We Believe in Coca-Cola

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

We Believe in Coca-Cola

Wise Decision

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Wise Decision

Smoke Them Out

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "Smoke Them Out."

The Gaza tunnels are one of the greatest obstacles to the IDF in destroying Hamas and rescuing the hostages. Given that Hamas will never voluntarily release "the ace" they are holding with the hostages, Israel has the unenviable task of not only "smoking out" and dealing with the terrorists but also simultaneously rescuing the hostages. This seems like a near "mission impossible," but with the right "smoke" and the ingenuity and bravery of the IDF, along with G-d's guiding hand, there is still hope.

(Credit Photo: Zachary DeBottis via https://www.pexels.com/photo/person-wearing-motorcycle-helmet-2930929/)

Smoke Them Out

Bring Home the Hostages from Evil Hamas/ISIS

(Photo via Facebook)

Bring Home the Hostages from Evil Hamas/ISIS

Coin Machine

 
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Coin Machine

Ace is the Place

(Credit Photo: Dossy Blumenthal)

Ace is the Place

Door Monster

(Credit Photo: Dossy Blumenthal)

Door Monster

Good to the Last Dot

 

(Credit Photo: Dossy Blumenthal)

Good to the Last Dot

Israel's Precise Strategy Against Hamas

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "Israel's Precise Strategy Against Hamas."

As always, Israel is facing long odds, attacked not only by Hamas in the south, Hezbollah in the north, and terrorists in the West Bank but also potentially by the combined arms of hostile Arab nations such as Syria, Iraq, Yemen, and, of course, the arch-terrorist Iran, which is seeking nuclear weapons and threatening to destroy Israel. Despite all of this, and while we are still only at the beginning of this latest battle with evil, it is clear that once Israel overcame the initial shock and horror of the Hamas attack, the response from Israel has been nothing short of brilliantly planned and flawlessly executed.

Without a doubt, this will be a long and difficult war, and it is far from won. There are so many families grieving for those who have been lost, and hopefully, there will be no more. Moreover, the hostages are suffering and must be brought quickly home. No matter how precise our planning and how good our execution are, ultimately, we must pray to Hashem to help us overcome our enemies and suffering, grant us a complete victory, and speedily bring us peace.
 
(Credit Photo: Anastasia Petrova via https://unsplash.com/photos/person-holding-silver-compass-xu2WYJek5AI)

Israel's Precise Strategy Against Hamas

Meat and Israel Love

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Meat and Israel Love

Head In Ceiling

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Head In Ceiling

Robotic Dog

(Credit Photo: Minna Blumenthal)

Robotic Dog

Ornate Blue Cup

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Ornate Blue Cup

Dunkin' Donuts Light

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Dunkin' Donuts Light

Prelude to World War III

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "Prelude to World War III."

We have never come closer to World War 3. Amidst the most evil and brutal bloodbath by Hamas of 1,400 Israelis and another 200+ taken hostage into Gaza, Israel is entering its biggest and most difficult war since the surprise attack of the Yom Kippur War in 1973. Further, northern Israel is ready to explode, with Hezbollah terrorists ready to infiltrate and 150,000 rockets poised to fly into Israel's population centers and critical infrastructure.

As the terrorists, anarchists, and some on the alt-left march and overturn our cities to outbursts of "Allah Akbar," "Intifada," and "Jihad" amidst the burning of and spitting on Israeli and U.S. flags, the biased media, looking for their next splash headline, thrills to falsely blame Israel for the Gaza hospital bombing. Similarly, despite the Palestinians' repeated refusal to accept generous offers of peace, the media continues to report on Israel's "occupation" and "apartheid," including in Gaza, where Israel unilaterally withdrew more than 18 years ago and in return has suffered relentless Hamas missile barrages, attack tunnels, abductions, and sadistic killings.

The world is on the moral and murderous brink, and there are weapons of mass destruction to make it happen deadly fast. One spark can ignite the whole colossal, flammable mess, and with it, the doomsday we all fear but suspect could be coming soon. Let us hope and pray that this is the prelude not to World War III, but rather to the coming of Mashiach.

