Thank you to my wonderful children and to Hashem for all his mercy.
(Credit Photo: Minna Blumenthal)June 14, 2023
August 7, 2022
Tisha B'Av - Destruction of The Temple
Tisha B'Av - Destruction of The Temple
May 7, 2022
Playing The Odds
Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "Playing The Odds."The stranger told me: Precisely fifty years ago, the doctor told me the exact same thing about having a one in a hundred chance of paralysis if they operated. So, what did I do? I went to see the Rabbi (Avigdor Miller) and ask his advice, and the Rabbi says to me: "A Jew doesn’t take odds like that!"
I thought to myself while Jews don’t take those wild odds (1 in a 100 of paralysis), why do they play the odds with their souls by pretending to be religious on the outside, but on the inside and away from human eyes doing evil? Surely, we all know that G-d sees everything and that a faithful judgment awaits us all. And it all made sense not to play the odds not only with our physical health, but also with our spiritual wellbeing.
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
Playing The Odds
September 6, 2021
On a Wink and a Prayer
Made me think of:
On a wink and prayer!
A time for divine forgiveness and help.
G-d should have mercy. ;-)
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
On a Wink and a Prayer
September 3, 2021
Shabbat Shalom + Shana Tova
Please G-d let it all be great! ;-)
(Credit Graphic: Andy Blumenthal)
Shabbat Shalom + Shana Tova
July 25, 2021
If G-d Wouldn't Let Moshe In, Who Am I?
Sure, we may not fully understand G-d’s decision on not letting Moshe into the land of Israel (or decisions that affect our lives today), still we can affirm our faith that G-d is a just and merciful Judge.In the end, none of us are the level of Moshe Rabbeinu, and if G-d didn’t let him in, well who are we? This is a frightening thought to me. Yet at the same time, I believe that if we as the Jewish people collectively put our heartfelt yearnings and prayers together to be able to go and settle the land of Israel then perhaps G-d will answer us in the affirmative!
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
If G-d Wouldn't Let Moshe In, Who Am I?
November 20, 2020
Modeh Ani - Thank you G-d
I give thanks to You, living and eternal King for you have restored my soul within me with mercy; Your faithfulness is great.
Modeh Ani - Thank you G-d
October 9, 2020
Sunflowers For Shabbat Shalom
Perfect for enhancing the Shabbat and holidays!
The sunflowers provide warmth and happiness for the honor of these special and spiritual days!
May Hashem in His abundant mercy grant us a full healing and peace to welcome the Shabbat and to celebrate this weekend a joyous Shmini Atzeret and Simchat Torah.
Shabbat Shalom and Chag Sameach! ;-)
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
Sunflowers For Shabbat Shalom
September 25, 2020
Shabbat Shalom Cute People!
And I got two BIG eyes!
I see you and you're all very cute people.
It's Friday, and I want to wish you all a Shabbat Shalom!
May you have a restful and peaceful Shabbat.
And as we head into Yom Kippur on Monday, may we all be sealed in the Book of Life for a great year ahead for 5781!
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
Shabbat Shalom Cute People!
September 18, 2020
That's Severe
But this sign in a modern day store in America seemed just a little severe:
Shoplifters will be amputated
The worst part of it maybe is that they don't say what part of the shoplifter will be amputated.
So much for compassion and helping the needy.
L-rd have mercy! ;-)
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
That's Severe
August 30, 2020
Every Little Thing
Every little thing that Hashem provides for us is truly a big deal. It’s so easy to become complacent, arrogant, and overconfident in all that we have today. But if we just remember that without every little thing we have, we could be in some big, big trouble tomorrow.
Our bodies, minds, and spirit can be strong, but without the ingredients we need to survive, we are all just dust and ashes. Before the High Holidays, when we ask Hashem to forgive us, and we try to make amends, and pray for a good New Year, now is a great time to appreciate every little thing!
Every Little Thing
July 30, 2020
Peace To All Mankind!
It's a solemn day on the Jewish calendar when we commemorate so many terrible events that happened in our history.
We have to remember the lows, but also pray for G-d to bring us ever back to the highs.
Peace, health, prosperity, and happiness.
It all comes from the One Above!
May G-d have mercy on us and bestow only blessings for good times to come. ;-)
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
Peace To All Mankind!
June 5, 2020
We Have To Pray Just To Make It One Day
We pray.
We weep.
We bless.
We request.
We thank.
We only control what we say and do.
The rest is in G-d's merciful, blessed hands. ;-)
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
We Have To Pray Just To Make It One Day
May 12, 2020
Anger, Faith, and Growth
We live in an unpredictable world and I have made more than one bad decision recently. Fortunately, it was nothing too terrible, but I was still angry about it, and my gut reaction was to somehow blame G-d, and to feel angry at Him, because I thought somehow I didn't deserve what had happened. However, I asked myself how can you be angry at G-d if you believe that everything he does is for your ultimate good? It took me a little time, but I realized that I wasn't really angry at G-d, but at myself; It was my fault, I did deserve what happened, and my mistakes aren't G-d's.
