due to youthful disillusionment with the social hypocrisies and flaws of its members, I was drawn back by a series of persistent spiritual nudges, including the recurring appearance of the number 613. Returning to communal worship brought a shift in perspective, realizing that faith is about personal responsibility rather than the perfection of others. Through shared humor, imperfect traditions, and rallying together during a local family's medical crisis, I rediscovered the profound strength of a real, human community. Ultimately, the synagogue is not a showcase for saints but a vital sanctuary where fragile generations gather to look past their egos and connect with G-d.
(AI generated image)
May 23, 2020
The 11th Commandment
How many times do I hear about fellow Jews trying to "out-frum" (i.e. be holier than thou) other Jews: whether it's in terms of Kashrut, Shabbat or even who stayed up the latest for the Passover Seder. Recently, when it came to coronavirus, I was more than a little shocked to read that someone actually attributed the disease to it being a punishment from G-d because women's skirts are not being worn long enough. While certainly it's good to be introspective and there is a strong concept of reward and punishment in Judaism, there is something about us Jews where we tend to want to go a little more and a little farther. In some cases, we are doing "hiddur mitzvah" (beautification of the Mitzvah) which is praiseworthy, but in other cases, we may be adding unnecessary "chumras" (i.e. stringencies) than can backfire religiously. My unequivocal preference is to follow my father's teaching to me of the Rambam's "Shvil Ha'zahav" (i.e. the golden path) and not go too far to the left or to the right, but keep a healthy middle of the road approach to life.
In the end, the number of commandments are what they are, and with 613 throughout the Torah, there is enough to keep us all busy going what is right with G-d and our fellow man. While we may like to overachieve in our careers, our education, and our pedigrees, it is not necessary to try to outdo each other religiously. Religion is a matter between us and Hashem and G-d knows what is in our hearts and counts up all our deeds according to His holy Torah with nothing added and nothing subtracted.
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
February 22, 2020
The Commandments are for All of Us
While some Jews certainly thrive in Yeshiva delving into the Talmudic understanding of the laws for long hours every day, and they serve an important role in understanding and transmitting the laws from generation to generation, others may be more interested in the fundamental philosophy of Judaism and in "doing what's right" by applying the core teachings of the Torah at their own levels every day. Maybe this is one reason that the Ten Commandments are presented separately from the "mishpatim" that follow. Not that they aren't both important and necessary, but that the Torah is for all of us in the ways that each of us can appreciate, learn, and apply them within the overall framework of the Torah.
Of course, all the commandments are important between G-d and man and between man and man, as well as the conceptual framework of the Ten Commandments and the details embedded in the rest of the 613 commandments. Yet certainly, all of us in one way or another struggle with some commandments more than others or with losing sight of either the high-level essence of the Torah or important details of implementation. Nevertheless, we must strive to not only appreciate that all the Torah comes from Hashem, but also that we each must work as best as we can, in our own capacities, to learn and fulfill G-d's laws and to be a good example and "light unto the nations," which is what being "the chosen people" is really all about.
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal of Chagall Tapestry in Knesset, Israel)
September 22, 2017
613 Everywhere
My wife and I continue to see 613 all the time and everywhere!
Prices, receipts, license plates, accounts balances, stock price changes, lottery winnings, bar codes, time of day, wait times, schedules, number of email, rows in a spreadsheet, road numbers, social media views, etc. etc. etc.
- I have questioned myself over and over whether I am seeing it because I am sensitized to it or simply even looking for it at this point.
The answer is a definite no!
Here's a recent example, of the change in the stock price for Teva Pharmaceuticals (above)--it's exactly -.0613!
But this isn't a one time event or a fluke.
As we all know stock prices fluctuate every moment on the marketplace. Yet, when I check at completely different and random times, it is up or down by a variation of 613!
Other times, I'll check multiple stocks... and they will simultaneously be moving or priced at variations again of 613--at the exact same moment, I repeat, different stocks priced at the exact same moment.
