Kahane Was Right About at Least One Thing

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "Kahane Was Right About at Least One Thing."

Of course, given the political and humane realities, Israel has always sought coexistence and peace. Israel has repeatedly pursued a two-state solution, from the 1947 UN Partition Plan to the 1967 Green Line and the Oslo and Camp David Peace Accords. Each attempt at peaceful coexistence has ultimately collapsed into further violence. In short, then we must consider that:

If Arabs can live peacefully within Israel, that is to be welcomed. But if they remain committed to Israel’s destruction, then those who refuse compromise must seek another home.

While the pursuit of peace must never cease, a pragmatic mindset considers all logical approaches. This should include the concept of a distinctly Jewish state, which cannot be democratically ruled out of existence.

(Source Photo: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meir_Kahane#/media/File:Meir_Kahane,_seated_(3x4_cropped).jpg)

Kahane Was Right About at Least One Thing

Noah's Ark

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Noah's Ark

Reconciling with Germany

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "Reconciling with Germany."

No amount of time or action can erase the horrific atrocities committed by the Germans during the Holocaust, and I will never fully reconcile with the German people after the genocide they perpetrated against the Jewish people (and to be clear, the conflict in Gaza, despite the sick propaganda of our terrorist enemies is a war initiated by Hamas, not a genocide). However, I will offer a measure of credit where it is due. Germany has, in some small fashion, started to confront the profound evil of its past and is, at the very least, attempting to stand with us now and, I hope, in the future.

(AI generated image via Gemini)

Reconciling with Germany

Counting the Minutes: Turning To G-d

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "Counting the Minutes: Turning To G-d."

The clock is ticking, but are we aware enough to know when it is running out? The Bulletin of Atomic Scientists maintains the Doomsday Clock, and after 25 adjustments over the last 78 years, it currently sits at just 90 seconds to global catastrophe.

(AI generated image via Cyberpunk Generator)

Counting the Minutes: Turning To G-d

End Suffering

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

End Suffering

Can Sanity Prevail Before a Doomsday Scenario?

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "Can Sanity Prevail Before a Doomsday Scenario?"

As Israel continues to face existential threats from multiple fronts, and unless the threats are pulled back, Israel will have no choice but to act increasingly and decisively to defend itself. With its back against the wall, Israel will have no choice but to further respond with a strategy of "escalate to deescalate," so that the enemy is forced to rethink the risk and reward equation of the dangerous game of chicken they are "playing" with the powerful Jewish state. Thus, the specter of a wider conflict looms large as Iran and its terrorist proxies continue to destabilize the region and plot Israel's destruction.

(Source Photo: https://pixabay.com/illustrations/ai-generated-atom-bomb-8412004/)

Can Sanity Prevail Before a Doomsday Scenario?

Turn Up The Volume...Israel Lives! 🇮🇱

Turn Up The Volume...Israel Lives! 🇮🇱

Israel's Incredible Ingenuity

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "Israel's Incredible Ingenuity."

What an extraordinary week it has been for the Mossad, Shin Bet, and IDF. Through meticulous planning and flawless execution, they successfully thwarted an assassination attempt on Israel’s leadership, infiltrated Hezbollah’s supply chain, neutralizing thousands of terrorists equipped with newly acquired pagers and tactical radios, and effectively dismantled the entire leadership of Hezbollah’s Radwan Special Forces.

At its core, this is one of the miracles of modern-day Israel: technology, science, and human ingenuity coexist and thrive alongside tremendous faith in the Almighty. With the literal miracles witnessed this week, I believe more and more people are recognizing the hand of G-d behind it all.

(AI generated image via Designer)

Israel's Incredible Ingenuity

A Poem for Noa Argamani

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "A Poem for Noa Argamani."

Noa Argamani, a name etched in our hearts,
Two hundred forty-six days, a story that tears us apart.
Held captive by darkness, by terror’s cruel hand,
Yet hope, a flickering flame, held strong in the sand.

October seventh, a memory etched in our soul,
The image of you, a cry, a story yet untold.
Aboard a Hamas bike, a moment of despair,
But courage in your eyes, a strength beyond compare.

