Turning AI Power Toward Human Purpose

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "Turning AI Power Toward Human Purpose."

A lighthearted exchange between friends reveals a serious truth: modern leaders often debate endlessly yet craft only temporary, superficial solutions. The rise of artificial intelligence epitomizes this problem—technological advances enrich a privileged few while deepening inequality and eroding human purpose. Across the world, immense wealth coexists with staggering poverty, creating a dual system of justice and dignity divided by class. We need a moral awakening rooted in religious values of compassion and justice where we align progress with empathy and action to heal a fractured world.

(AI generated image via Gemini)

Turning AI Power Toward Human Purpose

The Powerful Legacy of Jewish Women

 
Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "The Powerful Legacy of Jewish Women."

The Israeli women who suffered during the October 7 terrorist attacks faced unimaginable horrors—they were degraded, raped, murdered, mutilated, and forced to witness the brutal slaughter of their husbands and children, then tragically disbelieved by many. In sharp contrast, Sarah, our biblical foremother, whose son Isaac was spared during the binding, exemplifies unwavering faith and resilience amid hardship—qualities these women embody as they endure. The Torah portion Chayei Sarah teaches that true legacy arises from virtues like faith, kindness, service, rather than worldly achievements. Together, Sarah's enduring strength and the courage of the October 7 victims inspire us to cultivate lasting virtues that define a meaningful, resilient life beyond tragedy.

(AI generated image via Gemini)

The Powerful Legacy of Jewish Women

Echoes Across Realities: The Soul’s Journey

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "Echoes Across Realities: The Soul's Journey."

The concept of multiple realities, embraced by both scientific theory and imaginative storytelling, proposes that countless alternate histories unfold from pivotal moments, each yielding distinct outcomes. Personal experiences, such as vivid and inexplicable dreams, invite us to consider the existence of parallel worlds and deeper spiritual dimensions where our souls may journey. These experiences underscore how our free will—our choices to act for good or evil—intertwines with billions of others in a complex tapestry of cause and effect that only G‑d can fully comprehend and graciously guide. Ultimately, our actions carry profound significance, influencing not only this reality but countless others, revealing that the truths shaping our lives and the universe are far more expansive than we may realize.

(AI generated image via Gemini)

Echoes Across Realities: The Soul’s Journey

Kabbalah Meets the Dalai Lama

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "Kabbalah Meets the Dalai Lama."

In 1990, a groundbreaking interfaith journey occurred when a group of rabbis traveled to Dharamsala, India, to engage in a historic dialogue with the Dalai Lama. This unprecedented meeting, later chronicled in Rodger Kamenetz’s acclaimed book The Jew in the Lotus, became a milestone in Jewish-Buddhist relations. The gathering explored profound questions of spiritual continuity, resilience, and the search for meaning across traditions.

(AI generated image via Meta)

Kabbalah Meets the Dalai Lama

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

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?

Don't Be So Humble; You're Not That Great

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "Don't Be So Humble; You're Not That Great."

In short, Judaism teaches that our mission in life is to connect to Hashem, the source of all. In connecting to the source, we are supposed to empty ourselves of vanity and materialism so that we can be filled with the Divine holiness.

G-d is the source of everything, and the greatest opportunity for human beings is to connect to the source and fulfill G-d's commandments to make the mundane into the holy and the worldly into the heavenly. Just as G-d is the creator, He created humans so that we have the ability to reach out to the source and perfect ourselves in His image. This is the ultimate good that G-d gives to humanity: the capacity to connect with and be close to the creator through our own choices and actions.

(AI generated image via Designer)

Don't Be So Humble; You're Not That Great

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

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

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’

Mutual and Eternal Love

Please see my new poem in The Times of Israel called "Mutual and Eternal Love."

Like Abraham, we are tested to do "what is right and just," and history is our witness.

For "we are dust and will return to dust," but our souls will rise to heaven and be reunited with our everlasting, loving Father.

(Also, please remember to listen to the Jewish music video as you read the poetry.)

Mutual and Eternal Love

Can Love Be Blind?

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "Can Love Be Blind?"

As long as in this material world, the body hides the soul of the person, then love can never be fully blind because people cannot see the true brightness of the soul inside or realize the primacy of people's spiritual inner selves without getting distracted by the physical aspects of the person, including attraction (which as we all know fades over time) and, of course, class, race, and ethnicity. Yes, physical/chemical attraction is an important part of intimate relationships, but at the end of the day, it's what's inside that counts, not only in this world, but for our eternal being and purpose.

(Source Photo: https://www.pexels.com/photo/woman-holding-a-lantern-7789180/)

Can Love Be Blind?

Great Video on Happiness and The Rat Race

Great Video on Happiness and The Rat Race

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

A Trust Beyond Faith

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "A Trust Beyond Faith."

When we have faith in G-d, it generally means that we believe that He created us and that He is the Master of the Universe. However, faith does not necessarily imply trust. Trust in G-d means that we believe that He not only created us, but that He sustains us and that there is Divine Providence in this world. When we trust in G-d, we believe that G-d is close to us and has a personal relationship with each and every one of us, and actually to everything in the world.

We all need to leave our egos at the door! No matter how strong or smart that we think we are, even the little grass above us (or above our graves) is greater than us. Certainly, G-d Almighty who is our creator and our sustainer, all-knowing and all-powerful, He is over us and watches over us in better times as well as those that are perhaps more challenging, but always we trust, for the good!

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

A Trust Beyond Faith

The Plan Amidst The Pain

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "The Plan Amidst The Pain."

In life, not only do we have to be determined and work hard, but G-d throws us curveballs and challenges all along the way that can often make us drop to our knees or throw our arms up in despair. However, we need to be faithful like Jacob and Joseph, knowing that it’s all a part of G-d’s plan and mission for us, and through these we learn and grow and become better versions of ourselves.

Moreover, if we but open our eyes to the miracle of our creation and our sustainment every moment of every day by Hashem, and remember that He put us all here for a purpose, then we can pay the daily price for what G-d puts in front of us and how we choose to handle it.We can do this knowing that it’s all really just a small price to pay in the end for so much that we gain in this world and that we will carry forward to the hereafter. In the end, nothing is free, but the price and the reason is always just what G-d wants it to be.

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

The Plan Amidst The Pain

WTF Is It?

Art but what the heck:

Do these thingamajigs represent people standing tall and with arms raised high?

Are you supposed to hang things off of it like jewelry?

Can you place on it reminder notes or small pictures using push pins?

Then again maybe it's a toy for a child or even a pet?

In the end, all I can say is WFT is it?

Perhaps that's what the meaning of art is!  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

WTF Is It?