Showing posts with label Service. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Service. Show all posts
September 4, 2023
April 7, 2023
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)
November 11, 2022
Thank You To Our Veterans
November 12, 2021
Service With A Smile
October 30, 2018
Beautiful Flowers
The colors and shapes are so amazing.
It's like you can see G-d's amazing hand in creating these so intricately, delicately and with so much brilliance.
There is comfort in His work and the life He has given.
I am grateful for each day to serve His purpose.
Hope you enjoy the gorgeous flowers. ;-)
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
April 24, 2018
Ramath Orah Synagogue
My grandfather (Opa), Simon Blumenthal, had served as the President of that synagogue for many wonderful years.
I remember always being so proud of him for his dedication and hard work for the community.
I look up to him when he got up to give the announcements at the pulpit.
And he built the beautiful center bimah, the special succah downstair with the roof that opened up to the sky at holiday time, and made many other truly impressive improvements to the synagogue.
He and his wife, my grandmother (Oma), Hilda Blumenthal were an absolutely beautiful couple and the finest of people.
My parents, Fred and Gerda Blumenthal, continued in their footsteps and to be members at Ramath Orah long after we had moved away to Riverdale, and they were contributors to the shul and attended the annual synagogue dinners for many years.
Even though the synagogue was mainly filled with elderly people at the time, we always knew and prayed that it would become revitalized again, which it did and is now.
Pictured at the bottom is me as a kid sitting with a talit over my shoulder and in my grandfathers (the President's chair) in the front of the synagogue.
Aside from leading and singing the regular Yigdal and Adom Olam prayers, I loved to sit with my father and grandfather in synagogue.
We prayed together, and we stayed together as a family and community.
I miss them all so much, but am sure they are up in Heaven together sitting in the Big Synagogue in the sky basking in the light of Hashem and watching over me and my family today! ;-)
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
March 8, 2016
Meeting the Boss, John Kerry
What an awesome day today getting to meet Secretary of State, John Kerry.
It is truly very cool to work for the Federal government and to be part of something much bigger than ourselves.
Meaning, purpose, contribution, service, and constant learning--that is a lot of goodness and opportunity to receive in one's career.
Thank you G-d for the amazing moments as well as the daily grind to work through it all. ;-)
(Source Photo: Colleague)
June 20, 2015
Look How Great Magen David Is
It is the symbol of the Jewish people and of Israel (it is center on the Israeli Flag, the Degel Yisrael), and dates back at least a 1,000 years.
Magen David Sephardic Congregation is also the name of our wonderful new synagogue in Maryland.
As the amazing picture above shows, the Magen David actually can represent every single letter (24) of the Hebrew alphabet.
As such, Magen David truly represents what a Jewish synagogue is and should be:
1) INCLUSIVE -- As every Hebrew letter is found in the Star of David, so too the synagogue is a place where every Jew, no matter Ashkenaz or Sephardic, Chasidim or Misnagdim, Orthodox, Conservative, or Reform--everyone is welcome and part of the greater family and community. The synagogue is a place we go to connect with our fellow Jews, where we respect and care for each other--our brothers and sisters, and where we Kibitz, laugh, and share of our selves and our heritage together.
2) HOLY -- The Magen David is holy as the religious symbol of the Jewish people and representing all the hebrew letters as in the Torah and the Ten Commandments. Some also believe in a Kabbalistic or mystical symbolism to the points of the star. Similarly, the synagogue is a place of holiness, and the Mikdash Me'at or small Temple (until the Holy Temple is rebuilt on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem). It is the place we go to sacrifice to G-d and a central place where we can do good deeds for our fellow man.
3) PRAYER AND LEARNING -- The Magen David represents the Jewish people, who are known as a people of the book. And the Magen David with all the Hebrew letters can represent all the Bible, prayer book, and wisdom of our sages. Prayer and learning is central to our faith and service to G-d. Similarly, the synagogue (and Yeshiva or Jewish school) is the center of our religion where we go daily and on Shabbat and holidays to Pray and learn Torah.