(Credit Photo: Geralt via https://pixabay.com/illustrations/clock-the-eleventh-hour-time-7084580/)

Prelude to World War III

Cleaning The Mixer

(Credit Photo: Dossy Blumenthal)
 

Cleaning The Mixer

Night Sky Before WW3

(Credit Photo: Minna Blumenthal)

Night Sky Before WW3

It's Like Oil and Water

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

It's Like Oil and Water

Goldfish Person

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Goldfish Person

Muslim and Jew Against Evil

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "Muslim and Jew Against Evil."

This isn't anything about Palestinian vs. Israeli or Muslim vs. Christian and Jew. It is everything about evil vs. good. Hate and terror are diseases, and we need to eradicate their ideology, structures, and sponsors. The only reason they exist is that "someone" is benefiting from them! Unfortunately, the people are brainwashed with hate and threatened if they don't go along with it by those who live off it. To them, dead Palestinians are martyrs whose photos can go on CNN and MSNBC.

While all people may be created equal, some end up good and some have gone awfully bad, and we need to differentiate between the two. And yes, there are plenty of "grays in between." In the end, we need to embrace those who are faithful, decent human beings (even with flaws and all), and we must soulfully band together to root out and confront the entire system of evil, where and for what it truly is, and before it's too late.

(Stock Photo: Ali Wannous https://www.pexels.com/photo/dirt-road-between-ruined-buildings-under-a-blue-sky-10932512/)

Muslim and Jew Against Evil

Your Not Paid To Think

(Credit Photo: Dossy Blumenthal)

Your Not Paid To Think

Everyone Stand With Israel!

(Photo via Facebook)

Everyone Stand With Israel!

Hamas Started It, but Israel Must Finish It

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "Hamas Started It, but Israel Must Finish It."

We can no longer go back to business as usual! The usual must be upended, and Gaza must be militarily conquered, period. All the Israeli hostages need to be found and brought home, even if it means excruciating house-to-house searches and street-by-street battles; it is better to fight it out once and for all in Gaza than endlessly in the cities of Israel. Finally, Gaza's military and terrorist apparatus must be completely eradicated. The strip must be divided, secured, and demilitarized permanently.

This attack by Hamas is just a small prelude to what is to come with Iran and its terrorist proxies. If we don't want to see mushroom clouds rising over the Middle East and Europe, Israel and the United States must once and for all deal definitively with Iran's nuclear and terrorist capability—no more ifs, ands, or buts.

None of us wants to see any more bloodshed pouring forth on Israeli streets and fields, children abducted, women brutally raped, men held captive and tortured, and the Holy Land scorched by missiles and flames. There should never any more be the illusion of "land for peace" or of a two-state solution when what they want is to drive the Jews into the sea! Astute political engagement has its place in dealmaking and genuine peace-making, but now is the time for skilled military strategy, engagement, and the resounding defeat of our enemies.

(Source Photo: Hananya Naftali via Telegram: https://t.me/hnaftali/5951)

Hamas Started It, but Israel Must Finish It

In It To Win It!

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

In It To Win It!

Newsstand

 
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Newsstand

Customer Service Creed

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Customer Service Creed

Toy Esrogs

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Toy Esrogs

The Grouchy Neighbor Who Brought Me Closer to G-d

 
Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "The Grouchy Neighbor Who Brought Me Closer to G-d."

Thankfully, nothing terrible happened, but it's these everyday slights and provocations that can really hurt our feelings and end up pushing us away from G-d and Judaism.

However, I realized that G-d sends me certain encounters so that I can reflect, write about them, and share with you some things that really aren't the Torah way. We all have to deal with difficult people and challenging situations, but fundamentally and always, G-d is all good and wants us to turn to Him despite and even because of these happenstances.

While there is no such thing as hurt, insult, embarrassment, or suffering that is trivial, I hope that G-d will bless us to see past the pain of life and continue to find our way to embrace Him with all our heart, as well as to forgive our neighbors.

(AI Generated Image by Andy Blumenthal)

The Grouchy Neighbor Who Brought Me Closer to G-d

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