March 11, 2017
Purim Prayer
It commemorates when the Jews where saved from Destruction by the Persian Empire and the evil Haman as told in the Megillah Esther.
So on Purim, we dress up and make fun and it this vein of humor that I post this sign about religions of the world.
- Taoism: Sh*t happens.
- Buddhism: If sh*t happens, it really isn't sh*t.
- Hinduism: This sh*t has happened before.
- Islam: If sh*t happens, it is the will of Allah.
- Catholicism: Sh*t happens because you deserve it.
- Protestantism: Work harder or sh*t will happen.
- Judaism: Why does this sh*t always happen to us?
It's funny how each religion of the world has a perspective on life.
Are we all so really different?
Maybe we have more in common than not.
The hope and prayer is that the true evil Hamans out there utterly perish, and that for all good and decent people--whatever your religion and perspective in this world--may we all get along as loving brothers and sisters, and let there be true peace for all of us! ;-)
(Source Photo: here with attribution to RamblingsDC)
March 10, 2017
Does Unwanted Justify Murder?
"An unwanted fetus would support a woman's right to choose"
This means that a baby who isn't wanted potentially grows up to be abused and would rather not have been born.
However, can anyone really say this with a completely straight face?
Sure, some types of abuse can be so terrible that perhaps death is preferable.
But other times, unwanted children become loved or at least accepted children or otherwise make great things out of their lives!
And parents who didn't think at the time that they could do handle a child, find that they adapt or mature, and are better parents than they even expected.
Unwanted for an unborn baby shouldn't necessarily mean an abortion anymore than any other unwanted person in your life should mean that you can just terminate them.
We aren't G-d and we can't just get rid of people we don't like or want.
If that was indeed the case, there probably wouldn't be many of us left in the world.
Of course, there should be exceptions for abortion in cases of rape, incest, severe birth defects, or a clear and present danger to the life of the mother or child.
Otherwise, a life is a life, and a fetus is a person with a soul like any other from the Maker of heaven and earth. ;-)
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
March 9, 2017
Who Are The Real Animals
It's people!
If you can stomach it, watch this graphic video of elephant taming.
The elephant is caged, chained, poked, prodded, beaten, spiked in all the sensitive areas.
It is tortured and left with festering sores and then made to do sickening slave labor.
While animals generally kill for food, people abuse, torture and kill for profit and maniacal enjoyment.
Sometimes, we wonder why G-d punishes the world.
But look at how the world behaves.
Is there no heart or soul in some people?
G-d forgive us for our sins and evil inclinations, and have mercy, and make your people better than this, much better. ;-)
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
March 8, 2017
Women's War
But this guy was protesting something else.
WAR.
"War is chaos, War is lawlessNot sure how he connects this all up with women's rights at the end, but might as well try, right?
War ignores our civil rights
Land it poison and our rivers
War inspires both rape and murder
Death of children go uncounted
War betrays all Women's Rights"
For women to have the rights that they should, they need to fight the good fight too.
That type of war does not betray them, but bolsters their cause.
Everyone who has been abused, enslaved, and discriminated against needs to free themselves of the shackles of oppression.
What we do know is that "war is hell!"
And certainly war is an option of last resort.
At the same time, war can restore the peace and right the wrongs of despots and tyranny and violence and persecution.
War is something to be feared and avoided, until it can't.
At which time, hell on earth is released, so hopefully peace can ultimately prevail once again.
In war, everyone loses, but with the hope that at the end, good wins!
For woman, today is also the continuance of that war and fight for equality, respect, and proper treatment in every way they completely deserve.
That's a war worth fighting for. ;-)
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
March 7, 2017
Is Man An Angel Or Beast?
On one hand, we see small and great acts of love, kindness and generosity.
People feeding the hungry, housing the homeless, donating clothes to the poverty-stricken, and standing up to defend those that are abused, discriminated against, and victimized.
Every day is an opportunity to be a gracious, heavenly angel!
At the same time, we are witness to horrible acts of hate, cruelty and inhumanity.
The strong preying off and committing gross acts of violence against the weak, the rich elitists taking from the poor lower-class, the powerful violating the human rights of the masses and ruling with a brutal iron fist.
Every day is the possibility to act the vicious, lowly beast!
It's a choice as we stand here teetering on the world we are injected into.
The angel and the beast fight within us.
Our souls yearn to emulate the spirit of our Holy Creator, while our bodies look for raw physical and material satisfaction.
It is truly a battle that rages within us, and can tear any or all of us apart.
Yet, our mission is for good to overcome evil--in everyday small and large ways.
