November 26, 2022
Chutzpah Dating
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
November 20, 2022
Mutual and Eternal Love
Like Abraham, we are tested to do "what is right and just," and history is our witness.
For "we are dust and will return to dust," but our souls will rise to heaven and be reunited with our everlasting, loving Father.
(Also, please remember to listen to the Jewish music video as you read the poetry.)
Mutual and Eternal Love
November 16, 2022
From Outrage to Action on Anti-Semitism
What is striking to me is that when it comes to hate against the Jews as opposed to hate against other groups, we continually see that “their” rights are immediately supported, while we have to prove that it’s really hate.Hopefully, our community leaders, police, FBI, and Homeland Security are paying close attention and will take appropriate preventive action so that we can avoid another incident like the shooting just four years ago at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh. We need more intelligence, surveillance, officers, patrols, data-driven policing, self-defense and emergency medical training, synagogue protection, community outreach, beefed-up reporting systems, and tougher penalties to start with. We can’t expect the people who hate to stop, but we do need to keep raising the bar on how to keep our communities safe and stop hate crimes.
(Credit Photo: Laura Rosenberg Hosid)
From Outrage to Action on Anti-Semitism
November 12, 2022
Hypersonic to a Global Showdown
While Russia is losing steam and ground in Ukraine, make no mistake that Russia, along with China, Iran, and North Korea, are determined to not only stop but also throw back what they perceive as western imperialism. Instead, they only see more dictatorship and the strengthening of their own authoritarian systems.While the hype in the news has been all about the proliferation of nuclear weapons, missiles, and drones, perhaps the real story is that we are moving at hypersonic speeds to a most dangerous global showdown between East and West. Blessed be the Holy One who is bringing us to a hopefully merciful final redemption.
(Source Photo: Bicanski; https://pixnio.com/objects/missiles-bombs/rocket-device-military-missile-weapon-airplane-vehicle-air-force#)
Hypersonic to a Global Showdown
November 6, 2022
Monsters and Humans
Ultimately, the litmus test is whether there is a human in that being. If there is that spark of G-d, that soul, that inner conscience weighing right and wrong, that fear and love of G-d and his creations driving decision-making, then there is still hope for that person as well as for mankind.However, if we are dealing with those who are sadistic animals in human form, then we must be as soldiers of Hashem, taking a firm stand and decisive action, because true evil does not remain dormant for long.
(Source Photo: Aneesh Ans; https://www.pexels.com/photo/painted-face-of-person-portrait-photo-1211966/)
Monsters and Humans
October 30, 2022
The U.N.’s Double Standard On Nukes
If only the United Nations would live up to its charter! Then we might truly have a world of tolerance and international peace and security.
Is the United Nations really about bringing the nations of the world together?
Or is it about casting the Jews to the wolves?
(Source Photo: https://www.pexels.com/photo/man-standing-near-body-of-water-2244330/)
The U.N.’s Double Standard On Nukes
A “Sign” of Good Synagogue Character
I was literally sitting in the synagogue and crying, watching the speaker sign and listening to the voice from the interpreter. I really believe that all our synagogues, schools, work places, and organizations need to better incorporate diversity and disability into the environment, and not just by paying meaningless lip-service to it, but by enabling everyone to come, feel welcome, participate, and be together as all children of G-d naturally should be.Finally, it was beautiful to have the synagogue let someone who was deaf have the pulpit and the ability to speak to us. It would be so awesome for everyone’s voice to be heard. We take our abilities (such as speaking, hearing, and being mobile) for granted. So let’s design the community with all the people in mind and give everyone a true voice. In the end, it’s not just what they say, but some things are communicated more than words.
(Source Photo: RODNAE Productions; https://www.pexels.com/photo/close-up-on-heart-sign-done-by-woman-10029313/)
A “Sign” of Good Synagogue Character
October 29, 2022
“Death Con” NEVER AGAIN
KanyeWest - I hope that you visit Auschwitz and think deeply about the hurtful, hateful anti-Semitic words that you said. Hopefully, you can change your rhetoric to feelings and words of love and brotherhood.
(Credit Photo: Adapted by Andy Blumenthal from public domain photo; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kanye_West#/media/File:Kanye_West_at_the_2009_Tribeca_Film_Festival_(cropped).jpg
“Death Con” NEVER AGAIN
October 22, 2022
The Iranian Malachi Crunch
Aside from the threat of the Iranian nukes themselves, Israel has to contend with the two Iranian terrorist proxy groups, Hamas and Hezbollah, that have set Israel up for the dreaded and violent crunch. Israel needs to avoid being positioned in the middle of the attack that is sure to come. Instead, Israel will have to take out the enemy with strategic pinpoint attacks that disable not their derby cars, but rather their terror rockets and missiles. When the evil Iran, Hamas, and Hezbollah are all dealt a staggering blow of epic proportions, then there will be happy days for Israel and the rest of the world, and please G-d, true peace and the arrival of Mashiach.
(Source Photo: https://www.pexels.com/photo/a-demolition-derby-event-10634045/)
The Iranian Malachi Crunch
October 17, 2022
The Art of Friendship
My hope and prayer is that this is just a small microcosm of friendship and peace that can spread in all communities, societies, nations, and lands, so that we are no longer black or white, Jew, Muslim, or Christian, or any other divisive label, but rather that we are all children of G-d, and plain and simple, friends.
(Credit Photos: Andy and Dossy Blumenthal)
The Art of Friendship
October 16, 2022
Israel, Warrior Nation
(Source Photo: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Flickr_-_Israel_Defense_Forces_-_Givati_Recon_Company_at_Training.jpg)
Israel, Warrior Nation
October 10, 2022
Concrete Faith in a Flimsy Sukkah
Jews place their faith in G-d rather than massive building structures, the strongest foundations, and incalculable amounts of concrete and rebar. Instead, we sit in the flimsy and temporary sukkah to remember that G-d is our ultimate stronghold.
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
Concrete Faith in a Flimsy Sukkah
October 8, 2022
Putin on the Precipice
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
Putin on the Precipice
October 2, 2022
Worried About the Nukes?
Worried About the Nukes?
Can Love Be Blind?
(Source Photo: https://www.pexels.com/photo/woman-holding-a-lantern-7789180/)
Can Love Be Blind?
September 24, 2022
The Hypocrisy of False Repentance
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
The Hypocrisy of False Repentance
September 17, 2022
Putin’s Diabolical End Game
Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "Putin's Diabolical End Game."
(Source Photo: https://www.pexels.com/photo/huge-cooling-towers-in-nuclear-power-plant-4460676/)
Putin’s Diabolical End Game
September 11, 2022
Surviving Marriage Meshugas
At the end of the day, like all things, marriage is partially what you make of it and how hard you work at it. Remember, bringing two people together, even two halves of the same whole, can be challenging and requires understanding and compromise.
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
Surviving Marriage Meshugas
September 4, 2022
Finding Truth in a Topsy-Turvy World
In terms of seeing the world and life clearly, you have a choice of how to live. You can choose to endlessly chase meaningless material things and the next physical high, or you can live your life with a deeper understanding that this world is just a corridor to the future world, where the “breath of life” from G-d returns to Him for everlasting revelation and reckoning.
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
Finding Truth in a Topsy-Turvy World
August 30, 2022
Madness and The Soul
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
Madness and The Soul