Crystal Eyes

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Crystal Eyes

Beautiful Daytona Beach

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Beautiful Daytona Beach

Lighthouse Staircase

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Lighthouse Staircase

Beach Living

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Beach Living

The Jewish Cure for Anxiety

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "The Jewish Cure for Anxiety."

Anxiety has become a constant backdrop in a world shaken by rapid technological change, economic strain, geopolitical threats, and deep social polarization, leaving many people echoing the fearful question, “What’s gonna be?”. Jacob in the Torah portion Vayishlach models a healthy response to fear through his “Triad of Response”: he prays, uses diplomacy, and prepares defensively, showing that true trust fuses faith with decisive action. Rabbi Nachman of Breslov, despite immense personal suffering, teaches that worry is a spiritual poison and calls us instead to serenity grounded in prayer, gratitude, and confidence that nothing happens outside Divine will. Coelho’s The Alchemist echoes this wisdom through the seer’s insight that seeking to know the future only makes us suffer twice, urging us to embrace a “sacred alliance” of doing our part, trusting God, and focusing on appreciating today rather than surrendering our present joy to imagined tomorrows.

(AI generated image via Meta)

The Jewish Cure for Anxiety

Bad Headache

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal) 

Bad Headache

Thinking Cats

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Thinking Cats

Dream Catcher

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Dream Catcher

Aim Point Shooting Range

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Aim Point Shooting Range

They Call It Fashion

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal) 

They Call It Fashion

Rachel's Cry: Empathy's Thanksgiving Lesson

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "Rachel's Cry: Empathy's Thanksgiving Lesson."

Thanksgiving aligns seamlessly with Judaism's emphasis on gratitude to G-d and loved ones. In Parashat Vayetze, Rachel's desperate plea for children meets Jacob's angry rebuke, highlighting a failure of empathy over defensiveness. True thanks requires piercing beyond words to embrace others' inner pain, countering our self-focused tendencies with compassionate listening. Like our foreparents, we can elevate relationships through generous kindness, fulfilling love's essence this holiday.

(AI generated image via Gemini)

Rachel's Cry: Empathy's Thanksgiving Lesson

Native Putting Out a Fire

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Native Putting Out a Fire

Tower and Truck

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Tower and Truck

Bluey Threesome

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Bluey Threesome

The Barest of Heads

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

The Barest of Heads

Donut Tunnel

(Credit Photo: Minna Blumenthal)

Donut Tunnel

Thanksgiving Squirrel

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Thanksgiving Squirrel

Enough Is Enough: A Plan for Action

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "Enough Is Enough: A Plan for Action."

Supporters of Hamas have intensified a disturbing campaign of hatred and intimidation, targeting Jewish communities with hateful protests and violent threats. These actions seek not only disruption but the normalization of antisemitism and provocation of violence, exploiting legal protections and testing society’s resilience. Public officials’ inadequate responses risk legitimizing such hateful behavior, highlights the urgent need for decisive action. To confront this crisis, we must implement a comprehensive six-point strategy:

1. Strengthen laws and protections for targeted communities, enforcing hate crime and civil rights statutes and defamation laws.
2. Ensure venue-appropriate security for Jewish institutions and empower law enforcement to act swiftly and without political interference.
3. Hold individuals and public figures accountable for propagating antisemitism under the guise of political critique.
4. Counter misinformation and hate through accurate media reporting, education, and strategic communication campaigns.
5. Secure digital platforms by dismantling coordinated hate campaigns, bot networks, and stopping financial incentives for hate profiteers.
6. Strengthen community resilience through training, education on antisemitism, interfaith dialogue, cross-community alliances, and robust monitoring and reporting systems.

Good people can no longer remain silent as this dangerous tide of hate rises—we must confront it now with clarity, courage, and resolve to safeguard our future.

(AI generated image via OpenAI) 

Enough Is Enough: A Plan for Action

Cannabis Museum

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Cannabis Museum