Sheep No More

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called, Sheep No More. 

In thinking about sacrifices as animal substitution for consequences to man, we can also reverse this logic to explore what sacrifices can teach us about consequences to man in their relationship to the Jewish people. In this particular case, I am thinking about Jewish responses to those who desire to be our friends and want to build kind and productive relationships with us or the opposite, to our enemies, who seek to persecute, attack us, and make the Jews their korban, victims.

In short, traditional korbanot in the Temple can teach us not only about how animals can substitute for people in our sacrifices to G-d for thanksgiving, communion, and acknowledging of consequences and teshuva (repentance) for our wrongdoing, but also how the Jewish people can relate to the nations of the world in everything from full peace, positive engagement, acts of guilt and sin against us, and even full-fledged war. Sacrifices teach us that while peace is always the desired state and fiery war a last resort in our self-defense and preservation, we know that after thousands of years of anti-Semitism, persecution, and Holocaust, we are no longer the sacrificial lamb on anyone’s Temple altar.

(Source Photo: Pixabay Free Image)

Sheep No More

Graffiti Over Urban Blight

What can one really say about Baltimore?

It's a city in gross decay and it needs help.

"This land is your land. This land is my land."

This land needs a serious helping hand. 

A wealthy country where "the roads are paved in gold."

But the inner cities are crying out in poverty, crime, and neglect.  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Graffiti Over Urban Blight

Appreciate Who You Have In Your Life

Thought this was a brilliant depiction of appreciating the invaluable people in our lives.

You don't know what you have until you don't have it anymore. 

Often, people become lazy in their relationships or they stop appreciating what/who they have--we end up taking them for granted, not paying them our loving attention or worse mistreating them.

But one day, those people won't necessarily be there for us anymore. 

That's when our eyes are opened to what we've done, but then it's too late to go back and undo the mistakes we made. 

One good friend told me that marriage is not like Hollywood; it's not all loving all the time:

"There are good days and bad, but it's better to have 5 even really bad days a month with your partner than 30 bad days a month by yourself, alone."

Don't wait until it's too late to love and care for your spouse, children, grandchildren, etc. 

Eventually, the clock runs out and regret won't bring anyone back. 

(Source Photo: Millionaire Tutor via Facebook)

Appreciate Who You Have In Your Life

Fiery Star of David

Sharing this beautiful Magen David (Star of David). 

Saw it on Facebook and thought it's really dazzling!

Man, we're on fire  and in a good way--rebirth after the horrors of the Holocaust, redemption to and flourishing of the Promised Land of Israel, and what looks like many more incredible things to come.

Hence, my reading of the three stars: our past, present, and future. 

G-d's plan for the world is happening, and it's hopefully very bright indeed.  ;-)

Fiery Star of David

@Lake Needwood

Lake Needwood last Sunday. 

Seems so calm and peaceful. 

And unfortunately then comes the storm.  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

@Lake Needwood

Vibrant Fashion Colors

Wow, what a vibrant fashion display of color at Macy's!

This is bold. 

This is fun.

This is exciting. 

This is alive. 

We're coming from the Covid dead back to the pre-pandemic life!  

Take out your stimulus checks and get ready to spend. 

There is still hope for humankind.  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Vibrant Fashion Colors

Preparing for The Third Temple

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called, "Preparing for the Third Temple."

In essence, the Jewish Temples have been not only physically buried over, but also the site has been historically Islamicized despite the Temple Mount’s intrinsic holiness to all three major religions (Christianity, Islam, and Judaism). In short, this is a very sensitive issue that is likely anchored in facets of intolerance and religious rivalry, as well as pretenses of superiority and dominance, rather than ultimately on the shared connection we have through both our genetic and spiritual lineage as Abraham’s decedents.

We absolutely want to have a peaceful and productive coexistence with all people, but just as Israel has risen from the Valley of Dry Bones, so too the day is coming soon when the Jewish Temple will be rebuilt in shinning glory and we can worship G-d just as we did in times before. What will be special about the 3rd Temple is that it will not only be for the Jewish people, but for all the world’s people to come together harmoniously to recognize and worship the one true and faithful G-d of us all.  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Preparing for The Third Temple

Where Have All The Heroes Gone?

Art imitates life. 

When we had heroes in the real world there were also superheroes on television, movies, video games, toys, and more. 

But alas leadership in our times has seriously fallen short.

Who is there to really look up to as a model for us to respect and follow? 

It seems like everywhere these days we are confronted by: 

- Failing leadership 

- Poor decision-making

- Party politics

- Obstructionism

- Finger-pointing

- Fraud, waste, and abuse

- Bullying and sexual harassment

- Bribery and kleptocracy

- Big time narcissism 

There are few if any heroes these days!

It's sad for us as well as for our children.

I hope we see Batman and Superman and other superheroes again: strong in the physical sense but primarily a symbol for strength of character/integrity and for the fight of good over evil in this world. 

The void is painful for our times and is going to impact our near term future as well.  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Where Have All The Heroes Gone?

