Tisha B’Av: Will the Darkness Ever End?

 
Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "Tisha B'Av: Will the Darkness Ever End."

Tisha B’Av, the ninth day of the Hebrew month of Av, is the most solemn day of Jewish mourning, commemorating a series of tragic historical events—including the destruction of the First and Second Temples and other calamities—that symbolize both profound physical loss and spiritual rupture. Despite this darkness, tradition holds hope through the promise of the Mashiach’s birth on this day and the eventual rebuilding of the Temple. Recent tragedies like the October 7, 2023 attack and rising global antisemitism remind us of ongoing challenges, but faith, kindness, and prayer sustain the Jewish people, empowering them to be active participants in redemption. Miracles continue to unfold with the return to sovereignty in Israel, and the day will one day transform from mourning into celebration.

(AI generated image via Gemini)

Tisha B’Av: Will the Darkness Ever End?

Old Time Wagon

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Old Time Wagon

Rubicon Coming Out of The Frame

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Rubicon Coming Out of The Frame

Lion Elephant

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Lion Elephant

Cat on Rock

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Cat on Rock

Driving Dummies

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Driving Dummies

Israel's Imperative: A Swift and Successful Finish

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "Israel's Imperative: A Swift and Successful Finish."

Confronting Hamas’s dual threats requires unwavering transparency and resolve. Israel must accomplish the near-impossible task of winning its military objectives and freeing all hostages, while minimizing the duration of the conflict to deprive Hamas of its propaganda weaponry. Only by acting swiftly and decisively can Israel break the destructive cycle of violence, victimhood narratives, and delegitimization, safeguarding its future and securing lasting peace and dignity for its people.

(AI generated image via Gemini)

Israel's Imperative: A Swift and Successful Finish

Dancing Chassidim

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Dancing Chassidim

Bart Takes His Best Shot

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
 

Bart Takes His Best Shot

Candle App

Candle App

Street Food NYC

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Street Food NYC

Echoes Across Realities: The Soul’s Journey

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "Echoes Across Realities: The Soul's Journey."

The concept of multiple realities, embraced by both scientific theory and imaginative storytelling, proposes that countless alternate histories unfold from pivotal moments, each yielding distinct outcomes. Personal experiences, such as vivid and inexplicable dreams, invite us to consider the existence of parallel worlds and deeper spiritual dimensions where our souls may journey. These experiences underscore how our free will—our choices to act for good or evil—intertwines with billions of others in a complex tapestry of cause and effect that only G‑d can fully comprehend and graciously guide. Ultimately, our actions carry profound significance, influencing not only this reality but countless others, revealing that the truths shaping our lives and the universe are far more expansive than we may realize.

(AI generated image via Gemini)

Echoes Across Realities: The Soul’s Journey

Puff The Magic Dragon

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Puff The Magic Dragon

Two Schmucks

Two Schmucks

Magnet Men

(Credit Photo: Minna Blumenthal)

Magnet Men

Am Yisrael Chai!

Am Yisrael Chai!

Farmers Market

(Credit Photo: Minna Blumenthal)
 

Farmers Market

Now Is the Time to Stand for Principle Over Political Party

(https://www.wsj.com/opinion/notable-quotable-we-are-a-big-tent-party-dnc-chairman-mamdani-c81f0f04)

Now Is the Time to Stand for Principle Over Political Party

Voting Against Ourselves

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "Voting Against Ourselves."

Despite rising antisemitism and mounting threats to Israel, a surprising number of American Jews continue to support political figures who criticize or undermine the Jewish state—often through double standards—and tolerate or excuse antisemitic rhetoric. This article explores both the political and psychological reasons behind this paradox, from progressive values and generational divides to identity struggles, assimilation, and intergenerational trauma. As attacks on Jews escalate across the U.S., the piece urges Jewish voters to reflect deeply on the implications of their choices—for their safety, their identity, and the future of Jewish life in America and Israel.

(AI generated image via Gemini) 

Voting Against Ourselves

Gang's All Here

 

Gang's All Here