September 3, 2024
September 1, 2024
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
December 3, 2023
It’s All in Your Perspective
(Source Photo: https://pixabay.com/photos/wormhole-time-travel-portal-vortex-2514312/)
It’s All in Your Perspective
April 16, 2023
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
September 16, 2020
Take Me To Your Leader
Anyone, anyone a leader here...
I need to find a leader.
Someone who I can look up to.
Who feels deeply, compassionately, and honestly cares about others.
With faith and integrity, and who does the right thing, regardless.
They inspire, rarely tire, and seek to make us all more than we otherwise are.
Imbued with discerning insight and an ageless wisdom.
Carrying forth a great vision, and a path and passion to get us there.
They bring unity, and stand alongside each and every one of us.
Never an autocrat, a bureaucrat, or a stinkin' rat.
Just someone who is a genuine leader. ;-)
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
Take Me To Your Leader
May 3, 2020
We Impact Each Other's Souls
And I rarely write twice on a book or movie, but this was so impactful.
First on our souls, Sharansky writes:
The law of attraction, interconnection, and interdependence of human souls...there is a universal gravitational pull of souls, of the bond between them and influence of one soul on the other.
Wow, Sharansky understood the deeper meaning of the soul and how they all emanate and are pieces from G-d and they are all connected to their source and each other, and what one person says or does impacts all the others (and thereby G-d himself).
Literally, I experienced this the other day...when I personally made amends on something I felt that I had done wrong, and I could literally feel somehow righting a wrong in the universe and G-d, Himself, smiling down on me.
It was the best feeling I think I have ever had in my life.
Second on fear, Sharansky writes:
My inner freedom [is] more powerful than the external bondage...[and] fear of the L-rd...is a necessary prerequisite for man's achieving inner freedom, and is also the prerequisite for spiritual resolve, the fear of the L-rd is the only thing that can conquer human fear.
Wow again. Sharansky through his nine years of suffering and hardships in Soviet prisons and labor camps found his deep inner strength to resist the tyranny of the KGB worldly masters and overcame them with his finding his fear and faith in G-d and was able to overcome.
These are two amazing heavenly lessons that Sharansky shares with us from enduring and overcoming his incredible worldly hardships.
I am so glad I had the opportunity to read this and am with G-d's help continuing to quench my thirst for this type of wisdom and true enlightenment. ;-)
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
We Impact Each Other's Souls
December 3, 2019
Two Things To Know
- Know-how: That's knowing how to do things yourself.
- Know-who: That's knowing who to go to to get everything else done.
None of us is perfect.
We each have strengths and weaknesses.
No one has all the answers--despite some big egos out there!
That's why we all need each other.
Knowledge is great, but networking magnifies your potential many times over.
These are two things you definitely want to know. ;-)
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
Two Things To Know
September 25, 2019
The Magical Letters Of Tishrei
It is ingenious how the letters of the Aleph and Bet and Tishrei (the dates when Rosh Hashanah occurs) is exactly equivalent to the letters in the Hebrew word for Genesis (Bereshit), which is the event of creation that we celebrate on the Jewish New Year.
Truly, this magical genius evident in the Torah can only be from one source and that is the one Creator and Sustainer of the Universe, Himself!
Let me take this opportunity to wish everyone a truly magical Rosh Hashanah and one that is filled G-d’s mercy and blessings for a happy, healthy, prosperous, and peaceful New Year!
(Credit Graphic: Andy Blumenthal)
The Magical Letters Of Tishrei
March 18, 2018
Everything Is 4 The Best
But it's funny how when we just take a little perspective or in retrospect...
We realize that everything G-d does is really for our best!
It may not look and feel that way at the moment.
But there comes an inner awakening about things when we see the bigger picture.
And then we sort of nod our heads knowingly:
"Ah, that's why that happened!"
There are many reasons, G-d may be directing something:
- Opening new and better opportunities for us.
- Teaching us important life lessons.
- Putting us someplace we need to be to help someone else.
- Even saving us from some worse catastrophe.
For G-d, there is no time or space--He supersedes all of these.