Fashion Masks

Fashion Masks.

For the end of the world. 

If not Covid then for the next big one! 

You want to look you best when the world is destructing. 

Always look your best!  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Fashion Masks

Purple Octopus

Cutest Bath Toy!

Purple Octopus (that looks a lot like Barney the dinosaur).

Silly face with big eyes and tongue.

Catches toy rings on his legs. 

Floats and shares the tub with you!  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Purple Octopus

This Fish Can Swim

Wow, this fish apparently can swim in or out of water. 

Wherever it swims, it makes you look. 

Handsome little fish!

That spike in its bottom looks like it must hurt a little. 

But this fish is not for catching and eating, but for looking at only.  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy blumenthal)

This Fish Can Swim

The Beauty of Women

Great artistic depiction of the beauty of women. 

Simple yet elegant. 

Mysterious yet familiar. 

Intense yet tender and caring. 

Thoughtful yet expressive. 

Dark yet full of light. 

Natural yet sensual. 

Fantasy yet reality. 

A best friend, a partner, a lover.

Together a home.  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

The Beauty of Women

Royalty On An Elephant

Wow, this is so regal. 

This princess in a beautiful overflowing pink gown. 

Riding on a golden throne on the back of an huge elephant. 

The elephant with white tusks is covered in royal red robes with a blue, green, and orange emblem of a serpent. 

Fairy tale maybe, but this seems so real to me. 

I want to wave and jump up and down and say, "your majesty!"  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Royalty On An Elephant

The ICC: Latest Salvo In The War Against Israel

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel, called "The ICC: Latest Salvo In The War Against Israel."

From Palestinian riots to revolts, from Palestinians engaging in a civil war against Jews to the Arab League nation-states waging an all-out war against Israel, from Palestinian organized terrorism to raging intifadas, from the Palestinians driving United Nations resolutions to International Criminal Court investigations of Israel, the Palestinians are waging an endless war against Israel, rejecting numerous offers of peace for their people’s autonomy and self-determination.

Through never-ending Palestinian rejection of one peace proposal after another, and instead choosing to have “all or nothing” of Palestine, the Palestinians have embraced armed and violent struggle as well as economic, political, and judicial warfare against Israel. Unfortunately, the Jewish people will need to continue in their ultimate struggle for survival. After 2,000 years of Jewish exile, and suffering under incessant persecution, inquisitions, expulsions, pogroms, the Holocaust, even now with the State of Israel, the one Jewish homeland and our refuge, the attacks continue against us from Palestinians choosing to wage an endless, bitter war instead of looking to make a lasting, beautiful peace.

(Credit Photo: Pixabay Free Images)

The ICC: Latest Salvo In The War Against Israel

Artful Window

This is a special window.

Blue and white flowers around it. 

Surprised no one thought of that before. 

A window isn't just to look out of from inside, but also decor to marvel at from the outside. 

Windows work two-ways!  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Artful Window

Cycling In Multicolor

Something about this drawing at a local kosher restaurant really stood out. 

The weird cycle with the exaggerated extra big wheel in front.

The crazy looking skinny bodied person with long arms and legs and wild hair sitting on top.

The bright green, blue, orange, and yellow colors. 

It just made me laugh at the whole thing. 

It's not exactly art, but it sort of is.  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Cycling In Multicolor

Lots of Lenses

Wow, each of these are different eyeglass lenses. 

So many prescription strengths. 

Trial and error to figure out what is the right one. 

Hold it up to your eye or flip it into the machine. 

How's things looking now?

A little stronger, no a little weaker. 

Wait, stronger.

No, weaker.

Ah this is nuts. 

How can I even see what the heck I am choosing. 

Seeing is believing.  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Lots of Lenses

Incredible Horses and Wagon

Wow, thought this was an incredible horses and wagon. 

I love how the artist raised the path, so you could see the difficulty of traveling like this. 

And the sculpture is so intricate and detailed. 

Truly lifelike and makes you feel the times. 

In the Wild West, like in the "Old Country" people kept chugging along, even when life was difficult and often miserable. 

Not sure how they did it. ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Incredible Horses and Wagon

It’s Never About Luck

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called, "It’s Never About Luck."

Today is Purim, when we celebrate the Jewish victory over the evil Haman and his conspiracy to annihilate the Jews in the Persian Empire. Haman drew a lottery to determine what he thought was a fortuitous day, the 13th of Adar, to murder the Jewish people and pursued this plot through a decree by King Achashverosh. But as we know, G-d made miracles through Queen Esther and her uncle Mordechai, and Haman and his ten sons ended hanging by the noose that he built for Mordechai. 

This has been my personal experience as well, as I can see both now and in 20/20 hindsight that there is a definite Divine method and not just a world of random chance and madness.

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

It’s Never About Luck

Teach Me To Fish

This photo is perfect with the quote: 

Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime. 

Please G-d, we should all learn to fish and pay it forward to others to teach them as well.  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Teach Me To Fish