On The Wings of Eagles

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "On The Wings of Eagles."

The importance of making Aliyah may seem counterintuitive given how anti-Zionist not only many Pro-Hamas supporters are, but also some diaspora and even Israeli Jews are. However, it is actually all the more reason for people who understand Israel's holiness and centrality to Jewish life, prayer, and tradition to make the leap. I think in the future, we will look back at this time and the immense pressure to abandon Israel, and we will recognize the strong souls who defied the mob.

(AI generated image via Designer)

On The Wings of Eagles

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

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

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

Shabbat Shalom Flowers

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Shabbat Shalom Flowers

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

Colorful Shabbat Shalom

Colorful Shabbat Shalom

L'Chaim for Body and Soul

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "L'Chaim for Body and Soul."

Everything that happens in this world has not only a physical dimension but a spiritual one as well. Our very existence is a combination of body and soul, so naturally they work together in tandem. And our physical well-being must be matched by our spiritual alignment with God.

(AI generated image from Craiyon)

L'Chaim for Body and Soul

My Supernova

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

Years ago, there was a time when I rebelled against religion, Judaism, and G-d. It was my version of running to the Supernova Music Festival, where I could dance and party to the music under the desert sky. I was young, and probably like many others, went through a stage when I wanted to express my freedom and independence.

On October 7, of the almost 1,200 people massacred that day, 364 were at the music festival. No one can say why anyone lost their lives, were brutally tortured and raped, or were abducted by these radical Islamic terrorists that day—it was pure evil—but like me missing Rosh Hashanah years ago, people at Supernova were also misplaced from the holy Shabbat services and the singing and dancing with the Torahs for the holiday. This is a kind of Jewish tragedy.

(AI Generated Image via Craiyon)

My Supernova

It’s All in Your Perspective

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "It's All in Your Perspective."

Learning is a lifelong pursuit. None of us know everything. Here are five lessons about perspective in life that I wanted to share, and I hope you appreciate their wisdom as much as I do.

All in all, we need to maintain a flexible mindset and avoid approaching the world with rigid thinking, because when we do that, we miss out on so much that can enrich our minds, touch our hearts, and uplift our souls.

(Source Photo: https://pixabay.com/photos/wormhole-time-travel-portal-vortex-2514312/)

It’s All in Your Perspective

Wrapped Up In Jewish Pride

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "Wrapped Up in Jewish Pride."

While the greedy and corrupt Palestinian leadership gets rich pocketing the West's endless "humanitarian aid," they keep the Palestinian people impoverished and helpless on a system of generational aid and in the squalor of refugee camps. During the chaos and disruption of World War II, with close to a hundred million victims, displaced persons, and refugees, the entire world—including the Jewish people who had six million murdered—went on and managed to rebuild their lives and contribute something back to the world. Except for the lone Palestinians, who have stayed frozen in time and dependence. Further, as they reject peace and call for the destruction of Israel and the endless killing of innocents, they continue to breed not only their despondency but, worse, a bottomless hatred and murderous evil in their hearts and minds.

We all need to hope and pray that Israel is successful in fighting Hamas, Hezbollah, and Islamic Jihad because rest assured that they are waiting not just in marches and protests in our capitals and invasions across our borders but are ready to rampage and murder "the infidels" whenever and wherever they can. In the end, if you look aside in silence and acquiescence now, no one will end up safe in a radial Islamic world that puts its faith in and inculcates ongoing hate, intifada, and Jihad.

(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Wrapped Up In Jewish Pride

Bringing the Community Together this Sukkot

 

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "Bringing the Community Together this Sukkot."

Like in all socio-economic caste systems, the Rabbi who was managing the sale of the lulav and esrog for the upcoming holiday of Sukkot differentiated between three types and offered the following: Aleph (the most expensive), Bet (medium priced), and Gimel (the least expensive), and all were supposed to be full sets, but they weren't.

This led me to reflect on all the different ways that we compete with and classify each other instead of valuing each person and acting like a real community (with an emphasis on "unity"). Really, it's a million things, from who can afford the better bar mitzvah to who makes the more lavish wedding; who is rated grade A for matchmaking, and who is considered to have a "mum" (defect) and be less or undesirable; who gets the prime kovod (honors) in the synagogue, and who never even gets called to the Torah for an Aliyah.

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Bringing the Community Together this Sukkot

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

Rosh Hashanah Reflections

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "Rosh Hashanah Reflections."

Rosh Hashanah is the annual wake-up call for us to stop, get out of the car, actually see what we are doing and where we are going, and course correct while we still can in our lives. G-d gives us 60, 70, 80, maybe 90 years of chances to take stock of how we use our precious time in this world, our relationships with our loved ones, and the thoughts, words, and deeds that we evoke for good or, G-d forbid, otherwise. Rosh Hashanah is a blessing for us to back the car out of danger and get us on the road to success if we but take the opportunity, which, G-d willing, we will all do.

(Credit Photo: Ri_Ya via https://pixabay.com/photos/shana-tova-honey-sweet-jewish-4496748/) 

Rosh Hashanah Reflections

This is So Not a Way to Become a Jewish Woman

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "This is So Not a Way to Become a Jewish Woman."

I'm sure many of us have seen the new hit Adam Sandler movie, You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah, and probably most people will tell you it's a great movie.

To be fair, I believe that Adam Sandler did not mean badly with this movie in that it did show him trying to get the often out-of-control teenagers back on track. It was also nice to see that Stacy was ultimately a good person and friend. However, this Hollywood-ized version of a bat mitzvah and Jewish culture is clearly made for profit and not with a Jewish moral compass in mind and soul.

(Credit Photo: Dossy Blumenthal)

 

This is So Not a Way to Become a Jewish Woman

In The Quiet Hours

I put this quote away in my files probably more than 30 years ago.

Maybe one of the most important sayings ever.  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

In The Quiet Hours

Looking Beyond the Superficial

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "Looking Beyond the Superficial."

We are all much more than our physical manifestations in this world, and looks can definitely be deceiving. The most important thing in dealing with ourselves and others is to look beyond the superficial and see each person for who they really are, and G-d’s holy spirit has an outsized role in realizing the potential of who we can be.

(Credit Photo: Activedia via https://pixabay.com/photos/spiritualism-awakening-meditation-4552237/)

Looking Beyond the Superficial

The Best of People

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

When we finally got back to the hotel and my wife was feeling better, I told her how amazed I was with the goodness of these complete strangers that we encountered. I saw people who expressed concern and care for someone they didn't know and for whom they wanted nothing in return.

I believe that this is ultimately what life is all about: it's not about the money, the honor, or what we get out of a situation; rather, it's about doing good in the world and savoring G-d's blessing over anything that is material or narcissistic.

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

The Best of People

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

Kosher in Body and Soul

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

The essence of keeping kosher is not that we just keep the dietary kosher laws and eat only that which G-d commanded is permissible to us, but more so that we feed our spiritual soul with G-d’s manifestation to us and ultimately that we live kosher lives through His wisdom and the performance of good deeds.

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Kosher in Body and Soul