He puts us where we need to be when we need to be for His bigger plan for our good.
Also, when you think you have a problem, remember to look at what others may be going through.
Because there are problems and then there are problems!
As my dad used to say:
"The guy complained he had no shoes, until he saw the guy without any feet!"
Is your problem really so bad--maybe yes, maybe no.
Try for a second to think of others you know and what they are going through.
Imagine for a moment--what does really bad look like, feels like.
G-d works in what seems like mysterious ways.
But we can uncover the mystery and discover the holiness and grand plan of it all--if we just look beyond ourselves and towards the heavens.
Oh G-d, thank you for all that you do for us--your wisdom is glorious; your lessons are to teach me to be a better me; and your mercy endures forever. ;-)
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
Everything Is 4 The Best
March 13, 2018
Outgunned Yes
I liked this saying that I heard:
"Outnumbered and outgunned, but not outsmarted."
I think there is a lot of truth to this.
Might does not make right.
Right makes right.
There is a G-d above who watches over us.
Those with the big guns may just end up shooting themselves in the foot.
G-d reigns supreme and he gives wisdom and courage to his faithful.
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
Outgunned Yes
December 17, 2017
Failing Forward
One spoke about how he got sick soon after starting college with a serious vascular disease, but despite numerous hopsitalizations, treatments, and falling behind his peers, he persevered and was graduating today and in very good spirits.
Another women spoke about her many failures leading up to the success today of her graduation. She described how her father used to ask her:
"What did you fail at this week?"
Why?
Because even though we don't like to admit it, most people have many, many more failures in life than successes.
Even Thomas Edison, the inventor of the light bulb is said to have failed 1,000 times before getting it right.
This women explained how failure is actually something to celebrate--does that sound crazy?.
But it's really not, and here's why?
"To fail is to learn.Now, I had heard about failing up, but never failing forward.
To learn is to grow.
To fail is to grow forward."
Many who fail still manage to advance themselves in the process.
But failing forward is different.
It's not taking advantage of the failure, but legitimately learning from the experience so that you can grow yourself, and advance yourself, by becoming a smarter, stronger, and more capable person from it.
Sure, it hurts to fail.
Who would normally want to celebrate failure?
But if we understand life as a journey and not a specific destination, then we enjoy every blessed moment that we have to become better today and tomorrow than we were yesterday.
In this case, failure is not the opposite of success, but rather is part and parcel of achieving it. ;-)
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
Failing Forward
September 17, 2017
What Is Wisdom?
- Knowing you know nothing--and you can prove it (ah, humility)!
- Knowing when to ask--like the infamous directions when you're lost or how to use the latest new technology.
- Learning from all others (everyone has something they can teach us).
- Wisdom = Knowledge + Experience (you've gotten an inkling about some truth out there, and you've had a chance to test it out).
- Seeing that people's outer bodies are just the superficial, material cover for their inner souls.
- Realizing that doing for others is so much more rewarding than doing for ourselves.
- Following the great truths of morality and responsibility.
- Keen awareness that we are not alone in the universe--G-d is everywhere.
(Source Graphic: Andy Blumenthal)
What Is Wisdom?
August 22, 2017
Wise Man Watcheth
It was white and slim with a Asian man face, long beard, and tall hat.
The face was so expressive.
The eyes so alert and watching.
The beard and hat made him look old and wise.
As a real person, this is someone who has seen and learned so many things.
Forever watching.
Forever seeking to understand.
Forever trying to learn the secrets of the life.
This is a person to consult and get guidance from.
With age comes wisdom.
And with (occasional) reincarnation comes more opportunity to learn the painful lessons that we haven't, but must.
How long has this man been sitting there watching and learning--how long must we?
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
Wise Man Watcheth
May 20, 2017
Mine and Yours
And I talked with my friends at lunch about one passage from this timeless wisdom.
There are 4 types of people:
1) "Average Joe"
What's mine is mine, and what's yours in yours.
Someone described this as "his and her--separate--accounts."
2) Stupid
What's mine is yours, and what's yours in mine.
Ah, this is just someone whose plain old confused.