Here's another non-financial example:
I did a post a few weeks ago on the critical importance of emergency preparedness.
Look at how many views it got on LinkedIn...exactly 163!
This happens everywhere and all the time!
Here's a third example:
Here's a fourth example:
Can you see the code on the package...613!
A fifth example:
A sixth example:
A seventh example:
An eighth example:
An ninth example:
A tenth example:
Hey, I am not superstitious and I am not OCD--seriously.
But this happens all the time.
I cannot help but think that G-d is sending us an important message.
From a personal level, my wife and I have both tried to take the messages seriously and to continue to improve our lives--albeit we know, we are far from perfect human beings.
However, we also feel compelled to share this message more broadly.
There is a lot going on in the world, and could this mean something bigger and more consequential to a lot more people?
Please, please, please, G-d have mercy on your children...we are but flesh and blood...and we desire to do good.
(Source Photos: Andy Blumenthal)
June 13, 2017
Today Is 6/13
Yes, check your calendar.
It only comes once a year.
613 is the mystical and holy number of commandments in the Torah.
For more than 2 years (this is not a short-term phenomenon), my family and even some friends have been seeing an inexplicable number of 613 everywhere.
Here is one from a stock I follow from the other week: Twitter was up exactly 6.13%...and I don't follow that many stocks.
Just yesterday, another stock (that been doing terribly...it's a startup!) is down an enormous 61.3% since I started following it.
And yet another major stock--of the largest company in Israel and the largest generic pharmaceutical company in the world--Teva--is down 16.03 year-to-date.
Nearly every day, we see an endless barrage of license plates, roads, train and plane schedules and physical or URL addresses, get purchase receipts or invoice totals, see number of posts, views, likes, or emails, and even the other day almost booked a hotel with the address....that's right and only 613!
I am a rational person...maybe almost to the extreme, and what I initially laughed off as a lark or someone's OCD thing, is beyond any reasonable explanation that I can fathom at this point.
I am left with faith that there is truly some message being sent from the One Above...the question is what is the meaning of the message?
I continue to hope and pray that the message is one of blessings and redemption for mankind...I hope you will join me in this prayer. ;-)
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
February 4, 2017
The Miraculous Mezuzah
Reminiscent of ancient times when Jews were slaves in Egypt and G-d told the Israelites to put the blood of the Paschal lamb on the doorpost.
When they did this and the Angel of Death killed the firstborn in each home of the taskmaster Egyptians--he passed over the doorposts of the Israelites that had the blood on it as commanded by G-d.
So too these days, the Mezuzah has the holy prayer of the Shema Yisrael on it:
"Hear, O Israel, the LORD our God, the LORD is One".And it is believed to be a symbol of G-d's divine protection for the home.
This week in Synagogue, Rabbi Haim Ovadia told some miraculous stories about the Mezuzah from when he was the Rabbi in Bogota, Columbia.
He told of how the cartels would raid the buildings where the people in the community lived. The cops would be told not to respond to the calls for help for at least an hour. But what was a miracle was that apartments with the mezuzahs were not harmed. Later, the people found out that the cartels, thank G-d left them alone, because they didn't know what a mezuzah was and thought it was some sort of fancy alarm system!
Another story, was the boss who put mezuzahs on the offices at work, and what happened? The profitability of the business went up. When they looked at why this happened, they realized that the boss would stop at the mezuzah to recite the Shema, and the workers thought the boss was there paying more attention to them and so productivity went way up.
Finally, the last one was really funny. They couldn't easily get mezuzahs in Bogota, so when they heard someone was coming from a trip to Israel, they asked him to bring 5 mezuzahs for the home. When it arrived, they opened it up, but lo and behold, the parchment with the prayer inside was missing from them. When they asked what happened to it--the person said, I already know how to put up a mezuzah on the doorpost with 2 nails and a hammer, so what do I need the instructions inside it for!