To fight the urges that torment us and to rise, rise, with the wings of an angel to reach our potential and fulfill our destiny. ;-)
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
March 6, 2017
Respect The Disabled
People were switching trains in downtown D.C.
Getting off from one train and going up the escalator to catch another.
Every night people literally race up the escalator to catch their next ride.
Some pushing their way on past the laggards.
Others yelling for the people in front to "move it!"
Tonight, there was someone riding up the escalator on a wheelchair and holding unto to both sides to keep the chair from tipping over or literally rolling down backwards.
(Usually the people in wheelchairs take the elevator and this was the first time I saw someone on the escalator riding it like this.)
So while I was expecting the people to start acting up on the escalator, running for the train on the platform.
Instead, when they got to the wheelchair, they stopped and silently rode up with deep respect for the person holding himself steady.
There wasn't a peep or a shove.
I could see people missing their train, but they were thankful for their health and respectful of the man in the wheelchair.
Honestly, I was pleasantly surprised and proud that there is still some human decency out there and that is cause for hope. ;-)
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
March 5, 2017
Polarized and Not Going To Take It Anymore
In the polarized mood of the nation, this has never been more true.
The alt-left and alt-right are stronger than ever and pointing fingers and fists at one another.
Each side, the ultra -liberals and -conservatives are duking it out over who is is going on the offensive today.
Only to be outmaneuvered the very next day and be placed back on the defensive.
Who communicated with the Russians today?
Who used their private email today?
Who committed perjury and lied under oath today?
Who was offensive and even violent at rallies and protests today?
And on and on...
You're either on offense or your stuck on defense!
And the more polarized and hateful of each other this nation has become, including in the media, the more the outrageous the accusations and the more alternate facts and fake news.
But what I learned today is that this doesn't just apply to politics.
Religion is another prime source for discrimination and hate of your fellow man.
I remember learning that over history, more people have died in wars in the name of religion than for any other reason.
So too today, the "crazy-hard line" ultra religious and the "throw-it-all away" irreligious are just as polarized.
The religious mock the irreligious as self-haters and atheists and the irreligious make fun of the rightwing religious as abusive and robotic.
Moreover, any disagreement results in insults and loathing over who is morally superior.
Of course, everyone cites sources and authorities to show why their position is the correct one and everyone else is wrong about religion and G-d.
Attack, defend, attack, defend.
No wonder nothing is getting constructively done.
No wonder children are confused.
No wonder those around us laugh at our seeming inability to come together, all as G-d's wonderful creatures.
Who will be on the attack today and who will be on defense.
If only we could have a panini instead of all this anger, hate, extremism, and rejectionist bias toward our fellow man. ;-)
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
March 4, 2017
Kosher Trust Or Not
The Rabbi is having a Purim open house and he invited everyone to bring a pot luck.
"Only home-made food, no purchased food please!"
In Jewish circles, this is the opposite of what you'd expect, where checking the kosher labels and symbols is critical to ensuring the food has followed the strict kosher dietary laws and can be eaten.
Yet as pointed out, kashrut has been made into a whole commercial business these days...does it still reflect the intent?
The Rabbi explained in services today, in a very well received way, that we need to get back to respecting and trusting each other.
That these values are essential to being truly religious people.
It was a wonderful speech in that it evoked unconditional acceptance and respect for everyone.
As we know, no one is so perfect, even though the goal of course is to be as perfect as we can be.
So two things:
1) I really like the notion of treating people well and putting that high on the priorities as we are all G-d's creatures.
2) I myself am kosher, but not fanatically so, therefore, I personally appreciated the acceptance and love in the community.
Yet, after I got home, and thinking about this some more, and despite my own failings religiously and otherwise, I asked myself, "Am I really comfortable eating from a parve and meat community pot luck?"
And even as I ask this question, I am sort of squirming at the idea of just eating anyone's food--and not knowing anything about it.
How am I doing due diligence in even trying to keep kosher like that?
While maybe I'm not the most kosher of everyone, it certainly is important to me to at least try (to some extent), but I ask myself can this be considered really even trying--when some people aren't religious, may not have a strong religious education, and perhaps some may not even be (fully) Jewish?
Sure, someone can even have the best intentions and try to bring kosher food, yet it's certainly possible that the food may not be kosher.
Perhaps, in prior times, it was an issue of more or less kosher, but these days, it can be an issue of kosher or not kosher at all.
This is a very difficult issue--because we can't put people up against the law--we must by necessity respect both.
So yes, I love the idea of respecting everyone and that's a given assuming they are good, decent people, but trust is not something you just have, it's something you earn, by...being trustful!