3) Wicked
What's mine is mine, and what's yours is mine.
One guy described his ex-wife this way.
4) Righteous
What's mine is yours, and what's yours is yours.
We all agreed this is the meaning of life--to be kind and giving to others.
What type of person are you? And what type of person do you want to be? ;-)
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
Mine and Yours
December 3, 2016
Dysfunction Is The Starting Point
He connected to this week's reading from Genesis in the Torah.
It was a commentary about our forefathers and mothers and what the stories in the Bible teach us.
As we know, these people while righteous and holy, were not perfect people or families.
Thinking about these, some examples that come to mind about the many tests, challenges, and tragedies in their lives:
- Adam and Eve eating the forbidden apple in the Garden of Eden
- Noah getting drunk and his son, Ham, seeing his nakedness and telling his brothers
- Abraham and Sarah's doubting (i.e. laughing) that G-d would give them a child
- Isaac lying to Avimelech about Rivkah being his sister (similar to what Abraham said about Sarah)
- Jacob buying the birthright and stealing the blessing from Esau
- Shimon and Levi killing the people of Shechem for Hamor raping their sister
- Joseph's brothers being jealous of him and throwing him in the pit and selling him into slavery
- Judah sleeping with Tamer, the wife of his firstborn
And so on.
Rabbi Ovadia said we should keep 4 things in mind about the Biblical figures and families to learn for our own:
1) Context - There is a context to what we do. We all have histories that involve difficulties, challenges, illness, abuse, PTSD, and so on. The things we do and how we react later in life are anchored in this context.
2) Dysfunction - Every family (and I would add person, organization, and institution) is dysfunctional. There is no perfection out there (except G-d). Functional would mean like a computer, we input-process-output towards a certain function. However, as people, we are not automatons, but instead work out our dysfunction through our striving to love, have relationships, learn and grow.
3) Responsibility - Whatever our challenges and dysfunctions, we are responsible for what we do--our actions. We can't just blame history or others. Our role is to face up to our lot in life and take responsibility for what we do. It our life and circumstances to make or break us.
4) Communication - In dealing with life and it's challenges, communication is key to dealing with things. I would argue that communication is just a part of many critical success factors like trust, determination, hard work, emotional intelligence, being giving, integrity, etc. But certainly, communication is a key aspect in how we work out our issues with others and try to build function from inherent dysfunction.
The honestly of the Bible in telling us the flaws of it's heroes and heroines--our ancestors--is one of the things that make it such a source of wisdom for us as well as demonstrating the truthfulness of it being G-d given to us.
The bible doesn't sugarcoat who we are and what we have to deal with--it is the Book of G-d that is a roadmap for us to learn from and do good with in our own lives. ;-)
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
Dysfunction Is The Starting Point
July 7, 2015
A Deal Of Dread
2) Yesterday, it was that Iran wants an immediate doubling of oil exports.
3) Last week, it was that rather than gradual sanctions relief for compliance, instead now Iran would get a $150 billion signing bonus - that is 25 times the annual budget of Iran's elite Revolutionary Guard and could be used to finance and carry out yet more global terrorism.
4) And that for vital inspections for nuke compliance, "anytime, anywhere, unimpeded" of suspicious military sites would now only be a highly watered down "managed access" of inspections.
5) Three weeks ago, the U.S. said that Iran no longer needs to account for the past nuclear weapons research that world representatives from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), had been trying to pry out of them for than a decade.
6) In March, as part of the framework deal, we learned that Iran's freeze on sensitive nuclear activities would only be 10 years, and even that Iran was calling "unaceptable."
7) Moreover in March, we learned that despite any agreement, Iran was continuing to pursue banned items for nukes and the missiles to deliver them.
In April, we were reminded of the dangers of failed nuclear agreements when China warned about North Korea's ever expanding nuke arsenal, which critics have pointed out mimics that of the deal with Iran.
Aside from the dangerous weaknesses in the emerging deal, Iran's hatred for the United States is unmitigated as a general in Iran said just last week that the U.S. remains "our worst, most vicious enemy."
