Magic Cream

Wow, this was incredible for my kids to find in the store...

Magic Skin Cream

My dad of blessed memory, when he was alive created a cream called, "Magic Cream."

And it really was magic--he would put it on regularly to heal virtually any routine skin ailment. 

It used all natural ingredients and he carefully protected the secret formula.

To now see the magic cream in a major retail store left me really surprised. 

I wish that he had been able to bring his magic cream to market and that it would have been a huge success. 

IMHO, my dad deserved this achievement--he was brilliant and hardworking and most importantly, a super good person with tremendous faith in G-d and real integrity.  

I miss him dearly. ;-)

(Credit Photo: My daughter Rebecca)

Magic Cream

Toys Non-Digital

Interesting set off toys found in a silver pan tray. 

A couple of dogs, some Play-Doh, a crayon, and a fighter plane. 

Off to the side (not pictured) are the Legos. 

Interesting with what competes with video games and phone apps these days. 

(Note: 85% of the world's toys are now made in China!)

Frankly, there is still a lot to be said for the creative play of yesteryear. ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Toys Non-Digital

A Jewish Scorecard: Trump vs. Sanders

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "A Jewish Scorecard: Trump vs. Sanders."

In nine months, we will go to the polls again to elect the next President of the United States. Right now, it's looking like it will be Donald J. Trump versus Bernie Sanders. What is the scorecard of these two men when it comes to the State of Israel⁠—the Jewish homeland that we have returned to after 2,000 years of exile, persecution, and deep yearning, and where the majority of the world's Jewish people currently reside?

In the end, no candidate is perfect, and each has their own critical flaws. However, you, as the voters will need to tally the score for yourselves and decide who will be President in 2020 and what that means for this country as well as for the Jewish people and the State of Israel.

(Photo: Adapted from Flickr post by The White House (Public Domain) and Linda Sarsour's Twitter account profile picture)

A Jewish Scorecard: Trump vs. Sanders

Baby Shower Centerpiece

What a cool centerpiece for a colleague's baby shower. 

All those rolled up and tiered diapers and baby toys. 

Creative and fun-looking and the couple having the baby gets to keep all the goodies and put them to good use hopefully.

Nice to celebrate even with smelly diapers to be. ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Baby Shower Centerpiece

Party Balloons!

Now those are some party balloons!

Really, they are part of an exhibit from the Hirshhorn Museum.

But boy do they make a statement.

Big, pink, and with polka dots.

They are the king of the party. ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Party Balloons!

Assange, A Rat

Apparently, people will protest anything.

Here they are protesting against the extradition of Julian Assange of Wikileaks.

Assange allegedly published loads of classified documents stolen from this country.

That is NOT journalism or freedom of speech.

It is spreading stolen materials, endangering the nation, and maybe even espionage!

Freedom of speech is calling out a possible rat when we see one and having him brought to face justice. ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Assange, A Rat

Corruptocrats

I heard this new term that I thought was worth sharing:

Corruptocrats

Refers to corrupt politicians. 

Couldn't believe it's actually in the dictionary. 

Not all of them are, obviously. 

Could it be a whole "political party" too? lol

If only everyone was pure of heart and intention. ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal, and note that no disrespect intended to anyone)

Corruptocrats

Getting Tefillin Checked

I visited with Rabbi Levy yesterday to get my tefillin checked.

I learned that if there are questions about the legibility of the holy scrolls, they are given to a child to read to see in their innocence whether the tefillin are kosher or not.

Something felt very good and important about performing this mitzvah.

In the meantime, while mine are being checked, I have a loaner pair of teffilin to use and daven with.

Yet to be seen whether it is time for a new pair or not--like a bar mitzvah all over again. ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Getting Tefillin Checked

Innovation: Finding The 3rd Alternative

There are two quotes on innovation that I came across recently that I liked and wanted to share:

The first by David Ben-Gurion:

If an expert says it can't be done, get another expert. 

The second by Shimon Peres:

When you have two alternatives, the first thing you have to do is to look for the third that you didn't think about, that doesn't exist.

Both of these smart thinkers understood that solutions and innovation means breaking previous paradigms and thinking outside the box.

They got it absolutely right! ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Innovation: Finding The 3rd Alternative

The Commandments are for All of Us

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "The Commandments are for All of Us."

While some Jews certainly thrive in Yeshiva delving into the Talmudic understanding of the laws for long hours every day, and they serve an important role in understanding and transmitting the laws from generation to generation, others may be more interested in the fundamental philosophy of Judaism and in "doing what's right" by applying the core teachings of the Torah at their own levels every day. Maybe this is one reason that the Ten Commandments are presented separately from the "mishpatim" that follow. Not that they aren't both important and necessary, but that the Torah is for all of us in the ways that each of us can appreciate, learn, and apply them within the overall framework of the Torah.

Of course, all the commandments are important between G-d and man and between man and man, as well as the conceptual framework of the Ten Commandments and the details embedded in the rest of the 613 commandments. Yet certainly, all of us in one way or another struggle with some commandments more than others or with losing sight of either the high-level essence of the Torah or important details of implementation. Nevertheless, we must strive to not only appreciate that all the Torah comes from Hashem, but also that we each must work as best as we can, in our own capacities, to learn and fulfill G-d's laws and to be a good example and "light unto the nations," which is what being "the chosen people" is really all about.

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal of Chagall Tapestry in Knesset, Israel)

The Commandments are for All of Us

Boom Boom Coffee Table

What an awesome living room coffee table. 

Superhero effects. 

Big BOOM!