I'm not one to preach religion to anyone...I struggle myself with the laws and in trying to do what's right in the commandments between man and G-d.
And while I am ready to accept all good and loving people, I am perhaps not ready to just trust them without knowing that the trust is dutiful.
Love thy neighbor as thyself is paramount, but also we have a duty to G-d to try to fulfill his commandments the best we can. ;-)
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
March 3, 2017
The UNITED States of America
I really liked this amazing American flag.
Instead of stars, it has the abbreviations for all 50 states.
Imagine what we can accomplish if we all learn to love each other and band together again.
And know for sure what will happen it this hate and infighting continues.
Unfortunately, there seems to be selfish forces of corruption and evil at play.
Put the country first.
By all means disagree and constructively criticize.
Influence things for the good.
Work together and solve problems.
And let's try to be the UNITED States once again!
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
March 2, 2017
Culture Intersects With Preparedness
It builds off of the #1, hit TV show, The Walking Dead that films in Atlanta where the CDC is.
The show is about a zombie apocalypse and the story of how people survive (or not) amidst a global pandemic and the murderous awakened dead that feast off of the living.
Here's a link with what the CDC recommends you have in an emergency preparedness kit.
The CDC also has a comic book with a zombie outbreak theme that further drives home the importance of a preparedness kit and what to have in it.
I think it's great when government thinks outside-the-box in ways that appeal to everyday citizens to serve them, help them, and especially keep them safe from disasters.
(Source Photo: here with attribution to CDC)
March 1, 2017
Beautiful Bartholdi Fountain
This statue and fountain sits between the U.S. Botanic Gardens, the American Veterans Disabled For Life Memorial, the Rayburn House Office Building, and the Department of Health and Human Services (in the background).
French sculptor, Frederic Auguste Bartholdi, who designed this amazing fountain, is the same artist who made the Statue of Liberty.
This 30 feet tall, 15-ton, cast-iron statue sits marvelously at the base of Capitol Hill.
Next to the American Flag, this stands out as another shining symbol of our democracy, liberty, and national strength.
If as a nation we can once again unify, emulating the 3 women figures who are together holding up the massive fountain bowl over their heads, we too can accomplish great feats for the American people and our nation. ;-)
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
February 28, 2017
U.S. National Demise From Political and Media Extremism
When politics
When media becomes propaganda, this country is in serious trouble.
We are so busy telling each other what "the truth" is that nothing is getting done.
While Russia, China, Iran, North Korea, and radical Islamist terrorists increase in strength and bravado, we are fighting one another here at home.
As more people in the U.S. gravitate to the extremes--alt-left and alt-right--lines in sand are drawn between us, while the red lines defending our common interests are eviscerated.
Self-destructing from within, while we outwardly spend $600 billion on defense--34% of that of the entire world!
No strategy or weapons can defend us, when fake news and alternate facts and hatred of one another is at our present-day core.
Tearing us apart, the endless hateful calls of:
- "Not my President"
- "Resistance and persistence"
- "Love Trumps Hate"
- "Deplorables, Nazis, Communists!"
The political extremists and their media henchmen are leading the charge to America's downfall and possible doomsday.
Unless we, the American people, can moderate and unify and love each other again.
We must before our enemies take advantage of our inner divisiveness and weakness.
If we don't come to our common senses, then we may very well pay a most heavy price in our persons, property, and freedom that we all so cherish and value. ;-)
February 27, 2017
Courage To Do The Right Thing
It's the easy way out to shut your eyes and overlook when things are wrong.
Taking a stand and standing up for what's right often means fighting the good fight.
But who wants to fight?
Everyone wants to live in peace and quiet.
In fact, every day we pray repeatedly in the Amidah for peace
In the 19th prayer...
May it please you to bless your people Israel at all times and in every hour with your peace. Blessed are you, O Lord, who blesses his people Israel with peace.
Then again after the prayer for thanks...
Bestow peace, goodness and blessing, life, graciousness, kindness and mercy, upon us and upon all Your people Israel...May it be favorable in Your eyes to bless Your people Israel, at all times and at every moment, with Your peace.And yet a third time at the end...
He who makes peace in His heavens, may He make peace for us and for all Israel; and say, Amen.What can be more desired than peace and wellness in our lives?
Yet, when we see corruption, wrongdoing, and evil, people are called on the confront it, and stand up for good.
Because when evil prevails, there is no real peace in the world.
Hence, the courageous and righteous are called on to stand up based on integrity, merit, and values, and to work to return a state of justice and peace.
G-d watches to see to it that good ultimately prevails over evil.
