Chess Blowing Away

(Credit Photo: Dossy Blumenthal)

Chess Blowing Away

Believe in Yourself

(Credit Photo: Dossy Blumenthal)

Believe in Yourself

A Bissel Humor

 
Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "A Bissel Humor."

In short, sometimes Jews can be so serious (and even a little miserable from circumstance, of course), and we can't always afford good therapy, so we use humor to cope and get along.

One of life's great lessons is to use words to make people happy and laugh whenever you can, to raise their spirits, your own, and even give the Almighty a good laugh or two as well.

(Credit Photo: cottonbro studio via https://www.pexels.com/photo/happy-couple-in-candlelight-4038287/)

A Bissel Humor

Lagerfeld + Garfield Luggage

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Lagerfeld + Garfield Luggage

Auto Mechanic Pieces

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Auto Mechanic Pieces

Woman and Dog

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Woman and Dog

Toy Porsche Dealership

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Toy Porsche Dealership

Red Porsche on Lift

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Red Porsche on Lift

Last Chance Sale!

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Last Chance Sale!

This is So Not a Way to Become a Jewish Woman

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "This is So Not a Way to Become a Jewish Woman."

I'm sure many of us have seen the new hit Adam Sandler movie, You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah, and probably most people will tell you it's a great movie.

To be fair, I believe that Adam Sandler did not mean badly with this movie in that it did show him trying to get the often out-of-control teenagers back on track. It was also nice to see that Stacy was ultimately a good person and friend. However, this Hollywood-ized version of a bat mitzvah and Jewish culture is clearly made for profit and not with a Jewish moral compass in mind and soul.

(Credit Photo: Dossy Blumenthal)

 

This is So Not a Way to Become a Jewish Woman

Lego Monster

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Lego Monster

AWS, It's Not Just a Pillow

 

(Credit Photo: Dannielle Blumenthal)
 

AWS, It's Not Just a Pillow

In Case of Fire, Which Do I Pull?

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

In Case of Fire, Which Do I Pull?

The Trader Joe's Bell

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

The Trader Joe's Bell

Play It Sam

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Play It Sam

Japanese Superhero

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Japanese Superhero

10 War Strategies for Peace

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "10 War Strategies for Peace."

Of course, we may not win every battle, but we need to make sure that we win the war. Strategy and tactics, along with plenty of investment, planning, technology, training, and execution, are the way to win. 

Ultimately, peace is the goal, but to get there, we must be ever vigilant, smart, and strong, and maintain our faith in the Almighty.

(Photo via https://www.army.mil/article/247350/fort_leonard_wood_examines_wwii_ghost_army_deception_tactics)

10 War Strategies for Peace

Hot Chili Peppers

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Hot Chili Peppers

"Feeding Time at the Zoo"?

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

"Feeding Time at the Zoo"?

Fossil Dinosaur

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Fossil Dinosaur

Love Boards

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Love Boards

Monster School Bus

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Monster School Bus

Bicycle for 3

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Bicycle for 3

Lessons in Life and Menschlichkeit

 
Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "Lessons in Life and Meschlichkeit."

From all the various people I've had a chance to meet, I have found that it's not how much of a big shot someone is, how smart they think they are, or how much money they have in the bank, but the humility and humanity of good, decent, hardworking people out there that often have the most important lessons of life to share.

(Credit Photo: makamuki0 via https://pixabay.com/photos/hairdressing-barbershop-barber-2142482/)

Lessons in Life and Menschlichkeit

What If Everyone Could See Your Thoughts?

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

What If Everyone Could See Your Thoughts?

Hey There!

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Hey There!

Herd Mentality

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Herd Mentality

Show Me

 

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Show Me

Dark Tunnel to Where?

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Dark Tunnel to Where?

Fancy Shoelaces

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Fancy Shoelaces

Not By Strength Alone

 
Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "Not By Strength Alone."

