Miracles of Charity and Faith

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called, “The Conviction of One’s Faith.”

What better way to welcome in the New Year of 2019 then with some inspirational true stories about amazing people and their faith in G-d and doing what’s right. Recently, I saw firsthand from some special people, the miracles that happen when one is charitable and sticks to ones beliefs. 

As my father always taught me about G-d and doing what’s right: “Stick to your convictions!” 😉

(Source Photo of this amazing Tzedakah (charity) box in Israel: Minna Blumenthal)

Blessing Each Other

Today in synagogue, we did not have any Kohanim (members of the priestly class) to do the ritual blessing of the people. 

So Rabbi Haim Ovadia did something really creative and beautiful.

He had each of us turn to our neighbor and put our hands over each other’s heads and recite the blessing from the Torah:

“May G-d bless and guide you.

May G-d shine his countenance on you and be gracious to you.

May G-d turn his countenance toward you and grant you peace.”

The gesture of brotherhood and caring for each other was very, very nice, and I got to meet someone new in synagogue today.

People need people…and we need G-d. 

Somehow it makes everything better. 😉

(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

The Best Cut

So I wasn’t sure I wanted to share this, but my wife encouraged me in an effort to help others going through similar things.

Recently, I went to the Surgeon about my other hip to read my MRI…

After having read the report myself before the appointment, I was convinced I was heading under the knife again with the pain I was experiencing, challenges getting around, and the verbiage in the report like: 

“Significant…”

“Advanced.”

Anyway, my daughter came along because I wasn’t sure I was going to easily get parking in this place…always a challenge there. 

Waiting for the doctor, I asked G-d for a miracle, since after all the hospitalizations this last year, I literally thought that another one at this time could very well kill me.

Low and behold, the doctor comes in and as if G-d is directing his speech for the next 40 minutes or so, he does everything to dissuade me from having the surgery this month, even though he was the one at the last appointment that had already booked me on his surgical calendar. 

So today the miracle unfolded…

First, the doctor read my MRI, but then quickly flipped the screen to an MRI of another patient–a 76 year old–and he showed me the unbelievable progression of the osteoarthritis from near onset to ultimately the complete collapse of the joint over about 9 years time for this lady…the last MRI looked like complete and utter bone devastation–I had never seen anything like it!

Next he opened his drawer and took out a horror basket of used replacement joints parts that he had removed from patients that needed revision–he showed me the wear and breakage and described in horrible detail how he often has to dig these out of the bones of his patients and how each revision–which everyone will need after about 10-15 years or sooner if they become symptomatic–becomes more complicated and dangerous in terms of infection, blood clots, and recovery. 

Then he told how in the field so many replacement surgeries do not go well and that he sees 3-5 patients a week who come to him because they are UN-happy with the replacements their doctors did. 

This went on and on, and bottom line…he said, “I love to do the surgeries–I really do–but wait as long as you can before getting it [on the other hip], since while it can provide for short term improvements, each revision is worse, and at your age you could need three–on each side.”

Needless-to-say, from this whole thing, I was in utter shock and some disbelief as I had been told these prosthetics can last 20-25 years with the newer models, and I was not aware of what the revisions really entailed in later years or the challenges they brought. 

As he continued to describe the risks in painful vivid details (note, I was his last appointment of the day and he was talking his time here), my eyes were literally welling up in tears.

I looked over at my daughter and she was sitting mouth agape shaking her head at what he was saying. I was deeply sorry that she had to sit through this (what we had thought was a simple MRI reading and confirmation of the upcoming procedure date). 

I left the doctor’s office, of course, canceling the surgery–still in severe pain and with trouble walking–however, “scared straight” to make the best of this for now, but also afraid of what lies ahead. 

I have to have faith that the L-rd who made the miracle to hold off on the surgery for now will continue to guide and protect me through this illness that today has no cure. 

(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

The Starbucks Playbook

I’m in Starbucks and this young lady is drawing one of Starbucks promo signs.

This one was for the new Starbucks Caramel Flan which is a latte (coffee with a shot of expresso and frothy steamed milk) with whipped cream and generous topping of caramel.

In making the sign, the girl was nervous that she wouldn’t do a good job because of her drawing skills, but she was actually doing pretty well.

I learned some interesting things from her that the big picture of the cup of coffee on the sign is actually a magnet–so that just snapped in place and was a big help.

Then as you can see on the left, she is a holding a playbook from Starbucks Corporate that has a miniature version of the sign that she is supposed to draw with instructions.

