When we didn't have to worry about viruses spread by eating live or wild animals or that "escape" from weapons laboratories.
It's good to be a little nostalgic.
Shabbat Shalom! ;-)
(Credit Graphic: Andy Blumenthal)
Showing posts with label Peace. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Peace. Show all posts
April 17, 2020
Shabbat Shalom From Elmo!
When we didn't have to worry about viruses spread by eating live or wild animals or that "escape" from weapons laboratories.
It's good to be a little nostalgic.
Shabbat Shalom! ;-)
(Credit Graphic: Andy Blumenthal)
March 8, 2020
Peace Or War
Either peace and pay the price or war and take the risk.
It's very smart.
Peace isn't free...there is a price (maybe a large one) to pay for it.
War is also not free...there is a risk of what you will win or lose.
These are very serious life calculations with consequences that are far reaching.
Peace or war and if you are wrong what will it cost and how will you achieve security? ;-)
(Credit photo: Andy Blumenthal)
February 15, 2020
Israel 2020: Day 6
It was sunny and warm out.
Lots of people exercising, running, and enjoying the outdoors.
The blue Mediterranean Sea, the white sand, and breeze in the air was lovely.
Even a funny statue of former Prime Minister Ben-Gurion doing a headstand as he used to do in his fitness routine.
Shabbat is a good time to stop and take that much needed walk on the beach. ;-)
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
February 7, 2020
A Cool Shabbat Shalom!
Congratulations on another week of hard work and accomplishment.
Now it's time for a day of spirituality, mindfulness, thanksgiving, and much needed rest and relaxation.
Heal and rejuvenate your body, mind, and soul.
A time for Hashem, self, family, and community.
Shabbat is a true gift from G-d. ;-)
(Credit Graphic: Andy Blumenthal)
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! ;-)
January 10, 2020
3D Printed Octopus: "Shabbat Shalom"
December 27, 2019
December 25, 2019
Nature Boy
Of course, I was always curious why Broccoli was called Andy Boy--what boy or any kid for that matter likes to eat broccoli???
And like most things in life, there really wasn't a good answer except that this company, "Andy Boy" grows and distributes it.
Anyway, I was always a nature boy feeling most at home and at peace in the countryside.
I love being in nature, surrounded by G-d's amazing beauty, and at one with the universe and with G-d.
In building all our great cities, buildings, and structures, aside from the crowding, pollution, crime and traffic that we have consequently, we have also lost something elementary to our lives with the absence of real nature.
A park is not a forest. A pond is not a river. A plant is a not a lush valley. A garden is not a farm. A hill is not a mountain range. A pet is not a teeming ecosystem of diverse life.
The city is man made and fake, but nature is from G-d and real. ;-)
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
December 21, 2019
Israel Must Leave No Stone Unturned
Over the last decades since 1973, Israel has taken strong actions again to beef up their defenses and leave no stone unturned including taking the bold steps in destroying the menacing nuclear reactors of Iraq in 1981 and the Syrian reactor in 2007. Now Israel is facing a similar decision on action with Iran and their weapons of mass destruction. Israel and the United States need to leave no stone unturned in trying to find a path towards a peaceful resolution with Iran, but if that stone threatens potential annihilation of Israel and other western allies, then there should be no doubt whatever that Israel and other civilized nations must act once more to remove the threat and turn that stone into harmless dust again.
Whether towards peace or G-d forbid to war, Israel must be courageous to act and leave no stone unturned to secure its peace and security, or the ultimate defeat of its unrelenting enemies. Israel must be like Joseph, and be able to interpret the dreams and events unfolding before them, and like Pharaoh to make the decision to act and restore the meticulous butler, hang the negligent and dangerous baker, and save the nation from otherwise assured destruction. May G-d give us the wisdom, courage, and strength to do what we must eventually do and let it be for the good.
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
December 13, 2019
November 15, 2019
Pelican Shabbos
October 1, 2019
The Founding Of Zionism
| Key Person | Year | Published Work | Main Idea |
| Avraham Mapu | 1853 | The Love of Zion | Longing of Jewish people for their ancestral homeland |
| Moses Hess | 1862 | Rome and Jerusalem | Europe's welcome to Jews is tenuous, and Jews should seek return to homeland |
| Leon Pinsker | 1882 | Auto-Emancipation | Jews are not accepted in European host countries, and are urged to seek national rebirth |
| Nathan Birnbaum | 1890 | Self-Emancipation | Coined the term Zionism referring to a movement to re-create a national Jewish home in Israel |
| Chaim Nachman Bialik | 1892 |
El Hatzipor (To The Bird)
|
Poem on longing for return to Zion |
| Chaim Nachman Bialik | 1898 | Mikra'ei Zion (Assemblies of Zion) | Poem of hope and expectation of return to Zion |
| Theodor Herzl | 1896 | The Jewish State | Jewish State will usher an end to rabid anti-Semitism everywhere |
| Theodor Herzl | 1897 | Launched Zionism as political movement and convened first Zionist Congress | |
| Theodor Herzl | 1902 | Altneuland | Envisions idyllic future Jewish state |
| Ze'ev Jabotinsky | 1923 | Samson Nazorei | Ideal of active, courageous, Jewish warrior |
I am reading the book Israel: "A Concise History of a Nation Reborn" by Daniel Gordis.
