Beautiful Asian Doors

Red metal doors.

Awesome Asian knockers. 

Lock and handle. 

Enter or not? ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Beautiful Asian Doors

Concrete Faith in a Flimsy Sukkah

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "Concrete Faith in a Flimsy Sukkah."

Jews place their faith in G-d rather than massive building structures, the strongest foundations, and incalculable amounts of concrete and rebar. Instead, we sit in the flimsy and temporary sukkah to remember that G-d is our ultimate stronghold.

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Concrete Faith in a Flimsy Sukkah

The Apocalypse

This truck is called "The Apocalypse."

It looked like it was ready for just about anything. 

What fun to drive and pretend your "Mad Max" 

Maybe you really are.  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Itzchak O.)

The Apocalypse

Putin on the Precipice

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "Putin on the Precipice."

Even though Yom Kippur has passed, as Jews, we always believe that there is time to walk back from the precipice. Thus, with the risk of "nuclear Armageddon" now the highest in sixty years since the Cuban Missile Crisis, there is no time for Putin to waste in ending this needless war in Ukraine and the proxy war with the West.

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Putin on the Precipice

Customer Service Don'ts

This mug is a definite Customer Service no-no! 

Feels like "Go Away and Come Back Never!" ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Customer Service Don'ts

Good Lookin' Strawberry Licorice

Spaghetti red strawberry licorice. 

Just like we had as kids. 

Yum yum!  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Good Lookin' Strawberry Licorice

Saying It Straight

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Saying It Straight

Worried About the Nukes?

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "Worried About the Nukes?"

So, while Ukraine has turned the tides and Russia is losing on the battlefield against highly determined Ukrainian troops fighting for their survival with high-tech Western smart weapons, Putin has drawn a line in the sand saying that Russia will never relinquish this land that they now consider part of Mother Russia itself. Thus, Putin has left zero room for negotiation or compromise. If the Ukrainian counterattacks continue to try to regain their land, and Russia has no viable military options left, then they will turn to weapons of mass destruction. Clearly, if Putin doesn’t use everything at his disposal to win (and win he must), then Russia as a superpower will be the true laughing stock of the world, and Putin himself will be toast!

(Source Photo: Source Photo: https://nuclearsecrecy.com/nukemap/)

Worried About the Nukes?

Can Love Be Blind?

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "Can Love Be Blind?"

As long as in this material world, the body hides the soul of the person, then love can never be fully blind because people cannot see the true brightness of the soul inside or realize the primacy of people's spiritual inner selves without getting distracted by the physical aspects of the person, including attraction (which as we all know fades over time) and, of course, class, race, and ethnicity. Yes, physical/chemical attraction is an important part of intimate relationships, but at the end of the day, it's what's inside that counts, not only in this world, but for our eternal being and purpose.

(Source Photo: https://www.pexels.com/photo/woman-holding-a-lantern-7789180/)

Can Love Be Blind?

Walking the Dog in the Ocean

This definitely helps so you don't need a pooper scooper.  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Walking the Dog in the Ocean

Wanted Nice Customers

Wouldn't that be great if we could just ask for nice customers.

And everyone else for that matter.  

Nice, nice, I said it twice!  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Wanted Nice Customers

It's A Donut

Donut Art 101. 

Roundish / Squarish.

Hole.

Frosting.

Sprinkles. 

Two Eyes for saying hello!  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
 

It's A Donut

Wall Flowers for Rosh Hashanah

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Wall Flowers for Rosh Hashanah

The Hypocrisy of False Repentance

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "The Hypocrisy of False Repentance."

We firmly believe that there is true Divine justice by the Almighty (even if not always by our court system), and that if we don’t do good and work at perfecting our deficiencies as is our purpose in Olam Hazeh (this world), then we will suffer the consequences in the World to Come.

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

The Hypocrisy of False Repentance

The Secret Sauce

I think I found where the secret sauce is made. ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

The Secret Sauce

Atypical Superman Hat

Pink hat on green background. 

Superman cloth.

Blue ribbon. 

Get a little attention or a lot!  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Atypical Superman Hat

Look Who's Riding The DC Trains

Good to know we have some additional protection for Gotham D.C.  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Look Who's Riding The DC Trains

Remembering the 2017 Riots in Washington, D.C.

Post former President Trump inauguration. 

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Remembering the 2017 Riots in Washington, D.C.

Good Ol' Fashion Ice Cream Truck

This guy has been doling out ice cream for 40 years!

That's a lot of ice cream and a lot of joy!  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Good Ol' Fashion Ice Cream Truck

Putin’s Diabolical End Game

 
Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "Putin's Diabolical End Game."