Magen David is an absolutely beautiful and meaningful symbol for who we are and what our synagogue ought to be. ;-)
(Source Photo: here with attribution to eshevbooks)
June 8, 2015
The Robotization Of Society
First, it's people--just us, living and loving.
Then, we welcome robots into our society for automation, industrialization, and services--they are here to help us.
Finally, it's just the robots--we, the people, are obsolete, replaced, maybe even completely gone!
Think about it. ;-)
(Source Comic: Andy Blumenthal)
June 22, 2014
From Pepper Spray to Champagne
Drones continue to go from battlefield to backyard.
Initially, developed for advanced persistent surveillance and later weaponized for targeting terrorists, we heard the like of Jeff Bezos promise drones for Amazon delivery.
Once again, the double-edge of drones continues...
This week we saw the introduction of scary, "Riot Control Drones" developed by Desert Wolf (a military contractor) that can shoot 4,000 rounds of pepper spray, paint balls, and non-lethal plastic projectiles, employs bright strobe lights and blinding lasers, and issues commands and warnings through loud speakers, and monitors crowds of protesters by high-definition and thermal vision cameras.
At the same time, we saw drones being used as Flying Bel Hops in the luxury Casa Madrona hotel and spa in California for delivering champagne, treats, toys, and even sunglasses to their $10,000 a night guests on their guest deck or even to a boat out on the bay.
And we are still only at the beginning, with drones, and robotics in general, moving to revolutionize our world.
Robots will surveil, they will attack and kill, and they will serve people everywhere from restaurants and retail to hospitals and homes.
You can't shush the robots, they are on the march and they will have the means to help and hurt people--it won't be simple, but it definitely will be completely invasive. ;-)
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
September 14, 2012
Following The Guy In Front Of You Over A Cliff
After seeing holocaust survivors with numbers tattooed on their arms from the horrors of the concentation camps, Chaleff asks "How does this happen? How do people follow murderous leaders?"
In response Chaleff comes up with the five dimensions to follow courageously:
- Courage to assume responsibility--don't expect your leader to provide for you, but you act for the common purpose that you both serve. (as John F. Kennedy said: "Ask not what your country can do for you--ask what you can do for your country.")
- Courage to serve--recognize the tough job of leadership and help to unburden and support the leader so he/she can be successful.
- Courage to participate in transformation--become full participants in the change and transformation process; ask what you can do differently to improve.
- Courage to constructively question and challenge--when policies and behaviors are counterproductive, step up and voice discomfort and objection.
- Courage to take moral action--in rare, but needed circumstances, you must be willing to dissent, leave, or refuse to obey a direct order when it is unethical or illegal.
I greatly appreciate Charleff speaking out and teaching others to do so and calling for all to "act as principled persons with integrity."
Charleff see leaders and followers less in the traditional hierarchical model and more as partners in achieving a common purpose--and this flattening of the hierarchy enables followers to question, challenge, and dissent when the boundaries of integrity are violated.
While I too believe we must serve courageously and not just follow blindly--as one of my teachers used to say, "if the car in front of you drives off a cliff, are you just going to follow him?"--I am not sure that Chaleff fully addresses the challenges and complexity in what it means to "step out."
While we may like to envision a flat organization structure, the reality in most organizations is that there is a clear hierarchy and as they say, "the nail that stands out, gets hammered down"--it is not easy to challenge authority, even though it can, at rare times, be necessary.
Finally, while Charleff focuses primarily on speaking up when there is a moral issue at hand, I think it is important to also be forthright in everyday issues and challenges that we confront.
Being good at what we do means that you don't just participate in leaderthink or groupthink, but you think on your own and share those thoughts earnestly.
However, once the decision is made--as long as and only when it is moral--then you must serve and support that decision and help make it as successful as possible.
Leaders and followers are a team and that means having the courage to fully participate and having the humility to respect chain of command and serve a noble mission, appropriately.
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