Potential Government Shutdown and The National Debt

(Credit Photo: Minna Blumenthal)

Potential Government Shutdown and The National Debt

Bringing the Community Together this Sukkot

 

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "Bringing the Community Together this Sukkot."

Like in all socio-economic caste systems, the Rabbi who was managing the sale of the lulav and esrog for the upcoming holiday of Sukkot differentiated between three types and offered the following: Aleph (the most expensive), Bet (medium priced), and Gimel (the least expensive), and all were supposed to be full sets, but they weren't.

This led me to reflect on all the different ways that we compete with and classify each other instead of valuing each person and acting like a real community (with an emphasis on "unity"). Really, it's a million things, from who can afford the better bar mitzvah to who makes the more lavish wedding; who is rated grade A for matchmaking, and who is considered to have a "mum" (defect) and be less or undesirable; who gets the prime kovod (honors) in the synagogue, and who never even gets called to the Torah for an Aliyah.

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Bringing the Community Together this Sukkot

Dusty Cat

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Dusty Cat

Toy Steak

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Toy Steak

Kid's Play Sukkah

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Kid's Play Sukkah

Checklist for Yom Kippur

 
Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "A More Important Checklist for Yom Kippur."

If we measure a person's life not by how long they live but by what they do with their precious moments in life, then maybe we can see our lives more in terms of outcomes in meeting our potential rather than purely as time present. Of course, we want to have more time, but whatever time we are granted, we should make the most of it.

(Credit Photo: Pixabay via https://www.pexels.com/photo/person-marking-check-on-opened-book-416322/)

Checklist for Yom Kippur

Red Octopus

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Red Octopus

One-Eyed Stair Walker

(Credit Photo: Itzchak O.)

One-Eyed Stair Walker

Pumpkin Party

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Pumpkin Party

Cactus Hair

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Cactus Hair

Rainbow Skull Sweater

(Credit Photo: Minna Blumenthal)

Rainbow Skull Sweater

Rosh Hashanah Reflections

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "Rosh Hashanah Reflections."

Rosh Hashanah is the annual wake-up call for us to stop, get out of the car, actually see what we are doing and where we are going, and course correct while we still can in our lives. G-d gives us 60, 70, 80, maybe 90 years of chances to take stock of how we use our precious time in this world, our relationships with our loved ones, and the thoughts, words, and deeds that we evoke for good or, G-d forbid, otherwise. Rosh Hashanah is a blessing for us to back the car out of danger and get us on the road to success if we but take the opportunity, which, G-d willing, we will all do.

(Credit Photo: Ri_Ya via https://pixabay.com/photos/shana-tova-honey-sweet-jewish-4496748/) 

Rosh Hashanah Reflections

Cinnamon Toast Crunch

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Cinnamon Toast Crunch

Archer Flying Car

(Credit Photos: Michelle Blumenthal)

Archer Flying Car

Lego Duck

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Lego Duck

Crazy Eyes

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Crazy Eyes

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