Russia, the iron-clawed bear, fights to win. They are used to using a scorched earth strategy whereby they destroy everything in their path, so that cities are literally flattened. In 2003, the UN declared Grozny the most destroyed city on earth after Russia got through pummeling it! In February 2022, Russia attempted to enter Ukraine with endless columns of tanks and armored fighting vehicles and a barrage of artillery, mortars, and missiles to try to do the same to them. But this time, Putin has made every mistake in the war-fighting book.

Facing defeat and humiliation with his back against the wall, what will Putin do next?

(Source Photo: https://www.pexels.com/photo/huge-cooling-towers-in-nuclear-power-plant-4460676/)

Putin’s Diabolical End Game

The Real Unreal

Check out these Candy-Coated Milk Chocolate Peanuts. 

They are "100% real Unreal" taste. 

Sort of like the "genuine artificial gold" that the swim instructor promised us in camp when we were kids. ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

The Real Unreal

One Mean Iron Man Mug

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

One Mean Iron Man Mug

Giant Build-A-Bear

This bear is life size. 

Is he waving or about to reach out and take a big bite?  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Giant Build-A-Bear

Announcing my Second Book: For the Love of Israel

With gratitude to Hashem, I am announcing my second published book, For the Love of Israel.

It is available on Amazon in Kindle, paperback, and hardcopy. 

Book description:

This book is about the incredible Jewish homeland of Israel. As the prophet Isaiah states (11:12), "He will raise a banner for the nations and gather the exiles of Israel; he will assemble the scattered people of Judah from the four quarters of the earth." This work is a reflection of my deep love and yearning for our Promised Land. This book is anchored in G-d's Biblical promise to the Jewish people for this amazing land, the decades of persecution culminating in the Holocaust that the Jews have endured, our miraculous national resurrection and return, the blossoming of the deserts and metamorphosis into a scientific, technological and military world power, and the hope and prayer for all us to be able to make Aliyah and for the completion of the Redemption and the coming of the Mashiach.

I hope you enjoy!

Andy

Announcing my Second Book: For the Love of Israel

Surviving Marriage Meshugas

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "Surviving Marriage Meshugas."

At the end of the day, like all things, marriage is partially what you make of it and how hard you work at it. Remember, bringing two people together, even two halves of the same whole, can be challenging and requires understanding and compromise.

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Surviving Marriage Meshugas

Bear Baskets

He/She Bear Baskets. 

You can put a happy face on almost anything!  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Bear Baskets

Dumb-Looking Chicken

This chicken has his hair on fire! 

Who would want to eat a dumb-looking chicken like that?  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Dumb-Looking Chicken

Basket of Towels

You got your towels.

You got your detergent.

Now do the freakin wash.  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Basket of Towels

Renaissance Festival 2022

Ring Toss for adults on horses.

Catching rings on lances (used for jousts) while on horseback, 

Not quite a gladiator type performance. ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal) 

Renaissance Festival 2022

Uh, No.

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Uh, No.

Finding Truth in a Topsy-Turvy World

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "Finding Truth in a Topsy-Turvy World." 

In terms of seeing the world and life clearly, you have a choice of how to live. You can choose to endlessly chase meaningless material things and the next physical high, or you can live your life with a deeper understanding that this world is just a corridor to the future world, where the “breath of life” from G-d returns to Him for everlasting revelation and reckoning.

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Finding Truth in a Topsy-Turvy World

Great Video on Happiness and The Rat Race

Great Video on Happiness and The Rat Race

Funny Thing To Put On A Kids Carpet

 

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Funny Thing To Put On A Kids Carpet

Hanging On The Kids Rides

Funny character in the back of the kids car ride.

Some people have great imaginations or does this creature really exist? ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
 

Hanging On The Kids Rides

Madness and The Soul

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "Madness and The Soul."

Whereas normally the soul guides and directs the body, in the case of mental illness, the soul becomes imprisoned in the body and mind that is sick. When this happens, a person reverts to their wholly animalistic nature, and hence, what we are seeing is like a car without a driver, accelerating and careening dangerously until, usually, a horrible accident and end.

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Madness and The Soul

Barrel of Cactus

 

Check out these barrel of cactus monkeys. 

Home Depot is getting a cool sense of humor.  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Barrel of Cactus

Announcing My First Book: On Judaism and Life

With gratitude to Hashem, I am announcing my first published book, On Judaism and Life. 

It is available on Amazon in Kindle, paperback, and hardcopy. 

Book description:

This book is about finding and connecting with G-d. As the prophet Jeremiah states (29:13), "You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart." This is my personal journey back to G-d and Judaism. It provides my life reflections, dreams, prayers, and hopes to strengthen my faith and trust in G-d by exploring a variety of the precious gems of Judaism and the Torah, reflecting on the diversity and strength of our people and culture, and longing for our nation and beautiful State of Israel and the completion of the final Redemption and bringing of the Mashiach. Please G-d, may it serve as inspiration for your journey as well.

I hope you enjoy!

Interview requests may be directed here.

