Nice in terms of peace, tolerance, brotherhood and all that.
But something about this doesn't look exactly kosher. ;-)
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
Nice in terms of peace, tolerance, brotherhood and all that.
But something about this doesn't look exactly kosher. ;-)
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
A Hanukkah Gnome
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
Concrete Faith in a Flimsy Sukkah
Stairs and ramp in one.
Love thinking of those with disabilities as part of what we do! ;-)
(Source Photo: Facebook)
Pretty Brilliant Accessibility
A Beautiful Song From The Guardians of Zion
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
Calling On The Vatican
It's the answer.
What's the question?
(Credit Photo: Dossy Blumenthal)
Luv Is The Answer
Coexist
C - C in shape of Crescent Moon and Star represents Islam
O - O with Peace sign and designed for nuclear disarmament
E - E with Male and Female symbols represents Sexual Equality
X - X designated by Star of David represents Judaism
I - I with Five Pointed Star at top represents Pagans and Wicans
S - S with Ying and Yang represents Taoists
T - T in shape of Cross represents Christianity.
Now how do we get people to actually live this way: respecting each other and living harmoniously together? ;-)
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
Coexistence Means Everyone
In summary, with regards to Israel, we must follow two important commandments that guide our relationships with the outside world. First, there is the imperative to love our neighbor and the stranger. Second is the dictum to wholly defend ourselves from our enemies who seek our destruction. While on the surface these may pose a contradiction, in reality, they do not, because if our neighbors and the strangers among us are willing to live in genuine peace with us then we gladly and actively will extend the olive branch in peace and brotherhood. But if unfortunately, our neighbors are bent on our genocide then we must fight them.Love and peace is always what we want from the bottom of our hearts, but war is a necessity that is sometimes thrust upon us by our enemies and that we must absolutely, with G-d’s help, win.
The Stranger and The Enemy
We are all reeling from the devastating deaths of 45 Jews on Lag B'Omer at Mount Meron (and many others critically injured) from a stampede during the bonfire celebration near the grave of the holy Kabbalist, Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai. Last night, we were glued to the new as the body count kept going up. I couldn't help thinking to myself that this is something that happens in the masses of people that gather in India or Saudi Arabia, not in the tiny State of Israel. But lo' and behold, tragedy can strike anywhere, anytime. Life is completely tenuous!So can we draw conclusions that in those days there was baseless hate and so too in our times. I think, while we don't know G-d's ways, certainly from experience and observation, we do know that there is not only baseless hate, but also plenty of "hate the baseless". And what I mean by that is that one type of Jew thinks they are better than another whose beliefs, faith, and observance we denigrate and deem baseless, without support and they without real merit...We are forever driven towards a "Better than thou" attitude and lifestyle. To the religious catcalls of "get out of our neighborhood slut" or the throwing of Shabbat rocks at passing cars. This all has got to stop!
Mount Meron and Hating The "Baseless"
In essence, the Jewish Temples have been not only physically buried over, but also the site has been historically Islamicized despite the Temple Mount’s intrinsic holiness to all three major religions (Christianity, Islam, and Judaism). In short, this is a very sensitive issue that is likely anchored in facets of intolerance and religious rivalry, as well as pretenses of superiority and dominance, rather than ultimately on the shared connection we have through both our genetic and spiritual lineage as Abraham’s decedents.We absolutely want to have a peaceful and productive coexistence with all people, but just as Israel has risen from the Valley of Dry Bones, so too the day is coming soon when the Jewish Temple will be rebuilt in shinning glory and we can worship G-d just as we did in times before. What will be special about the 3rd Temple is that it will not only be for the Jewish people, but for all the world’s people to come together harmoniously to recognize and worship the one true and faithful G-d of us all. ;-)
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
Preparing for The Third Temple
Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.
Please G-d, we should all learn to fish and pay it forward to others to teach them as well. ;-)
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
Teach Me To Fish
When we act up and fight with each other, then in the end, we will really only end up hurting ourselves.Tomorrow can be better than today and yesterday, if we learn to live in peace and brotherhood with each other, and understand that hurting another is really only hurting ourselves in the end. G-d’s holiness dwells among us only when we stop the silly bickering and infighting, and love each other, and Him, with all our heart and soul.
The Power of Love
It might be apples and oranges, but it's all fruit!
The way towards mutual respect, teamwork, brotherhood, and peace:
- Recognize that our similarities are much greater than our differences.
And ultimately, we are all children (and fruit) of G-d. ;-)
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
Children (and Fruit) of G-d
Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.
[Jacob says] And in all that you give me I will give a full tenth to you.
A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the L-rd, it is holy to the L-rd.
For those that are miserly and not charitable and don't tithe, G-d reverses the equation, and He takes back the 90% and lets you keep the 10%.
90-10 Charity Rule
Let Them Eat Cake
Community, United We Stand.
We Are Comm-unity!
Short Man Tall Man, What Do You Say
I can not believe I still have to protest this crap!!
Still Fighting For Our Rights