These rocks are holding their own against the tide.
They are also standing the test of time.
We all need to push back against the tide when wrong is pushing forward.
Whether its corruption or violence.
Be like a rock!
Choose good over evil in every situation. 😉
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
I liked this saying:
There are at least three sides to every story:
Yours
Mine
And the truth
Everyone sees the world through their personal filter.
And they present their side of things in a distorted way to make themselves look right and righteous.
Calls it what you will: a slant, bias, twist, falsification, or a distortion or perversion of the truth.
Sure, sometimes one person is right and the other is clearly wrong.
But more often than not, there are elements of truth and of lies in each person’s story to greater and lessor degrees.
Hence, the truth often is it’s own entity and exists independent of those presenting it.
It’s not a bad mission to seek out and promote the truth in this world of many falsehoods. 😉
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
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)
L-rd, Bless your loving children.
And do swift justice to the wicked that seek their destruction.
Bless those that stand guard at your heavenly and earthly gates.
Curse those evil ones that make a mockery of your lofty kingship.
Bless the humble and faithful to you and your laws.
Curse those that stand in arrogance and spread hate and vileness before you.
Bless those that bless you and seek to do good.
Curse those that curse you and do harm to your creations.
Bless the righteous people with all that is good.
Curse the wicked and tear them asunder so that they are utterly destroyed.
L-rd, please hear your lowly servant and bring the ultimate redemption to your people.
And verily discomfort, smite and throw to the depths of punishment and exile the cursed wicked.
None can stand before you in their shame and disgrace.
Do it for your name’s sake; do it for your children’s sake, do it for your justice’s sake, do it to make things right in your beautiful and perfect world. 😉
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
So I heard Joel Osteen give a great speech.
He said that it’s not any of these things that make a person worthwhile:
1. Possessions
2. Performance
3. Popularity
But rather, it is a person’s inner self and soul that determine their value.
Each person is a son or daughter of G-d.
I agree that our personal worth is a matter of how we act as human beings in choosing right over wrong and good over evil; and it is not based on how much we have, how successful we have become, or how much we are liked.
In the end, a person must return to their maker alone to answer for their actions.
You can’t take anything with you.
Materialism and vanity all fade away and only your spiritual inner self will pass over and live on.
So how will you spend your time and attention–chasing vanity of vanities or doing good in all your words and deeds? 😉
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
I liked this saying that I heard:
“Outnumbered and outgunned, but not outsmarted.”
I think there is a lot of truth to this.
Might does not make right.
Right makes right.
There is a G-d above who watches over us.
Those with the big guns may just end up shooting themselves in the foot.
G-d reigns supreme and he gives wisdom and courage to his faithful.
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
Okay, I don’t impress easily, but I got to tell you somebody really did.
Tring to keep their confidentiality, let me just say this…
A couple returned some money to us, but they went truly above and beyond.
They returned some money that technically they were entitled to, and I never would’ve imagined that they should give it back to us.
When I saw the check and what they did, I really couldn’t stop myself saying how amazing this couple is.
They are a religious Jewish couple, and I just feel that what they did was such a “Kiddush Hashem” (their behavior is a sanctification of G-d’s name in the world).
Some people pretend to be religious on the outside, but inside their behaviors don’t reflect it.
In this case, the people were generally religious not just on the outside, but on the inside as well.
Their doing righteous literally was uplifting for my soul to see that there really are such incredible people in this world.
Yes, some people are bad–do bad–and we can get not only disappointed but depressed that they seem to thrive anyway.
So to see the good in people–extra good–it renews my hope in mankind and in G-d Above who shows us the way and can inspire us to behave morally and ethically amazingly. 😉
(Source photo: Andy Blumenthal)
Interesting speech by the Rabbi today in synagogue.
What stood out to me was when he talked about the Ten Commandments, particularly the 2nd set of five.
And how some people hear what they want to hear.
All of the 2nd five start with “Thou shalt not,” but there are those people that only hear the part that comes after those words.
So for example: Thou shalt not kill…steal…commit adultery…lie…desire.
But not everyone listens to the “Thou shalt not” and instead they just hear–selectively:
– Kill
– Steal
– Commit adultery
– Lie
– Desire
If you take out the “Thou shalt nots,” you are left with a list of terrible and evil deeds.
How convenient for those who are looking for the upper hand and pleasures in life–get rich quick, get and maintain power, take whatever and whomever you want and when you want it–no matter who it belongs to or how they feel.
Like the good angel and bad angel sitting over our shoulders and one says don’t do the bad thing and the other encourages us to do!
Who you going to listen to?
Not everyone seems to care–they live for today and forget about tomorrow.
Yet every misdeed leaves a tarnish on our soul, while every good deed adds a merit.
And if there is no justice in the end then who the hell wants to be in such a world anyway. 😉
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
So it takes courage to do the right thing.
It’s the easy way out to shut your eyes and overlook when things are wrong.
Taking a stand and standing up for what’s right often means fighting the good fight.
But who wants to fight?
Everyone wants to live in peace and quiet.
In fact, every day we pray repeatedly in the Amidah for peace
In the 19th prayer…
May it please you to bless your people Israel at all times and in every hour with your peace. Blessed are you, O Lord, who blesses his people Israel with peace.
Then again after the prayer for thanks…
Bestow peace, goodness and blessing, life, graciousness, kindness and mercy, upon us and upon all Your people Israel…May it be favorable in Your eyes to bless Your people Israel, at all times and at every moment, with Your peace.
And yet a third time at the end…
He who makes peace in His heavens, may He make peace for us and for all Israel; and say, Amen.
What can be more desired than peace and wellness in our lives?
Yet, when we see corruption, wrongdoing, and evil, people are called on the confront it, and stand up for good.
Because when evil prevails, there is no real peace in the world.
Hence, the courageous and righteous are called on to stand up based on integrity, merit, and values, and to work to return a state of justice and peace.
G-d watches to see to it that good ultimately prevails over evil.
May He who makes peace, make peace for us and all Israel, and let us say Amen. 😉
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
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