Queen Esther's Legacy of Faith

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "Queen Esther's Legacy of Faith."

At its core, the story of Esther unveils a timeless truth: no matter the trials we endure, our ultimate refuge lies in our faith in G-d, the transcendent force above nature itself, who wields the power to weave miracles into the fabric of our lives. 

In The Garden of Emunah, Rabbi Shalom Arush illuminates three ascending tiers of this sacred faith: first, the recognition that every event flows from Hashem’s divine providence; second, the belief that all He ordains is for our ultimate good; and third, the understanding that each divine act carries a purpose, urging us to seek the messages He imparts. Our very existence is a quest—a passionate pursuit to uncover Hashem in the rhythm of our daily lives and forge an intimate, enduring bond with Him. This we achieve through an unwavering awareness that G-d is ever-present, guiding every step, and even in life’s darkest trials, He sends us a tikkun—a soul correction—to elevate us to loftier spiritual heights.

(AI generated image via Gemini)

Queen Esther's Legacy of Faith

A Day Is Coming: One G-d, One World

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "A Day Is Coming: One G-d, One World."

A day is coming, a day of profound revelation, when the L-rd, blessed be He, will reveal His divine presence to all of creation. Every nation on Earth will recognize the L-rd as the one true God, His holiness and unity absolute and undeniable.

In joyful service, we will stand before the holiness, the timelessness, and the infinite magnificence of the Almighty, blessed be He. In that radiant presence, all things will find their ultimate meaning and perfect harmony. We will stand as the blessed children of the Most High God, forever in His divine embrace.

(AI generated image via Gemini)

A Day Is Coming: One G-d, One World

Breaking Free From the Illusion of the Peaceniks

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "Breaking Free From the Illusion of the Peaceniks."

The overall lesson is to stay focused on the things in life that are right and true—connecting the dots, connecting with others, correcting past mistakes, and learning and growing to be the best person you can be every day. From the perspective of achieving peace and security for Israel, understand that this means directly confronting the terrorist aggressors and their false propaganda. What we're after is a real solution and not yet another photo opportunity.

(Source Photo: IDF via https://www.flickr.com/photos/idfonline/51572163819/in/album-72157719986826193)

Breaking Free From the Illusion of the Peaceniks

Who Can Fill the Wise Man's Shoes?

 

Please see my new articles in The Times of Israel called "Who Can Fill the Wise Man's Shoes?"

Today, as we praise Hashem for the wonderful news on the end of the notorious Sinwar and his evil ways, we can yet marvel at the untold number of good, humble people in the world, like the man with the fancy shoes, who radiate its true meaning of life, faith, and love.

(AI generated image via Designer)

Who Can Fill the Wise Man's Shoes?

Life is Full of Oohs and Ahs

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "Life is Full of Oohs and Ahs."

These are collectively the ah-ha moments in life when we realize that oohs are often really ahs, and the ahs are frequently really oohs. As we head towards Rosh Hashanah, this is a good lesson that if we can take a step back to see the consequences of our actions, we need not be surprised by the iced bucket of water in the sauna anymore. We can work to make every moment ultimately meaningful and spiritual ahs in our precious pursuit of life and good.

(AI generated image vai Designer)

Life is Full of Oohs and Ahs

Faith and Prayer in the Battle of Good Over Evil

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "Faith and Prayer in the Battle of Good Over Evil."

As we fight the forces of darkness and evil in the world—from the haters to the terrorists—we need to strengthen our faith in the One Above because only from Him can come the answers to our most difficult questions, our uplifting in trying times, and the ultimate victory of light and good over darkness and evil.

(AI generated image via Designer)

Faith and Prayer in the Battle of Good Over Evil

Reincarnation: Try, Try Again

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "Reincarnation: Try, Try Again."

One of the great issues in dealing with life is what happens when we die. Is it "game over" and we are gone for good, or as Jews we believe that while our bodies die, our souls live on in eternity with Hashem. However, another scenario to deal with is if we still have imperfections that we need to work on, does G-d bring us back again through the reincarnation of our souls ("Gilgul Neshamot") to continue the process of learning, growth, and perfecting ourselves?

(AI generated image via Designer)

Reincarnation: Try, Try Again

Finding Strength in Difficult Times

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "Finding Strength in Difficult Times."

There are countless shakeups and wake-up calls of life that span from small to large crises that test our faith and ability to cope. Yet, whatever the challenges, and however daunting, we need to confront and transform negative thinking:

• Life is not meaningless, but it is an opportunity for us to make it meaningful by trusting G-d and knowing that He has a plan for us and everything He does is for our action and benefit.
• What we think, say, and do isn't irrelevant but is, in fact, very important since we have the G-d-given power to sanctify our lives and positively impact ourselves, others, and the world through ever-present opportunities for giving and righteousness.

In whatever circumstances we find ourselves, it's not about escaping from the difficulties, but finding G-d even when he seems absent or hidden from us. G-d is there, and so is a path toward overcoming the challenges, sanctifying our lives, and finding our meaning and significance.

(AI generated image via Designer)

Finding Strength in Difficult Times

Checklist for Yom Kippur

 
Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "A More Important Checklist for Yom Kippur."

If we measure a person's life not by how long they live but by what they do with their precious moments in life, then maybe we can see our lives more in terms of outcomes in meeting our potential rather than purely as time present. Of course, we want to have more time, but whatever time we are granted, we should make the most of it.

(Credit Photo: Pixabay via https://www.pexels.com/photo/person-marking-check-on-opened-book-416322/)

Checklist for Yom Kippur

Lessons in Life and Menschlichkeit

 
Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "Lessons in Life and Meschlichkeit."