With explosive rays and cloud formations.

This is a definite standout in Tel Aviv showroom. 

Very colorful, exciting design, and with all the intended impact. ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Boom Boom Coffee Table

Wash Hands, Don't Touch Face

Everyone seems to be talking and concerned about the coronavirus.

Today, one of the people that clean the office told me to be careful and said:

Wash hands. Don't touch face!

Someone also questioned where fundamentally did this new killer virus come from:

Is this new virus really from eating exotic animals like they say or is it really something that escaped from a Chinese biological laboratory?

Since we are dealing with an origin of the virus that is from a Communist county that represses freedom of information, the Wall Street Journal raised doubts about the information we are getting:

As the outbreak was already under way, the local government did what Communist governments always do: cover up...[and even] China's president cannot trust the information he is getting. The lack of trust mean he must make decisions in the dark. No institution can function effectively this way.

With coronavirus more contagious than even SARS or MERS, perhaps the most important immediate questions is how far and deep will it spread?

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Wash Hands, Don't Touch Face

Creative Clock With Cars

Thought this was a pretty cool clock. 

Instead of just giving you the time (here it is 20:52 or 8:52 pm), the numbers are made up of 3-7 little cars.

When a number changes, cars either drive on or off to form the new ones.

(The "whole" clock is greater than the sum of its cars, which are the "parts".)

And then some of the drivers actually get out of the car to schmooze or maybe clean their car. 

Very creative and it makes you think.

That's a good thing. ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Creative Clock With Cars

Growing Fears Of Coronavirus

As the coronavirus continues to infect more and more people, the fear is continuing to grow.

Today, Apple announced that the outbreak will imagine their sales. 

And I read yesterday that airlines, even Israeli El Al, is warning of the impact. 

But how you know that the people, as individuals, are getting seriously worried are by the level of precautions they are starting to take.

These include: canceling travel arrangements, wearing (antiviral) face masks and latex gloves, and ever more frequent hand-washing and use of hand sanitizers. 

The picture here shows a couple of ladies waiting on line for some gelato at the airport, and they have masks over their faces and this is in the Holy Land, and not even where the outbreak is in China!

I hear official figures of 70,000+ infected and 1,800 dead, but on the street people are saying these are grossly understated. 

Let us pray that this virus is brought speedily under control, that a cure is found, and that no more people are sickened or killed by it. 

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Growing Fears Of Coronavirus

Israel 2020: Day 8

So awesome going to the Bahai Gardens today in Haifa, Israel. 

Took the train to Haifa and then a taxi ride up this big hill. 

Got out at the top and not sure what to expect. 

We go through security...

And then we see this completely BREATHTAKING view of the Bahai Gardens along with an amazing view of Haifa, the port, and up and down the Mediterranean Sea. 

The view Extended all the way up to the Crusader Castle in Akko. 

The terraced Bahai Gardens were spectacular.  

I've never seen anything like this. 

We walked down the terraces some 700 stairs. 

And along the way were fountains, gardens, and more beautiful landscapes and views. 

This is definitely something to see (thank you Hashem for this opportunity). ;-)

(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Israel 2020: Day 8

Israel 2020: Day 7

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) 

Israel 2020: Day 7

Israel 2020: Day 6

Did a nice beach walk from Tel Aviv to Jaffa. 

It was sunny and warm out. 

Lots of people exercising, running, and enjoying the outdoors. 

The blue Mediterranean Sea, the white sand, and breeze in the air was lovely. 

Even a funny statue of former Prime Minister Ben-Gurion doing a headstand as he used to do in his fitness routine. 

Shabbat is a good time to stop and take that much needed walk on the beach. ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Israel 2020: Day 6

Israel 2020: Day 5

Went to the Holon Design Museum (south of Tel Aviv) today. 

They had exhibit called States of Extreme.

I found some really cool exhibits and ideas there.

Sort of felt my mind being expanded by it, which is I suppose one of the purposes of going to this. 

Two of my favorite from today:

1) The chair with people legs and 

2) The Fanuc robotic arm feeding the baby in the crib.

Hope you enjoy these as much as I did. 

And Shabbat Shalom to everyone from the Holy Land!

(Credit Photos: Andy Blumenthal)

Israel 2020: Day 5

Israel 2020: Day 4

Wow what an amazing day in Jerusalem!

We went to the Israel Museum (the best museum that I have ever been at), the Shrine of the Book with the Dead Sea Scrolls, and the best part was a tour of the Israeli Knesset. 

One of the interesting facts that I learned was that the 120 seats in the Knesset is in the shape of the menorah, and I loved seeing Herzl's picture facing the speaker (front left).

Also, got to see the Israel Declaration of Independence with all the amazing signatories as well as the most beautiful Chagall paintings!

Inside the Knesset, all I could say to my wife is what a tremendous zechus (merit) it is to be able to be here today in this great hall where the modern laws of the State of Israel are made just as they were thousands of years ago by the Great Assembly of the Israelites.  

We are living in the most amazing of historical and religious times. ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Israel 2020: Day 4

Israel 2020: Day 3

Went to the Holy city of the Kabbalists today, Sefad.

Saw the beautiful 15th century Abuhav Synagogue, the Candle Factory, the artist colony, and the of course, the holy graves of the Tzadikim to pray.

It was a marvelously spiritually uplifting experience (as well as being up high in the mountains) and is an overall beautiful and unique city of ancient winding alleys and treasures at every turn. 

So grateful to have had this opportunity to visit there, thank you Hashem!  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Israel 2020: Day 3