Love this Israeli defense company, Elbit Systems! They are Israel's largest defense company with brilliant defense, homeland security, and national security solutions. Proven on the battlefield on land, sea, air, and space. From the advanced F-35 Joint Strike Fighter helmet mounted display to the Iron Fist active protection system to drones, lasers, C4ISR, cyber, electronic warfare, electro-optics, countermeasures, combat vehicle systems, and artillery, mortar, munitions and more. Elbit offer high-tech solutions that uniquely combine brain with brawn! Defending the Holy Land and other countries around the globe. In the fight of good over evil, I'm proud that Elbit is one of the good guys! ;-)
Merry-go-round and round. Bobbing up and down, up and down. Faster and faster and slower and slower. Animal figures, colorful props, mirrors that reflect it all up. Children smiling, children happy, what can be more satisfactory. ;-) (Credit Video: Andy Blumenthal)
600 Holocaust Survivors and their descendants sing "Chai" (Life) by Ofra Haza.
Hope is not yet lost.
I live. I live. I live.
I cried my eyes out watching this. The Jewish people not only survived the Holocaust as most of the world sat by and watched the genocide of six million men, women, and children with a soulless indifference, but G-d has kept his promise and restored the Jewish people and returned them to the Holy Land and made it flourish again! (Thank you to my sister, Roz, for sharing this with me)
I love the Merkava IV, Israel's main battle tank. The shape, the versatility, the power! Complete fighting awesomeness. The new "Merkava IV Barak" (scheduled for deployment in 2021) will even have artificial intelligence (AI) for advanced battle management systems. I wish we had the Merkava during the Holocaust and could've given the Nazi bastards what they rightfully deserved. Never again! ;-) (Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
People are trying to get out of the house for just a little bit each day amidst the mandated social distancing. Especially difficult is to try to get some exercise with all the fitness centers, gyms, and pools closed down. Some people are just choosing to go for a walk around the track or get in a quick workout with a few friends or family members. Can we be normal when everything is abnormal? ;-) (Credit Video: Andy Blumenthal)
Great explanation of Coronavirus (Covid-19) by the World Health Organization (WHO). Need a Part II though to explain what people should do when they get sick--communication on this part has been awful. BTW, the governor of California stated that he estimates that 56% of their population or 25.5 million people would be infected there within eight weeks. At a 1-2% fatality rate (lower than the current global 4% fatality rate) that would mean between 250,000 and 500,000 dead just in California. This is very serious stuff folks. ;-) (Credit to my daughter, Rebecca for sharing this with video)
Today, we went to the Kotel (Holy Western Wall) in Jerusalem. We went on a special tour of the Kotel Tunnels. Got to see the foundation stones under the Temple Mount where legend has it that G-d created the world from and where Abraham went to sacrifice Isaac. This is also the place where the first and second Jewish temples stood. We literally got to see so much of the ancient underground building stones, pillars, arches, bridges, waterways, and even learned how they think that these mega limestones (weighing over 520 metric tonnes) were moved into place so many thousands of years ago with pulleys, gears, and levers. It was a fascinating and fun tour. Thank you to my son-in-law and daughter for getting us tickets to this. Lovely time by all. ;-) (Credit Video: Andy Blumenthal, and sorry about turning it sideways once it gets to the underground waterway)
I don't usually do this, but I felt this situation truly merits your compassion and charitable giving. 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! ;-)
These holiday earrings have loads of pizazz. Watch them flash red from ear to ear! The funny thing is no one else even notices. What an awesome holiday fashion statement from The Nation's Capital. ;-) (Credit Video: Andy Blumenthal)
Shlomo Carlebach was a master of Jewish Nigunim (melodies). With his music he could literally move one's soul to reach for G-d Almighty in the Heavens and on Earth. Thank you Eitan Katz for bringing this alive again. I hope you can feel it as I do. Hashem lives!
Thought this was pretty cool at the Boca Museum of Art. Electronic Ocean Waves. Mesmerizing and calming. And all in bits and bytes. They also had a display of black and white photos of the ocean waves. But it was a little too sterile for me. I like nature and nurture in perfect harmony. ;-) (Credit Video: Andy Blumenthal)
Great song: David and Shaul from Ehud Banay's third album, ”The Third/Hashlishi” The song is about the "bipolar" feelings of King Saul toward David (then the next king of Israel). Here are the lyrics:
כולם מזמן הלכו לישון רק שאול ער, קודר מרים לדוד טלפון
A late-night hour
Everyone is long gone to sleep
Only Shaul is awake, cheerless
He calls David up over the phone
אולי תקפוץ אלי, יא דוד נפשי אגם שחור תביא איתך את הגיטרה כי באצבעותיך אור
Maybe you should stop by, Ya David
My soul is a black lake
Bring the guitar with you
For you have light in your fingers
דוד בא מיד רגוע, מתיישב ומכוון את המלאכה היטב יודע עוצם עיניים, מנגן
David comes right away and he is calm
Sit down and tunes (the guitar)
The job he well knows
Closes his eyes, he plays
עשר אצבעות לדוד קצה כל אצבע - קרן אור כשהוא פורט על המיתר הזמן זורם לו לאחור
Ten fingers David has
The tip of each one - a ray of light
When he port on the string
The time is flowing backwards
שאול מבפנים קרוע קרבות בתוך בטנו אוהב-שונא, ומקנא מכור לחברו
Shaul is torn inside
Battles in his stomach he has
Love-hate, and jealous he is
Addicted to his friend
דבר מה אפל נופל השד חוזר להשתולל סכין נזרקת באוויר פתאום יש בין השנים קיר
Something dark falls
The demon is back to a rage
A knife is thrown in the air
Suddenly there is a wall between the two
דוד מתחמק משאול
אבל שאול לא מוותר דוד שוכח וסולח כששאול מתקשר
David is avoiding Shaul
But Shaul is not giving up
David forget and forgives
When Shaul call up
בוא שוב לנגן לי דוד קח אותי לכוכבים בוא שוב לנגן הלילה שיר געגועים
Come again to play to me David
Take me to the stars
Come again to play tonight
A song of longing
בוא שוב לנגן הלילה...
Come again and play tonight..
בוא שוב לנגן הלילה שיר געגועים...
Come again and play tonight..
A song of longing..
(Kudos to my Ulpan teacher, Rivka D. for sending me the video and to Izchak, my wonderful son-in-law, for providing the Hebrew/English lyrics)
This place was really cool in Washington, D.C. Artechouse = Art + Tech + House. Great immersive technology, art, music, dance, and light show. Highly recommend it! This exhibit "Lucid Motion" was by Japanese artist Daito Manabe X Rhizomatiks Research. They also had a nice augmented reality display. Had fun with the clan. Hope you enjoy! (Credit Video: Andy Blumenthal)
Andy Blumenthal is Deputy Program Director at the U.S. Department of Commerce. Blumenthal is a dynamic, award-winning leader with over 35 years of experience delivering results across the public and private sectors. All opinions are his own.