G-d is glorious and the holiness that he bestows on us with his commandments is amazing. ;-)
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
January 22, 2017
Ambassador of Redemption and Peace
One of my friends from synagogue has an amazing replica of the letter From President Harry S. Truman recognizing the the State of Israel (with the President's last-minute hand-written edits on it):
It reads:
"This Government has been informed that a Jewish state has been proclaimed in Palestine, and recognition has been requested by the provisional Government thereof.
The United States recognizes the provisional government as the de facto authority of the State of Israel."
Harry Truman
Approved May 14, 1948"And hence the Jewish people went from almost 2,000 years in exile and persecution--culminating in the genocidal Holocaust that wiped out 6,000,000 Jews--to be followed by the founding of the State of Israel and the keeping of G-d's promise in the Bible:
Genesis 15:18:
"On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram and said, "To your descendants I give this land, from the Wadi of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates."
Deuteronomy 30:3
"Then the LORD your God will restore your fortunes and have compassion on you and gather you again from all the nations where he scattered you."We are living through historic times!
Now the Headquarters of the State Department is named the Harry S. Truman building...how fitting for all our diplomacy to be called for the President that recognized the State of Israel, as the Bible said.
Then this weekend, I was truly surprised and humbled when another friend from synagogue said that he thinks with all my passion and caring for the United States, Israel and G-d that I could be the U.S. Ambassador to Israel...I couldn't have be more moved by these lovely sentiments.
As a child of Holocaust survivors and a person of faith who believes deeply that we are witnessing the prophecies of the Bible literally being fulfilled and that we are in the time of the great redemption, I have a vision that we are ushering in the coming of the Messiah and that there will be peace in our lands and enlightenment of G-d upon the Earth.
I hope and pray every day for it to be. ;-)
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
January 21, 2017
Mystical 613 - Inauguration
So we are continuing to see the mystical, holy 613--the number of commandments in the Torah (Bible).
- From the number of views on my LinkedIn Profile, 613, in the last 90 days.
- To the tag the laundromat put on my dry cleaning, 60013.
- And to the caption, Day 61 - 1:31 PM, on the latest episode of the tv show, Alone, on the History channel.
For those of you of faith...there are no coincidences--every leaf that falls from the tree is only at the will of the One Above.
As I watched the inauguration of President Trump yesterday, it was inspiring that he featured the most number of religious leaders (6) at any inauguration.
And Trump, the President and billionaire himself, said that the military protects us, and law enforcement protects us, but the greatest protection is from G-d!
Further, I was amazed that one of the clergy that spoke at the inauguration was Rabbi Marvin Hier--the head of LA's Simon Wiesenthal Center (that memorializes the Holocaust/Jewish Genocide that occurred just more than 70 years ago).
It was a true moment of awe, when Rabbi Marvin Hier said joyfully in front of the whole world (including the anti-Semitic United Nations and former President Obama with their evil resolutions against the Holy Land):
"Bless all of our allies around the world who share our beliefs...[and] by the rivers of Babylon we wept as we remembered Zion. If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, may my right hand forget its skill."
Perhaps, just perhaps...we are really entering the time of the redemption--when G-d will shine his light on his people and there will be peace, health, and prosperity for all the righteous of the world.
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
December 11, 2016
613 Faith Redux
Then on June 12, 2016, there was a terror attack in Orlando, which killed 49 people and wounded 53 others.
We read about this all over the front page of USA Today on 6.13.16 (the date spells 613 in BOTH directions!)
Then all of a sudden we stopped seeing 613--completely stopped.
That is until 2 weeks ago.
When out of nowhere we all simultaneously and independently started to see 613 again.
On clocks, license plates, order numbers, treadmills, everywhere.
Yesterday, I saw 613 displayed brightly on a warning cone (above) in the roadway!
And today again, an order number received "randomly" for a purchase online ends in 613!
All I can say is that it is scary to see this--it feels like some sort of warning or message--and we need to have renewed faith in G-d, turn to him, and ask for his mercy.
