Category Archives: Magen David Synagogue

Flowers and Bird

Posted on by Andy (Avraham) Blumenthal

Just wanted to share this beautiful painting from Reuben in our synagogue.

I love the plethora of colorful flowers in the vase.  

The sweet bird with it.

The verdant green background. 

The unique etched wood frame. 

Very happy…and all the world is okay.  😉

(Source Photo of Reuben Art: Andy Blumenthal)

Rocking Mimouna @Magen David Synagogue

Posted on by Andy (Avraham) Blumenthal

I learnt last night that Mimouna comes from the word “Emunah” which means faith. 


The Mimouna is the celebration at the end of Passover. 


It is a custom from the Jews who lived in Morocco who celebrated hand-in-hand with their Arab neighbors in peace and harmony


this celebration of faith, friendship, and peace that has now become standard in Jewish communities far and wide. 


In the light of the anti-Semitic instances yesterday with the caricature in the garbage New York Times and the Shooting at the Chabad synagogue in San Diego (exactly 6 months after the shooting at the Pittsburgh synagogue), I say:


Let us have faith in the one true G-d that he will redeem his loving people of all religions and utterly punish the haters and anti-Semites for the evil they are. 


(Source Video and Photos: Andy Blumenthal)

Preparing Simchat Torah Dinner

Posted on by Andy (Avraham) Blumenthal

It was great going to Magen David Synagogue today to help prepare for the big Simchat Torah Dinner tomorrow night. 

First, we started with great ingredients.


Then all the prep.


The cleaning, slicing, dicing, mixing, laying it all out, and braising.


Then the cooking–stovetop, and oven.


And before you know, it comes out all done and ready for the scrumptious shul dinner to honor the Torahs.


I want to thank all the women and men that helped out today and many other times to prepare.


But especially, I want to call out Naomi Elimelech who coordinates everything and is the brains behind all the delicious and healthy food. 


She and her husband, Itzik, who is also the President of the synagogue, are truly wonderful, caring, and giving people and a role model for all of us–and it’s not just the cooking!


B’tayavon everyone and Chag Sameach!  😉


(Source Photos: Andy Blumenthal)

Haleli @Mimouna with Magen David Synagogue

Posted on by Andy (Avraham) Blumenthal

Praise be our G-d, the Master of the Universe.


May he bless us with an abundance of good for the New Year after the Passover commemoration of our exodus from slavery to His redemption and the Holy Land of Israel.


Blessings, Peace, Health, Prosperity, and Joy!


What a lovely event with the community of Magen David Synagogue in Maryland.


My heart is uplifted by the song, dance, friendship, and faith in the Almighty. 😉


(Source Video: Andy Blumenthal)

Beautiful Innocent Child Angel

Posted on by Andy (Avraham) Blumenthal

So wonderful news is that one of my daughters is getting married, please G-d, at the end of the month.


Today, we had a celebration in synagogue called an Aufruf, where the groom is called to the Torah and makes the blessing and then we all throw candies (we chose bags of chocolates).


After the services, we had a kiddush luncheon and it was really nice to see everyone from the community sharing in this wonderful Simcha with us. 


But something happened towards the end of the services that had a really big impact on me…in fact, I can’t stop thinking about it–I need to write it down. 


As services concluded and we were leaving the sanctuary, this beautiful innocent little girl came right up to my daughter–sort of out of nowhere and without her parents–and wished her Mazel Tov. 


There was something about her and the way she did it with such sincerity–I literally couldn’t have been more touched. 


It was almost like this child was some sort of angel–I mean it!


The child’s eyes and facial expression had an innocence like I have never quite seen before. 


All I could do was marvel at this child and how she came up all by herself with this incredible pureness of heart that I can’t fully explain to wish the bride and groom well. 


Then I found my words to say thank you and wish her that in a “few” years she would be getting happily married too, G-d willing. 


I think I will always remember the piecing innocent eyes of this child and how she was like an angel visiting us on this special occasion today. 😉


(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Know Before Whom You Stand

Posted on by Andy (Avraham) Blumenthal

The Real Super.jpeg

So this was one of those amazing types of photos–like a one in a million. 


It was taken in Synagogue in front of the aron (ark) where the Holy Torahs are kept.


On Sabbath and holidays, after services, devout people often go up to the doors of the ark to say a personal and silent prayer of devotion getting up close to the Torahs (G-d’s sacred words to us). 


What you’ll see here is that someone is dressed (for Purim) as Superwoman. 


The juxtaposition of Superwoman to the Holy ark is accentuated by the words above the ark, which translated from the Hebrew states:


“Know before whom you stand.”


A cautionary note and reminder that before the ark, we are literally standing before the presence of G-d (and to conduct ourselves with the utmost respect and propriety)


So in this picture, we have Superwoman standing before G-d, the most super of them all!


When I think of how minuscule we as human beings are before our Maker, it is magnified for me that even the most super of human beings infinitely pales when standing in front of the majesty and omnipotence of our L-rd. 


Superman and Superwoman prostrate yourselves before Hashem, even as we all must do. 😉 


(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal with compliments to Monique for the photo)