Shul BBQ

 

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Shul BBQ

No Jew Left Behind

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "No Jew Left Behind."

Rabbi Kaplan spoke of how Rabbi Zvi Kogan, now in heaven, surely continues his good work and intercedes on behalf of all of us, especially the hostages still held in Gaza by Hamas. He compared Kogan to the Sassover Rebbe, known for redeeming thousands of Jewish captives in the 1700s. Upon the Sassover Rebbe’s death, it is said he continued redeeming souls in the afterlife, even negotiating the release of souls from hell.

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

No Jew Left Behind

Meat and Israel Love

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Meat and Israel Love

Cap'N Crunch Chicken Schnitzel

Sweet, crunchy, soft, and moist.

Now that's good chicken!  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Cap'N Crunch Chicken Schnitzel

A Tale of Love, Food, and AI

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "A Tale of Love, Food, and AI."

So what do love, food, and artificial intelligence (AI) have to do with each other? Well, in this case, I have a number of special anecdotes from this week about getting some behind-the-scenes insight from others on all three topics.

(Credit Photo: Artem Podrez via https://www.pexels.com/photo/man-eating-unhealthy-food-4728849/) 

A Tale of Love, Food, and AI

Kosher in Body and Soul

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "Kosher in Body and Soul."

The essence of keeping kosher is not that we just keep the dietary kosher laws and eat only that which G-d commanded is permissible to us, but more so that we feed our spiritual soul with G-d’s manifestation to us and ultimately that we live kosher lives through His wisdom and the performance of good deeds.

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Kosher in Body and Soul

Lessons From Chabad in Humility This Passover

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "Lessons From Chabad in Humility This Passover."

If we can remove the arrogance from our homes and hearts, then we can be better people: humble, selfless, giving, and standing side by side rather than sitting high and mighty, which only G-d Almighty deserves.

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Lessons From Chabad in Humility This Passover

How the Sausage Gets Made

Well they're not making sausage, but you get the idea. ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

How the Sausage Gets Made

Pop Culture Just Doesn't "Get" Us

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "Pop Culture Just Doesn't 'Get' Us."

Of course, when Jews are hypocrites, act holier than thou, or do bad things, they give the rest of us a bad name, and this can breed not only confusion about Jews but also, in the extreme, hate and anti-Semitism. One Chabad Rabbi said today that the Rebbe hardly ever used the word anti-Semitism or spoke of it; instead, he focused on the idea that Jews should do good and perform acts of G-dliness and righteousness in the world.

I believe we can all agree that Jews behave differently; sometimes they do good, sometimes they don't, but regardless, we're a little bit of a mystery to many non-Jews, which is sometimes shrouded in a large dose of fiction and conspiracy. For many, I put it this way: they still can't understand why the fiddler was ever playing on the roof to begin with.

(Credit Photo: ericbarns via https://pixabay.com/photos/dancing-clubbing-dancers-nightclub-206740/)

Pop Culture Just Doesn't "Get" Us

Kosher Attire on Christmas

Hanging out by Holy Chow. 

The line for kosher Chinese food was a 6 hour wait on Christmas!

I didn't get any Chinese food, but did snap this photo of this guy in the hat.  ;-)

Happy Holidays everyone!  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Kosher Attire on Christmas

Waffle On Over This Hanukkah

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "Waffle On Over This Hanukkah."

If you love fresh waffles and you love chicken and beef, you’ll love Mordy Menkes and his new South Florida kosher food truck business called Wild Flour Waffles.

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Waffle On Over This Hanukkah

A Hanukkah Gnome

Judeo-Christian blending of some sort here. 

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

Thanksgiving Ice Cream Cake

Wait three (or six) hours after the turkey.

And then you can eat the ice cream cake. 

Now it's all kosher!

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Thanksgiving Ice Cream Cake

Sandwich Pillow

Funny sandwich pillow. 

It actually looks good enough to eat (if it were kosher).  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Sandwich Pillow

What Are You Refusing To See?

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "What Are You Refusing To See?"

Rabbi Yosef Mizrachi’s incredible book, Divine Information, opened my eyes in explaining about “Torah and Science,” how G-d’s word to us in the Torah is fully and absolutely divine from Hashem.

The Torah was given in 1,312 BCE, before most of the discoveries of the world, modern science, and tools like telescopes and microscopes. Yet, the Torah tells us secrets of the world and science long before they were known.

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

What Are You Refusing To See?

Max's Kosher

Nice Pastrami sandwich with cole slaw.

Hot dog on a bun. 

Crispy sweet potato fries. 

Too bad Max's Kosher Cafe in Silver Spring closed.  :-(

(Credit Photo: Minna Blumenthal)

Max's Kosher

Cookies and Cupcakes

Love this selection of cookies and cupcakes. 

Colorful and plenty of smiles!  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Minna Blumenthal)

Cookies and Cupcakes

Making Off With The Passover Buffet

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "Making Off With The Passover Buffet."

I see Chabad not only performing genuine good deeds, but also always b’simcha (in happiness) with a big smile, even generously letting others take the Passover buffet home with them. To me, this is truly a taste not just of a festive and kosher Passover, but of the times of Mashiach where rather than fighting over the scraps of food, there is so much plenty and caring that we can’t even give it all away.

(Credit Photo: Dossy Blumenthal)

Making Off With The Passover Buffet

Putin’s Ukrainian Hogwash

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "Putin's Ukrainian Hogwash."

“Talk less and do more.” Unfortunately, Putin apparently didn’t learn this lesson as a child and is now, as they say, having to learn it the hard way later in life. He and his henchmen signaled to the world how they would bring Ukraine to its knees, surround and capture the capital, Kyiv, overthrow the leadership and install a pro-Kremlin puppet, and demilitarize the country. However, Putin spoke very big, but after a whole month of fighting now, things haven’t turned out the way Putin had counted on. With Russian casualties, wounded, captured, and missing now estimated at up to 40,000, and with the Russian forces on the retreat, no one in their right minds could’ve imagined such a modern David and Goliath scenario playing out with Ukraine as the David. 

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Putin’s Ukrainian Hogwash

Lots of Green Beans

Imagine having to hand pick all the green peas out of these green beans!

Patience my dear, patience! ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Lots of Green Beans