Maybe this is what life is really all about--searching and finding G-d even among all the multitude of mistakes we make in life. We have to own our mistakes, learn from them, and thereby become stronger and better people.
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
Anger, Faith, and Growth
April 8, 2020
Corona Matzah Man
We get a Corona Matzah Man wearing his face mask so he doesn't get sick, G-d forbid.
Even as we get ready to celebrate the seder tonight and recall G-d's mercifully delivering us from Egyptian servitude, we also can be certain that He will deliver us from this dreaded Coronavirus.
G-d is all powerful and has a purpose for everything.
Perhaps, we just needed a reminder of who was in charge not only on Passover, but all the year round. ;-)
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
Corona Matzah Man
March 31, 2020
Children Are Our Future
It is good to see the children playing outside (even in smallish groups).
It's trying times with schools closed, many parents trying to telework, and the need to take care of the children (especially the younger ones) at the same time.
We can't lose sight that the children are our future.
They are everything in this world.
Even with the Coronavirus pounding away at our older and more vulnerable populations, we can still thank G-d that not many children have been infected.
Even in challenging times, G-d shows His mercy to us. ;-)
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
Children Are Our Future
March 30, 2020
Harris Teeter War Zone
But this guy in the respirator mask is showing us how bad things can start to get.
As an avid fan of the show The Walking Dead, I think we are entering TWD territory with the people walking around with their face's half covered and some looking sick with fear and worry or perhaps even with symptoms--who knows!
What is amazing is how things can go from boom to bust, and not just for our economy, but for life and civilization itself at the turn of a dime.
Yesterday, I read how the CFO of Jefferies Group Investment Bank (NYC) died at age 56 from Coronavirus.
Even as the Navy's hospital ships Mercy and Comfort enter the ports of Los Angeles and New York City to lend a hand and about 1,000 hospital beds each, it seems like more and more of these deadly cases are hitting the papers and social media every day.
Where does this sickness stop?
What happens if the virus mutates again and become even more virulent?
How do we ever feel even remotely secure again?
Can we keep taxing our already overwhelmed healthcare system with more and more sick patients?
How long can we keep printing Monopoly bailout money (incredibly, there is talk of yet another multi-trillion Coronavirus stimulus bill even after we just passed this $2.2 trillion one last week)?
Eventually, as we all know circumstances can indeed overwhelm the health and financial systems, and even our governments...thank G-d we aren't there.
But what we are all beginning to see in the midst of crisis is that "there" isn't really all that far away from "here."
...That life hangs by a truly thin thread.
And because we can only do so much, this is where we really need to look up to the heavens and ask for G-d's help and mercy. ;-)
(Credit Photo: my wonderful son-in-law, Itzchak)
Harris Teeter War Zone
February 5, 2020
Scary Model of Cancer
At first I wasn't even sure what it was.
Looks like a stomach.
What are those globs?
Oy, they represent malignant tumors (from what I understood reading the fine print).
Really makes it hit home when you see it in front of you on display like that.
So much suffering from illnesses like cancer.
G-d should have mercy.
We really need to find "the cure!"
Imagine what a day that will be. ;-)
Scary Model of Cancer
January 23, 2020
Help Victims Of Terror (Warning Graphic Content: Not For Children)
Niv Nehemia was the victim of terror in 2017 in this Israeli grocery. He suffered "14 stab wounds to the head, chest, hands, and necks, including a cut in his esophagus."
The article appealing for help to cover his mounting medical costs appeared in the Jerusalem Post last week: Don't leave a hero behind.
I still remember this video from when it happened two years ago. Niv is truly a hero in fighting off his brutal attacker and in saving other store employees and shoppers!
Further, Niv and his wife, Sigal, have 5 beautiful children aged 18 to 4 1/2
If you can kindly open your heart to these victims of terror, here is the link for your donation as listed in the Jerusalem Post:
https://www.jgive.com/new/en/ils/donation-targets/24591.
May Hashem give a full and speedy healing to Niv and may He bless this family and all of us with peace! ;-)
Help Victims Of Terror (Warning Graphic Content: Not For Children)
January 22, 2020
How Are These Unlivable "Living Conditions" Allowed To Persist?
Makeshift tents line up and down under the train tracks to Union Station.
Spikes overhead make this an extra frightening looking arrangement.
People walking by and to/from work--after a while, is there a mixture of acceptance and indifference?
It's freezing outside and this is NO WAY for any human being to have to live.
Can we put partisan politics aside for any period of time to deal with the very harsh problems facing real people? ;-)
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
How Are These Unlivable "Living Conditions" Allowed To Persist?