We prayed, oh Noa, with fervor and might,
Tehillim whispered, a beacon in the night.
For you and the others, a hundred and twenty more,
Longing for freedom, yearning to reach our shore.

Today, a miracle unfolds, tears of joy we weep,
Rescue’s embrace, a promise you’d keep.
Reunited with your father, on his birthday so grand,
Coca-Cola in hand, a homecoming unplanned.

Your mother, oh Noa, a fragile thread of life,
But you’re back by her side, no more strife.
Comfort and solace in this sacred embrace,
A family reunited, a love no time erases.

Grateful we are, for Hashem’s watchful eye,
His mercy unending, beneath a clear blue sky.
Noa, an inspiration, your spirit so bright,
Resilience your armor, surviving the night.

We never gave up, the world held its breath,
For you and the others, defying the grip of death.
The Jewish people united, in celebration we stand,
A daughter returned, hope restored to the land.

The IDF, the Yamam, heroes bold and strong,
Their courage unwavering, righting a terrible wrong.
Thank you, oh guardians, for your unwavering might
Bringing our loved ones back to the light.

Noa Argamani, your story etched in time,
A testament to courage, a spirit so sublime.
May peace find its footing, may hatred be quelled
And families forever, forever be held.

(A Reimagination of Rescued Hostage Noa Argamani and Her Father Reunited. Photo transformation by Andy Blumenthal)

A Poem for Noa Argamani

Elon Musk, the Modern Day Noah

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "Elon Musk, the Modern Day Noah."

Fueled by an unwavering drive, Musk’s relentless work ethic borders on obsession. His signature near-trance states of contemplation are fueled by a desire to shatter paradigms and push boundaries, particularly in his endeavors with SpaceX. In this sense, Musk’s Starship can be seen as a modern-day Ark, carrying humanity to a new Earth – Mars – after the metaphorical floodwaters of destruction recede. His unwavering dedication and divine-like spirit echo Noah’s mission, driven to save us from the unimaginable.

(Adapted from AI Generated Image via https://www.craiyon.com/image/pN5XSYU8Teu0lEoAAiWLSA)

Elon Musk, the Modern Day Noah

A Dream of Global Crises and G-d’s Sovereignty

 

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "A Dream of Global Crisis and G-d's Sovereignty."

The article discusses the challenges facing the world today, including terrorism, war, health issues, financial crises, environmental problems, and social inequality. Technology can help us to address these challenges, but we also need to rely on G-d for help. The article concludes with the message that we should not be afraid of the challenges facing the world but instead focus on doing what is right and being faithful to G-d.

(Source Photo via https://www.pexels.com/photo/black-white-and-yellow-tiger-sitting-on-a-beige-sand-during-daytime-47312/)

A Dream of Global Crises and G-d’s Sovereignty

Not By Strength Alone

 
Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "Not By Strength Alone."

For Israelis and Jews around the world, success includes being powerful enough to defend ourselves from no longer being every demagogue and dictator's scapegoat, but much more than that, it means that we become a true "light unto nations." We want to be a democracy anchored in freedom and human rights. We also want to be a "Jewish State" (it's the only one in the world!) that is a haven for every Jew to come home to and that is culturally and religiously Jewish (but not a Jewish dictatorship). Israel will not survive by strength alone but rather by the spirit of Hashem (Zechariah 4:6). And so our values are to follow in G-d's path and do good in the world, fix what's broken, and make it a better place, and that includes, as the prophet Isaiah said, "beating their swords into plowshares." Moreover, we understand that G-d is not only the creator but also the perpetual master of the universe, and it is He who decides whether Israel behaves righteously and ultimately whether she will merit to stand for the duration this time and, hopefully, the final time.

(Photo: Alexi Rosenfeld, IDF/Creative Commons via https://israelradar.com/israels-3-new-tricks-for-gaza-war-with-hamas/)

Not By Strength Alone

Just Hang on!

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Just Hang on!

The Apocalypse

This truck is called "The Apocalypse."

It looked like it was ready for just about anything. 

What fun to drive and pretend your "Mad Max" 

Maybe you really are.  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Itzchak O.)