In the ongoing war of good over evil, I think it's certainly a time for extra repentance, prayer, charity, and lots of good deeds. ;-)
(Source Photos: Andy Blumenthal)
June 3, 2016
613 Stock Market
Someone challenged today about the number 613 (mystical, holy number of commandments in the Torah).
They said, "I would argue that you can pick any 3 digit number and get the same results."
They went on asking that it be "No variations in sequence, no breaks between numbers, no mathematics."
So here is perhaps an answer from Heaven--check out the closing change down in the S&P 500 today: Exactly 6.13!
You're turn. ;-)
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal with attribution to CNBC)
June 2, 2016
613 Lottery
May 29, 2016
613 Calories
I tried to do it intentionally.
I was getting my activity, and lo and behold, I see that I am at 612 calories burned so far.
Oh, how cool--I can capture 613 in a another second or two.
And I continue my activity looking intently at the Apple Watch monitor.
Okay, 613 now!
No, now!
How about now?
But it doesn't come.
I am waiting for it.
It can't come on my terms.
Next thing I know, the calorie counter jumps from 612 to 616.
I can't believe it.
I couldn't capture the 613 when I wanted to.
Every other time so far has been--we'll it's just been.
And maybe that's the whole point. ;-)
(Source Photo: Rebecca Blumenthal)
May 28, 2016
613 Synagogue
May 25, 2016
(Re)Kashering The Kitchen
Yesterday, I posted that I would show you today how it is personally affecting us.
So one of the things that we are doing is (re)kashering our kitchen.
New and separate dishes and cooking utensils for meat and dairy meals.
We got these beautiful French Perle Lenox in gorgeous lilac and ice blue (of course, no one better actually use one and break it).
Being more a part of the synagogue and community now, we are hoping to host more people for Shabbat etc.
There are other small (and large) ways that we are coming back to more of our traditions, but we are far from perfect.
Sort of a blend of the secular world, the religious one, and just being ourselves.
But that is our road, and we strive to do better in all aspects of our lives and pray for G-d's mercy and blessings all along the way and at the destination. ;-)
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
May 24, 2016
Heading Down The 613
This one is a country road between Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
How apropos to be on the 613 road!
Tomorrow, in my next post, I hope to show you where this road is personally taking us now.
But wherever 613 leads that is where I want to be. ;-)
(Source Photo: With gratitude to my dearest sister, Roz Blumenthal)
May 17, 2016
613 The Perfect Trip
Check out the cost of this vacation trip to Yellowstone National Park.
It's not $599 or $699 like you would usually see these things advertised for.
Instead the family adventure starts at $613!!!
Too many times now, too frequent, and in too many different places to be just random or chance.
Someone is trying to tell us something.
Hopefully, it is a sign for blessings for mankind. ;-)
(Source Photo: Ellen Weiner)
May 4, 2016
613 Buses
This is the sign on the bus shelter by the Foggy Bottom Metro.
Two buses are on the way--the M36 and M31.
Both coming to the same bus stop.
One immediately right after the other.
Read top right to lower left...613.
Within ten minutes I saw yet another 2 signs on the metro train in 2 different locations...both 6 car trains coming right after each other in 1 and 3 minute intervals.
(Note: Metro also has 8 car trains that it usually alternates with the 6's, but today none were in sight at either station).
(Source Photos: Andy Blumenthal)
May 2, 2016
613 From Elevator To Seaweed
So as you know, we are experiencing 613 (mystical, holy number of commandments in the Torah) all over the place.
This last week, we got on the elevator to go to the 13th floor, and immediately, the next guy gets on and presses for the 6th floor.
613 is brightly lite up on the elevator console and we turn to each other and are like, "What the...?" (No one else got on/off and no other floors were pressed while we were on it.)
Next my wife is looking on Amazon for some roasted seaweed as part of our lovely diet plan.
Guess how many reviews are on the product...613.
Yes, while each individual occurrence can be explained away or coughed up to chance--is it really possible for so many of these to be happening virtually daily.
Any statisticians out there?
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
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