I've prepared this summary of the founding of Zionism, which I have briefly summarized above.
Hope this is helpful to those interested in the origins of the founding of the modern State of Israel.
(Credit Graphic: Andy Blumenthal)
September 1, 2019
Is That An Olive Branch Or A Gun
Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called, "Is That An Olive Branch Or A Gun."
Our adversaries have become adept at terrorizing with one hand and painting themselves as victims with the other....The subterfuge of calling for peace, but seeking to murder has been going on for decades. The PLO charter that calls for the “liberation of Palestine” and the destruction of Israel was supposedly changed in the Oslo Accords, but it was never ratified. And the terrorist tactic of gaining ground (Gaza, West Bank, etc.) to further their strategic aim to attack and destroy Israel is well understood. Arafat became a master of this chicanery already decades ago when he came to the United Nations in 1974 with a “freedom fighters gun” on his hip and an “olive branch” in his offering. Today, the run of the mill terrorist continues this duplicity having become proficient at holding human shields (women and children) in one hand, and a gun or bomb to attack in the other. Similarly, organizations like Hamas and Hezbollah have cunningly split their missions of terrorism and murder of Israelis on one hand with social welfare and political cause for Palestinians on the other. They raise sympathy and seek to gain immunity at the same time as they continue to delegitimize Israel and conduct economic warfare and rampaging killing sprees.
In this regard, I wanted to share two sayings about not letting down our guard when it comes to the safety and security of Israel and our people. One, from the Romans, “If you wish for peace, prepare for war” also known as “peace through strength.” The second saying from former President Ronald Reagan, “Trust but verify” also know as “respect them but suspect them.”
August 23, 2019
The Coming Annexation
There has been much talk about Annexation of the Area C settlements in the West Bank (i.e. Yehuda and Shomron), and I believe that we are definitely moving in that direction. According to the 1993 Oslo Accords. Area C is where Israel maintains both security and civilian control. It represents about 60% of the West Bank and is of vital importance to the State of Israel and its future, and therefore is soon likely to be annexed.
Israel is the Promised Land and the one nation state for the Jewish people. Israel has absorbed millions of Jewish refugees from around the world. It is surrounded by hundreds of millions of Arabs in twenty-two countries. Israel captured the West Bank in a war of self-defense and should be prepared to annex it for the peace and security of its people and the region. If Israel has faith, remains strong, recognizes the military, geographical, and sociological realities on the ground and provides for the depth and settlement of its people, while at the same time being compassionate to the Palestinians, then it will continue to survive and thrive as a State, a democracy, and as light unto the nations.
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
August 18, 2019
In Sderot: Bombs and Birthday Cake
Israel withdrew from Gaza in 2005 and gave it to the Palestinians in a unilateral effort towards peace, but soon after terrorist group, Hamas, took control and has since been raining down missiles on the Israeli civilian population centers around it...Last night, as the missiles came towards Sderot and the Israeli sirens wailed for the people to seek shelter–they have only 15 seconds–the beautiful youth in Noaa’s birthday party ran towards the safe room. What was incredible with these youth, was that rather than stop the celebration and hide in fear and suffering from the missile attacks, instead they courageously continued the party and sang with great strength in Hebrew, Happy Birthday to Noaa!
Let us all learn from these amazing young people of Sderot to have birthday cake in the face of bombs and to celebrate life in the face of death, and let Mashiach soon come and bring us peace in the Promised Land.
(Credit Photo: Miriam Sasy)
August 9, 2019
Speedily Rebuild The Temple
Tisha B’Av (the 9th day of the month of Av) is on Shabbat this year, so we conduct the day of mourning and fast on Sunday. The destruction of the Temple and our subsequents exiles from the Holy Land are deeply traumatic periods of Jewish history. Needless to say, this is a very sad and scary time of year. However, we are living in the time of redemption, when after 2,000 years, the Jewish people have been blessed to be returned to their biblical homeland, Israel. Next up is the rebuilding of the Temple VERY SOON, please G-d.
Let us hope and pray that we are deserving of Hashem’s blessings and mercy, and that sadness will be completely turned into joy, the world will be healed, and peace will prevail.
July 19, 2019
July 13, 2019
I Pray For The Day
While I am a staunch supporter for the security of Israel, I pray for the day (a miracle) when Jews and Arabs can be brothers again--shoulder to shoulder--that embrace and help each other, rather than enemies "at each others' throats."
In my mind and heart, there has got to come a time when the hatred and violence ends, and when instead peace can and will prevail. ;-)
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
July 9, 2019
Smell The Flowers
July 5, 2019
Shabbat Shalom Baby!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