The Apocalypse

Surviving Marriage Meshugas

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "Surviving Marriage Meshugas."

At the end of the day, like all things, marriage is partially what you make of it and how hard you work at it. Remember, bringing two people together, even two halves of the same whole, can be challenging and requires understanding and compromise.

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Surviving Marriage Meshugas

Overcoming The Inquisitor

 

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "Overcoming The Inquisitor."

While anti-Semitism and persecution for being Jews is horrible and should never happen, in a sort of obscene and ironic way, it ends up making us stronger as Jews. In short, testing our faith, ends up solidifying our faith!

No one likes adversity, suffering, or persecution, and G-d only knows that we as Jews have known our deeply painful share. Yet whether from Egyptian slavery to the Inquisition, the Holocaust, and more, it’s our test as Jews to survive, and to learn and grow from it our faith in Hashem.

Yes, these things are far easier said than done, but when we face these terrible events, we must try with all our might to overcome them, heroically and faithfully.

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Overcoming The Inquisitor

Light at the End of The Ark

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "Light At The End Of The Ark."

Why was Noah commanded to build a skylight in the ark?

Noah and all the fascinating people in the Bible weren’t just characters in a novel, but they were real people and they experienced up and downs, as we all do in life. The key to remember is that there is always a window where we can see our relative good fortune and everything we have to be grateful for, where we can keep an eye on the light at the end of tunnel (as my father used to say about bad things, “this too shall pass”), and we can look up to our Father in Heaven and remember that He will bring deliverance to us. Even in the mightiest of floods that devastated the world, G-d was still there for us, and He was, is, and always will be!

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Light at the End of The Ark

He Who Saves A Life

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "He Who Saves A Life."

We all know the Jewish dictum of “He who save a life, saves the world.” In Judaism, every single life is invaluable, and hence we are even allowed to violate the holy Shabbat for the preservation of human life (“Pikuach Nefesh“). Similarly, when it came to a prisoner exchange for IDF Sargent first Class, Gilad Shalit, who had been held by Hamas terrorists for five years (2006-2011), Israel exchanged1,027 Palestinians in a prisoner exchange for Shalit. Life is truly sacred to the Jewish people.

This week, I had the opportunity to meet and hear from members of Israel Air Force’s Elite Search and Rescue, Unit 669, at Magen David Synagogue in Rockville, Maryland. There I was reminded of the brave Israeli soldiers who not only defend the holy land and people of Israel, but also who are there to search for missing soldiers and rescue them and civilians “regardless of location or conditions” when faced with war, terrorism, or other disaster. Soldiers from unit 669 go into every possible dangerous situation, and under fire, to save lives at whatever cost to themselves.

(Source Photo: Flikr)

He Who Saves A Life

Join U.S. Space Force

War is coming to space. 

Star Trek, Star Wars, Battlestar Galactica here we come.  

We've got to protect our space!  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Join U.S. Space Force

Israeli Determination and the Afghanistan Debacle

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "Israeli Determination and the Afghanistan Debacle."

It’s not always the largest, strongest, fastest, and best financed that wins. Like with the story of David and Goliath or even one of my modern-day heroes, Rocky, the determination of the little guy can overcome the biggest and the best of them. The Taliban were patient and over twenty years continued to wage their struggle against us, but more than that they knew that our patience was limited and that eventually we would leave, and they took the long view and planned for the overthrow of the government and the return of their rule after we were gone. They waited us out and that can be an incredibly successful strategy!

Israel is the Jewish homeland and the Biblical Promised Land from G-d. What the Palestinians haven’t understood in all these years, since the State’s founding in 1948, is that no matter how long they try to wait us out, we have more determination than they have patience! The Jewish people will never give up our historical and legitimate rights to be a sovereign nation in our land, Israel. In the end, the Palestinians may be very patient, but we are the ones who are utterly determined: whether Ashkenazi or Mizrachi, Labor or Likud, Tel Avivian or Jerusalemite, one thing that we all fundamentally agree on is our sheer and utter determination as the Jewish people to survive and be a free nation in our land.

(Source Photo: Pixabay)

Israeli Determination and the Afghanistan Debacle