Announcing My First Book: On Judaism and Life

Geoffrey The Giraffe

Toys R Us is coming back in Macy's.

Who would've thunk it?  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Geoffrey The Giraffe

7 & the Redemption

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "7 & the Redemption."

There can be no doubt that the long-awaited completion of our redemption and the coming of the Mashiach by the Jewish year 6,000 (the beginning of the seventh millennium) is established no less than the Shabbat, which is the seventh day of every week for us. The Shabbat, in fact, is considered a covenant between G-d and the Jewish people, and so too, according to Maimonides’ “13 Principles of Faith,” we trust in the coming of Mashiach.

(Credit Photo: Minna Blumenthal)

7 & the Redemption

Superhero Bedding!

Awesome Marvel superhero bedding. 

What kid isn't going to love this?  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Superhero Bedding!

Ain't That Cozy

That's some tuchus. 

Like two peas in a pod!  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Dossy Blumenthal)

Ain't That Cozy

7th For Shabbat

Six of the yellow leaves are for the workweek. 

And the seventh (bent over at the top) is separate for Shabbat. 

Even nature reminds us to keep G-d's commandments. ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

7th For Shabbat

Frog Parking

Funny sign in the park:

Frog Parking Only

All Others Will Be Toad 

I hope I don't get toad! ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
 

Frog Parking

Trader Joe's Pineapple Plant

Cool plants at Trader Joe's.

Each one with a pineapple at the top. 

Wonder how large these grow?  

Fun plants for the home. ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Trader Joe's Pineapple Plant

From Judaism with love

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "From Judaism with Love."

Civilizations’ notion of a perfect world comes not from classical Greek and Roman society — where art, architecture, beauty, government, philosophy, and empirical science emanated — but rather directly through Judaism (i.e., from Hashem).

One one hand, you have Greece and Rome with polytheism and paganism, where gods are in the image of man, beauty is holy, and morality is subjective and malleable. On the other hand, we have Judaism’s clear declaration of monotheism (with one omnipotent, benevolent, eternal, and invisible G-d), where man was created in the image of G-d, the holy is beautiful, and morality is objective and unchangeable. At the end of the day, there is no contest: G-d’s Torah, as transmitted through the Jewish people, is the absolute and enduring “light unto the nations” towards the perfect world.

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

From Judaism with love

@Monster Trucks

Well, the first stunt ended up ok.

But the second one, not so much so!  

Check it out. ;-)

(Credit Video: Andy Blumenthal)

@Monster Trucks

Rainbow Vomit Cat

What type of birthday card it that?

Looks like rainbow vomit coming out of the cat's mouth.

Isn't that just adorable!  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Dossy Blumenthal)

Rainbow Vomit Cat

Pretty Brilliant Accessibility

Wow, that's pretty brilliant. 

Stairs and ramp in one.

Love thinking of those with disabilities as part of what we do!  ;-)

(Source Photo: Facebook) 

Pretty Brilliant Accessibility

A Beautiful Song From The Guardians of Zion

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "A Beautiful Song From The Guardians of Zion."

I was very moved by the Israeli police, who have dangerous jobs defending the borders and the cities of the Holy Land, yet singing unburdened about our home and heart!

The Jewish people are an incredible tapestry of amazing people from all over the world.

A Beautiful Song From The Guardians of Zion

What Are You Refusing To See?

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "What Are You Refusing To See?"

Rabbi Yosef Mizrachi’s incredible book, Divine Information, opened my eyes in explaining about “Torah and Science,” how G-d’s word to us in the Torah is fully and absolutely divine from Hashem.

The Torah was given in 1,312 BCE, before most of the discoveries of the world, modern science, and tools like telescopes and microscopes. Yet, the Torah tells us secrets of the world and science long before they were known.

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

What Are You Refusing To See?

Four in a Row

White, gray, blue, and orange. 

Have a seat and take a load off.  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Four in a Row

Sunflower Day

These beautiful flowers and life itself is smiling upon us.  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Sunflower Day

Wall of Ice Cream

Eat and be merry.

Sitting in front of a wall of ice cream!  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Wall of Ice Cream

Snazzy Men's Shoes

Wow, the red and blue definitely add some snazzy pizzazz to this loafer. 

Makes me want to do some walking, indeed.  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Snazzy Men's Shoes

Tisha B'Av - Destruction of The Temple

Wow, this is an incredibly moving depiction of the destruction of the holy Temple in Jerusalem. 

May G-d have mercy and renew our times as of old.  ;-)

Tisha B'Av - Destruction of The Temple

The Irreligious Religious

 
Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "The Irreligious Religious."

If some “religious” people do the wrong thing, disrespect their fellow Jews, hate on them, curse them, defile their prayers, that doesn’t mean they are really religious. Rather to the contrary — they are the irreligious religious!

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

The Irreligious Religious