Moreover, as Iran's Parlimant bans access to its military sites, they continue unabated their generational old chant of "death to America."
In these fateful times, when our decisions now will affect the lives of untold millions in the future, let us pray for G-d's mercy.
May the L-rd above bestow the strength of good character, wisdom of our ancestors, and the fortitude of our great heros to ensure a good deal--or no deal at all--with our avowed and undetered enemy--and may he bring a true peace to us all.
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
A Deal Of Dread
March 20, 2015
Death To PowerPoint
It's the unfortunate occurrence that happens when a speaker presents a wad too many slides (OMG, some people seem to go on and on forever--get them off that podium)!
Or when they present too much information, too little information, or just don't know what or how to present at all.
Their (slide) presentations leave the audience basically wanting to just kill themselves, if not the inconsiderate S.O.B. speaker.
But aside from lousy speakers, you have a crappy presentation mechanism, which is PowerPoint slides.
Hello out there, tell the truth...
Can any of you remember much of a darn thing that anyone has ever conveyed to you by PowerPoint?
Think of webinars, conferences, and meetings galore with slide after slide of 2-dimensional boredom.
Is your head hurting you yet or are you just glad you can't remember any of it--natural selection of memory saves you the pain...why thank you.
Then consider what someone has told you in great thoughtfulness, confidence, or with genuine passion, caring and sincerity.
- Perhaps, the wisdom of a parent or teacher who took you aside to tell you a life's lesson.
- Or a Rabbi or Priest who shared with you something spiritual and uplifting to guide you on your path.
- How about someone in the office who was passionate about an idea or project and who motivated you as well.
Most of the communication between people that really means something never makes it to a PowerPoint slide.
Imagine for a moment, if something meaningful was conveyed to you by slide presentation--you would think, how ridiculous it is to use PowerPoint for that?
- I love you--will you marry me?
- We're having a baby, how wonderful.
- Just got that promotion, yes!
- So and so is sick or just passed away, how terrible.
PowerPoint just doesn't happen here in real life--thank G-d!
And no matter how much organizations such as TED would like to make a (show)business out of presentations using PowerPoint...(ah, nope).
Real communication happens when one person talks from the heart to another person who receives it in their heart.
The greatest orators in history...never used a slide presentation.
Other presentation products like Prezi tried to take slides to the next level with a storytelling format using a virtual canvas, but that didn't pan out to well either...see many Prezis lately (and without getting dizzy)?
PowerPoint slides, and the like, are for distraction...now I don't have to pay that much attention to the rambling, numbnut speaker anymore.
The bottom line...we don't listen with our eyes!
Rather, we hear words of wisdom and see when someone is genuine, sincere and worth listening to.
The rest is PowerPoint... ;-)
(Source Photo: here with attribution to Chris Pirillo)
Death To PowerPoint
January 21, 2015
Stop The Nuclear Threat
Stop The Nuclear Threat
December 24, 2014
A Prayer Of Thanks
It is a prayer of thanks to the Almighty.
We thank G-d for:
- Being with us and supporting us with his loving kindness.
- Challenges that teach us, help us appreciate all that we have, and are ultimately for our benefit.
- The wonderful life bestowed upon us and for always listening to to our prayers.
If we concentrate on all that we have and not on what we don't and recognize that everything G-d does is ultimately for the good, then we can gain strength, persist, and reach ever new heights!
Hope you find hope and strength in this too. ;-)
(Special thanks to Sarah Herbsman for sharing this beautiful prayer.)
A Prayer Of Thanks
September 15, 2014
Doctor In Context
No, this is not my doctor, but a statue of one on the countertop.
What's funny to me is how he looks in context of the bottles and anatomical models all around him.
Either the doctor has shrunk or the other things are really huge.
My dad used to tell me that doctors only know what G-d tells them, so we should pray that G-d gives them the wisdom to help us.
And my grandfather used to say in German that "G-d is my doctor."
Maybe that's why the image of the doctor is looking up--to get the guidance from the one above to help us.
That's the intersection of medicine and faith--where truly big things can happen. ;-)
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
Doctor In Context