So this is her guide and the same used by all the other Starbucks putting up this promo this week.

From a marketing and branding perspective, this helps keep it tight in terms of the messaging, timing, and look and feel.

Starbucks leaves nothing to chance with their coffee sales and this methodology of having each store draw the promo by hand but from a playbook makes it both authentic and professional.

Nice job with the Caramel Flan sign! 😉

(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Vandalism and Vomit — Only $2,500!

So we went to look at a new dorm-type apartment for my daughter.

She and her friends want to be near campus and where everyone hangs out.

When we got to the building, the front door glass was smashed in and wooden planks filled the space over the whole door.

While we were waiting in front, a group of girls were walking in–and one was saying to the others, “Oh, he says he love me, and he wants to have sex with me…”–then couldn’t hear the rest as they continued by.

Inside the lobby was this “Vandalism Report” with dates for each (not shown)–Take a look at it (THIS IS REAL!).

– Signs and fire extinguishers vandalized.

– Beer cups thrown off the balcony.

– Graffiti painted on the walls.

– And best for last…urine, vomit, rubbish, and blood discovered–at multiple times and in multiple places!

The slumlord landlord, buys up the filthy apartments, renovates them, and rents out two-bedroom units in this building for approximately $2500, split 4 ways among the students.

He takes 2 months security deposit.

And he makes each person responsible for all the others, so if one person backs out or doesn’t pay, each of the other students are responsible–not just for their share (lease).

He advertised one unit, but showed us another.

Then told us this one was also already taken and we should trust him and sign up for another unit that he is purchasing and “it will be the same thing, trust me!”

This whole thing was disappointing to my daughter who was excited to be with all her friends so close to campus.

I was proud of her when my wife asked her despite how much she wanted this…did she feel this guy was trustworthy?–and she said, “No!”

Not sure who would want to live in a place like this…but my daughter was disappointed anyway.

It’s hard to be practical, when the emotional side for people take over.

These young people are victimized by the slumlords, who prey on their youth, inexperience, and needs.

This place was disgusting–even so, it’s tough to be a parent because you want your children to learn from mistakes, but mistakes can be so costly.

Funny thing is, there were plenty of kids in this building–where are the grownups? 😉

Three Beautiful Sayings

In the last few weeks, there are three beautiful sayings that have stuck out in my mind and I wanted to share them with you:

– Materialism and Relationships:

“It’s not about what you have, but about who you have.”

– Sin and Punishment:

“You’re not punished for your sins, but by your sins.”

– Creation and Creator:

“All things serve the will of the L-rd”

I think if we keep these in mind and use these to guide our everyday actions, we will make better choices and be better people for it.

Hope you appreciate the importance of these sayings as much as I do and find them useful in your lives. 😉

(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Federal Leadership Is A Journey

There were three news articles in Federal Times this week (17 December 2012) that highlighted some disappointments for the time being, but that offer hope for the future:

–   Conflicts of Interest at DARPA: The previous director of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is investigated by the Defense Department Inspector General for conflicts of interest related to the award of “hundreds of thousands of dollars in contracts to a company she co-founded and partially owned.” The hope for the future—the new DARPA director has “sent a full list of her financial assets to all of the agency’s employees.”

–   Missed opportunity for use of mobile devices, BYOD in the Federal workforce: The CIO Council’s report on “Government Use of Mobile Technology: Barriers, Opportunities, and Gap Analysis” was required by the Federal Digital Strategy (May 2012); however, while there is clarity of the need for greater mobility in the workforce, instead of a clear architecture forward, the report calls for more guidance from the administration on “how to handle the tricky legal, privacy, and financial implications.” The hope—the report looks toward  a government-wide or agency policy and guidance to support more flexible use of mobile devices and a cross-functional team to evaluate Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) for the future.

–   NASA doubts commitment of getting to an asteroid: NASA, which has been criticized by some for not having a clear direction, has been charged with “sending astronauts to an asteroid by 2025,” yet there is not consensus that this is “the next step on the way to Mars.” The hope—NASA can restructure, engage in cost-sharing partnerships, or otherwise increase budget or decrease scope to right-align and achieve clear focus on the next great goals for outer space.

Lesson learned: leadership does not have all the answers nor do they always do everything right, but leadership is a journey. So while today, we may not always be making the best acquisitions for advanced research, achieving clarity of a mobile strategy, or landing people on Mars—we are on the way—through one small step for leadership, one giant leap for the rest of us.

(Source Photo: here with attribution to NASA)