From all the various people I've had a chance to meet, I have found that it's not how much of a big shot someone is, how smart they think they are, or how much money they have in the bank, but the humility and humanity of good, decent, hardworking people out there that often have the most important lessons of life to share.

(Credit Photo: makamuki0 via https://pixabay.com/photos/hairdressing-barbershop-barber-2142482/)

Lessons in Life and Menschlichkeit

Jealous Over Nothing

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "Jealous Over Nothing."

Whether it’s stocks, mansions, lottery tickets, bitcoins, or other worldly objects that we put our hopes and dreams into, at the end of the day, the reality is that they are all nothing compared to what is really important and meaningful:

• The precious time we have with our loved ones
• Selflessly caring for and giving to others
• Living faithful, holy lives in the eyes of the Almighty

These are the things that money can never buy, and they give true inner happiness that outer material trappings can never even aspire to.

(Source Photo: https://pixabay.com/illustrations/room-money-dollar-wealth-success-1288438/) 

Jealous Over Nothing

Make Your Life a Sanctuary for G-d

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "Make Your Life a Sanctuary for G-d."

In short, everything we do in life should be great, but not for our greatness. Everything that we do should be done with passion and determination, but not for our sakes. We are only here by the loving grace of G-d and for as long as He wills it. In our time here, we need to act in a way that means something beyond our finite, selfish mortal selves and instead be selfless for the purpose of our Creator.

If you lived your life for G-d, for good, and for a greater purpose, then your inner spiritual legacy will live on beyond your years and even your name. If you build a sanctuary for G-d, it will have holiness and permanence not only in this world but, more importantly, in the next.

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Make Your Life a Sanctuary for G-d

The Worst Curse

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "The Worst Curse."

While space is the “final frontier,” Shatner is correct in his fear of the cold and emptiness that extends around countless stars and solar systems, where we have yet to discover any real life other than our own. Even on our own living planet here on Earth, everything for us as individuals is impermanent and can so easily be lost. What we think we’ve built as a fortress of money, power, and prestige can literally be snuffed out in a blink of an eye, and it is beyond our control to stop it except to continue to mend our own flaws and try to do good in life. In truth, we need to be constantly grateful for everything that we have and for as long as we have it, because in life, there are no guarantees of what is to come.

(Credit Photo: Kindel Media via https://www.pexels.com/photo/an-elderly-man-behind-the-glass-window-8172602/)

The Worst Curse

Kung Fu Tea

Water - Blue

Green Tea - Green

Black Tea - Red with black in center

Oolong Tea - Yellow (from Camellia sinensis plant which has yellow in the center)

Color makes it taste better!

Hey, it sort of makes sense. ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Kung Fu Tea

Ten ‘Points to Ponder’

 
Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "Ten 'Points to Ponder'."

My dear father, Fred Blumenthal (ZT”L), like many from his generation, used to read Reader’s Digest. I remember that there was a section called “Points to Ponder,” which I thought was a good title for things that can have a deeper and more profound meaning in our lives. So in this vein, I’d like to share a variety of thoughts that may give you pause to ponder as well.

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Ten ‘Points to Ponder’

Finding Truth in a Topsy-Turvy World

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "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

Great Video on Happiness and The Rat Race

Great Video on Happiness and The Rat Race

Madness and The Soul

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

Whereas normally the soul guides and directs the body, in the case of mental illness, the soul becomes imprisoned in the body and mind that is sick. When this happens, a person reverts to their wholly animalistic nature, and hence, what we are seeing is like a car without a driver, accelerating and careening dangerously until, usually, a horrible accident and end.

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Madness and The Soul

Measuring Success Like G-d

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "Measuring Success Like G-d."

Never more than today are we living lives of total excess. This week, we saw a Mercedes-Benz 1995 car sell for a record-breaking $142 million. Last month in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, authorities seized a Russian oligarch’s $793 million mega yacht. And this last year, Morgan Stanley predicted that Elon Musk may eventually become the world’s first trillionaire.

In a world where marketing, sales, advertising, branding, and the media all seek to convince us that life is essentially about “things,” self-satisfaction, the next high, and happiness, we can easily forget how transient and valueless all that really is. Inside each of us though there is a deeper, true voice that seeks a life of real meaning, purpose and immortality, where faith, compassion, giving, and self-sacrifice is the true measure of our character and the ultimate gauge of life success.

(Source Photo: https://pixabay.com/illustrations/smiley-emoticon-greed-822993/)

Measuring Success Like G-d

Teaching Our Children To Be Good Jews

 

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "Teaching Our Children To Be Good Jews."

What happened to genuine faith in G-d, belief in the holy Torah, our duty to abide by the 613 commandments, and generally doing right in this world by our fellow man and before G-d Almighty? Maybe I’m being too literal here but being a “good Jew” has got to mean something important. We are keeping alive the tradition of our parents, grandparents and great grandparents, spanning back thousands of years to our Forefathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and to G-d delivering us from Egyptian servitude, and His giving to us the Torah on Mount Sinai, and to His bringing us to Israel, the Land of Milk and Honey, and keeping us from being wiped away by one great empire after another. Being a Jew means being part of an important important and yes, “chosen” for a special mission of being a “light unto the nations” and that means action on our part: thinking, saying, and doing what’s right all the time!

We are tested daily to do what’s right, even when it’s not convenient, easy, enjoyable, or popular. What is a Jew? We need to really ask ourselves that question. It’s not trivial and neither should the answer be. Our lives in this world and the next are depending on how we live up to the high bar that is set for us each and every day of our lives that Hashem mercifully grants to us.

(Photo: My dear parents Fred and Gerda Blumenthal at my Bar Mitzvah)

Teaching Our Children To Be Good Jews