May He who makes peace, make peace for us and all Israel, and let us say Amen. ;-)
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
February 26, 2017
Thank You Chaplain Berning
The board allows hospital patients who are intubated or otherwise can't talk to communicate their spiritual health and needs.
The top part allows the person to say what religion they are.
The bottom left, are choices for how they feel from afraid and lonely, to nervous, helpless, and hopeless, and even to identify on a scale of 0 to 10, the level of their spiritual pain.
And on the bottom right, they can point to ask for spiritual help... from a prayer, song, or blessing to talk with me, sit with me, get my family or hold my hand.
While hospitals have traditionally been focused on getting a person, with G-d's help, physically healthy again, it is wonderful to see people, like Chaplain Berning looking after the spiritual side of patients wellness and health as well.
To heal, people don't just need surgeries and medicines, but they need to deal with all the emotions and pain surrounding their condition and their challenging life situations, and this is something that spiritual caregivers can make a huge difference with.
The health of the soul and the body are linked in more ways than one. ;-)
(Source Photo: here with attribution to Chaplain Berning)
Entering The Oculus Rift Matrix
Using Oculus Rift and climbing this mountain...
I've got to say how incredibly fabulioso this was!
It is absolutely an immersive and real experience.
When I looked over the side of the mountain and down at the water and "realized" how far up I was, I was freakin out.
My feet were grabbing the floor like I was about to fall off the mountain and then I eventually did.
This is the next big thing!
You can literally be anywhere and doing anything with this technology.
The real world is not there.
And now I believe more than ever, that just like we enter the virtual reality body and start to move around and interact in that make-believe world, so too our soul enters our human bodies and we are present in this material existence to experience the worldly wonders all around us.
But like the virtual world, this earthly world is the playground for our earthly bodies are just a temporary vessel for us to face challenges, learn, and grow.
When the time is up, our souls depart our bodies and return to its maker, just like when the virtual reality game is over and we are back here.
G-d is the greatest game-maker of them all, and we are copycats in every sense of the word.
The body is the vessel, and the soul is the essence. ;-)
(Source Video: Dannielle Blumenthal)
February 25, 2017
The Trouble With Our Security
And perhaps, we fear war more than we desire true peace.
This was a photo from Summer 2015 when the Pope was in DC.
And despite a "massive" security apparatus set up to protect the Pope, the "largest security operation in U.S. history"...
Check out this photo of a colleague who was able to literally run up to the Fiat car where you can see the Pope waving from.
Our security is full of holes--if this guy had a gun, molotov cocktail, or bomb then the top Christian leader in the world could've been taken out, just across the street from the U.S. State Department.
As a democracy, we value openness and freedom to say what we want, do what we want, protest what we want, carry guns as we want, but when is open too open?
Again, whether it comes to cybersecurity or physical security, unless we start to get serious about what massive and large security really means, it is just a matter of time before something really terrible happens, G-d forbid.
We've got to do a better job balancing security and openness.
No one should be getting right up to the Pope's car like this!
No one should be smashing windows, burning cars, and attacking police and pedestrians in Washington, DC or anywhere.
No one should be buzzing our battleships and jets!
No one should be hacking into our sensitive cyber systems, taking down and crippling them and stealing our secrets!
No one should be recruiting, plotting, and carrying out increasing and devastating terrorist attacks right under our noses in this country or elsewhere.
No one should be using chemical weapons around our red lines in population centers or in airports!
No one (Iran, North Korea, Russia) should be developing, testing, and aiming nuclear ballistic missiles at the West!
It is time to rethink our security posture...it is past time. ;-)
(Source Photo: A Colleague)
February 24, 2017
The Trouble With Communication
There is a deaf guy trying to communicate with a blind guy.
Boy, this is a real conundrum.
The deaf guy communicates with sign language that the blind guy can't see.
And the blind guy communicates by talking which the deaf guy can't hear.
So neither are getting any messaging across.
This is sort of like every day life, where people communicate talking past each other.
Each may only be concerned with what they feel, think, and have to say.
They don't really care to listen or understand the other person.
It like the blind and deaf guy communicating and neither can hear the other.
Most importantly, we need to put ourselves in the other person's shoes.
To think from their perspectives, and to communicate having in mind to fulfill for the other person--what's in it for me (WIIFM).
In Judaism, their is an important teaching that each person is an entire world unto themselves.
We need to be sensitive to their world and speak our mind, but definitely in their language. ;-)
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
February 23, 2017
No Smartphone, No Life
If our enemies strike our communications networks, we are as good as dead.