For Israelis and Jews around the world, success includes being powerful enough to defend ourselves from no longer being every demagogue and dictator's scapegoat, but much more than that, it means that we become a true "light unto nations." We want to be a democracy anchored in freedom and human rights. We also want to be a "Jewish State" (it's the only one in the world!) that is a haven for every Jew to come home to and that is culturally and religiously Jewish (but not a Jewish dictatorship). Israel will not survive by strength alone but rather by the spirit of Hashem (Zechariah 4:6). And so our values are to follow in G-d's path and do good in the world, fix what's broken, and make it a better place, and that includes, as the prophet Isaiah said, "beating their swords into plowshares." Moreover, we understand that G-d is not only the creator but also the perpetual master of the universe, and it is He who decides whether Israel behaves righteously and ultimately whether she will merit to stand for the duration this time and, hopefully, the final time.

(Photo: Alexi Rosenfeld, IDF/Creative Commons via https://israelradar.com/israels-3-new-tricks-for-gaza-war-with-hamas/)

Not By Strength Alone

Colorful Tapestry of People

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Colorful Tapestry of People

Doing My Job

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
 

Doing My Job

His and Hers

(Credit Photo: Dossy Blumenthal)
 

His and Hers

Cap'N Crunch Chicken Schnitzel

Sweet, crunchy, soft, and moist.

Now that's good chicken!  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Cap'N Crunch Chicken Schnitzel

Who Says This Water Isn't Polluted?

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
 

Who Says This Water Isn't Polluted?

Big Wheels

How the heck do you get on/off?  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Big Wheels

Two Ways to Make Someone Feel Worthless

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "Two Ways to Make Someone Feel Worthless."

Actions may be bad, but most people aren't inherently bad, and no one deserves to be verbally, emotionally, or physically abused or treated by society with abject indifference. This is especially the case when it comes to helpless children, no one—whether parents, teachers, bullies, etc.—should be abusive to them. Children need safe, nurturing, and loving people and the environment around them that enable them to learn and grow to be the best people that they can be without being put down for mistakes they make, limitations they may have, or just being flawed human beings as we all are. Similarly, adults and workers should not be mistreated just because they are on your dime and can be. They have an inherent right to equality and to be treated with respect and dignity. There are no dumb questions or stupid mistakes when a person is trying their best.

 
(Credit Photo: RDNE Stock project via https://www.pexels.com/photo/scared-man-on-the-wooden-floor-6003316/)

Two Ways to Make Someone Feel Worthless

Shabbat Shalom Flower

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Shabbat Shalom Flower

Back Side Up Fire Engine

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Back Side Up Fire Engine

In The Quiet Hours

I put this quote away in my files probably more than 30 years ago.

Maybe one of the most important sayings ever.  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

In The Quiet Hours

Organized Oil

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Organized Oil

Power Chocolates

Chocolate for every occasion.  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Power Chocolates

Unlucky Car

Driver Okay.

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Unlucky Car

We're Not Prepared

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "We're Not Prepared."

Whether it is our inability to imagine what can happen, our disbelief in it actually occurring, or our ineffectiveness or corruption to really prepare, we may be in serious peril from future threats that invariably await us. When that earthquake that we know is overdue hits the west coast hard, or a nuclear ICBM from North Korea or Iran hits somewhere in our mainland, or the next bio-weapon from China strikes our masses, or Russia cripples our satellites and Internet with one of their hidden Trojans or a zero-day cyber-attack, we can all shake our heads in utter disbelief again at how unprepared we are for the "next one."

Certainly, no one is invulnerable to tragedy, no preparation will ever be perfect, and we can never get everything right in responding to and recovering when disaster strikes, but if we don't stop the endless denial and infighting, allocate our limited resources with foresight and good cause, and make a determined and continued effort to get ready for what we know with virtual certainty looms large and threatens us, then we are unfortunately complicit in the tragic downfall that awaits.

(Credit Photo: Hitesh Choudhary via https://www.pexels.com/photo/man-pouring-water-from-dipper-on-blue-and-grey-house-1739855/)

We're Not Prepared

Orange Monster

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Orange Monster

Tisha B'Av: Remembering The Fallen Temple

Please G-d, the 3rd Temple soon and in our times!  

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Tisha B'Av: Remembering The Fallen Temple

Shopping Carts Reversal

 (Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Shopping Carts Reversal

Candle Holders

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Candle Holders

Bottled Ice Water

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Bottled Ice Water

Teaching Cartwheels

(Credit Video: Andy Blumenthal)

Teaching Cartwheels