Can you imagine the panic and chaos that would ensue?
Cut off from family, friends, and colleagues.
Unable to get unto the Internet!
No eCommerce.
No online Banking.
No social networking.
No easily and readily available information.
No online music, videos, or gaming.
No online (fake) news.
As you see in the photo, under the smashed smartphone...it says, "Disaster"!
We wouldn't know what to do with ourselves.
And we wouldn't know how to conduct ourselves by ourself.
We are completely dependent on mobile communications and connectivity to each other.
Without, we wither and die.
And G-d created the marvels of the Heaven and Earth in 6 days.
But we have become so tethered and dependent on our technology, we are toast in just a split second.
If we don't get serious about cybersecurity, and fast, there is going to be hell on Earth to pay.
And not a single shot needs to be fired. ;-)
(Source Photo: Rebecca Blumenthal)
February 22, 2017
Pardon Elor Azaria
And the purpose is to ask for the kind consideration of a pardon for Israeli Soldier, Elor Azaria.
Elor has been sentenced to 18 months in prison for killing a terrorist that had stabbed an Israeli soldier last year.
The terrorist had already been incapacitated and lay on the road when Elor, just aged 19, fired the final shot to the terrorist's head.
While I certainly don't condone excessive use of force, I think it is important to take into consideration the context of the times when this happened, which was virtual daily terrorist attacks, including stabbings, shootings, vehicle rammings, and homicide bombings across the country, and especially in and around the eternal capital, Jerusalem.
No one knows how to fight terrorism better than Israel, which has suffered since it's founding in 1948 by enemies who have sought its destruction and throwing it's entire populace--dead or alive--into the Mediterranean Sea.
The IDF soldiers who defend the people and country are heroes not only to Israelis, but to all of us around the world who support the Holy Land, and especially the establishment of a homeland for Jews, 70 years after the Holocaust wiped out 6,000,000 Jewish men, women, and children.
As Jewish people, we follow the Torah's commandments and pride ourselves on the adherence to the highest standards of morality, in all situations.
Yet even as we cling to the strictest of moral compasses, G-d commands us to "utterly wipe out Amalek," and the oral law teaches us the general dictum that "If someone comes to kill you, rise up and kill him first."
The IDF is known as one of the most humane armies in the world, despite the circumstances where they are literally fighting for their existential survival every day.
While perhaps, we can sit in judgement and exclaim that Elor should not have taken that fateful shot that day, surely under the circumstances of the time, we can understand why he would want to fully neutralize the enemy, who very possibly could've been hiding explosives for a suicide bombing, which are common terrorist tactics that Israelis have suffered more than their share of.
Growing up, I remember many of the major Israeli wars as well as the Intifada, wars of attrition--and throughout, we around the world worried most anxiously, prayed to the L-rd for his mercy, and gave charity as the dead and wounded piled high to the point where basically every Israeli family has been personally and profoundly impacted.
For a year now, Elor has suffered through the courts and the press and has also been demoted to a private...he has suffered enough in defense of his people.
Yes even terrorists have rights, but we must remember that the victims must have more rights, and the IDF need to be given the benefit of the doubt in their self defense and the latitude to do their most difficult of jobs defending the people of the Promised Land and by extension all people of faith.
If we don't defend the defenders, then in essence we are aiding the terrorists and those that seek our own destruction.
I ask for the sake of people all over the world under attack by the wave of global hate and terrorism that Elor be pardoned, so that we uphold the IDF in the highest esteem and with the utmost gratitude for protecting us from the true evil that targets and threatens all of us. ;-)
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
February 21, 2017
Naked Sitting
This "Big Man" is just sitting in the corner at the top of the escalator.
Sitting naked and looking deep in thought and down on his luck.
In a sense, as we sit or stand in front of our Maker, we are all naked bearing witness to our transgressions and trespasses.
What are we to do when we give in to weakness?
We see people looking around and hoping no one is seeing them as they try to get away with doing the wrong thing.
But as my Oma (grandmother) used to say in German to me:
"Liebe Gott sieht alles"
Almighty G-d sees everything!
Our souls, and the souls of those that came before us, and those that will come after us, are all around us, without limitation to time or space.
Our nakedness is revealed no matter what we use to try to cover up with.
Hunched in the corner, we don't really know what to do, but to try to do better with each and every next time.
We have opportunities to right the wrongs, if we get up and exert self control and overcome our mortal and character weaknesses.
Then our nakedness won't be foul in sight and smell, but will be radiant, with our spirits having risen to the occasion of what we can be as the children of G-d. ;-)
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
February 20, 2017
Sephardic Concert
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