My son-in-law reminded me of a beautiful Jewish saying about prayer:
Even if a sharp sword rests upon a person’s neck, he should not refrain from praying for mercy.
One can still hope for mercy from the Almighty even at death’s door.
This is truly beautiful and uplifting–we can approach G-d anytime, and as long as we are alive, there is always hope.
The saving from G-d is like “the blink of an eye.” 😉
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called, “A Vision of Jewish Strength.”
With the rebirth of the State of Israel came the rebirth of the Jew. No longer the Jew cowering in the face of pogroms, Inquisition, Crusades, persecution, expulsions, and the Holocaust. The new Jew, as epitomized by the brave men and women of IDF, would be remade in the image of Moses who led the Jews out of Egyptian slavery, and King David who vanquished our enemies in our land, as well as the Jews of Purim and Hanukah, who fought ever so valiantly and to victory against the great empires of Persia and Greece or for us, whoever rises against us as the modern day equivalent.
But as important to the new Jew as our physical survival is that of our spiritual wellbeing. The persecution of Jews over thousands of years was not just a physical attack, as horrible as it was, but also a spiritual, religious, and cultural one, where Jews were prohibited from learning Torah, worshiping, and practicing as Jews. Thus, the second point of criticality in having the State of Israel is that it provides for Jewish sovereignty and ensures “the Jew as actor, determiner of his or her own destiny.” The Jewish people to truly thrive must be able to express themselves through their own language and history, religiously and culturally, and practically through their own leadership and decision-making to forge their own future.
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called, “Celebrating With Security.”
Take a look around you at the new security measures and people risking their lives for yours and your family. Take a moment to thank them. But also, recognize that the security isn’t there just for show, it’s there because the hatred and threats have tangibly increased along with the ever present means to carry them out. It is critical that we continue our vigilance and the strengthening of our security measures, because those that hate us for who we are and for our faith are not going away, and unfortunately, they may even continue to grow in numbers and resolve. However, none of us should live in fear and be forced to stay away from our religious institutions, our Torah study, and prayer, but rather to the contrary, we need to stand up strongly–in defiance and in faith!
While I don’t know what specific security measures we will see next Rosh Hashanah, I can say with almost absolute certainty that it will be more and not less and that you should definitely be taking notice.
(Image by Robert-Owen-Wahl from Pixabay)
I just wanted to share these beautiful flowers.
The colors and shapes are so amazing.
It’s like you can see G-d’s amazing hand in creating these so intricately, delicately and with so much brilliance.
There is comfort in His work and the life He has given.
I am grateful for each day to serve His purpose.
Hope you enjoy the gorgeous flowers. 😉
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
Please read my new article in The Times of Israel called, “Devastation at The Tree of Life Shooting.”
No, this is certainly not the Tree of Life in the Garden of Eden–this murderous scene was certainly no Eden! On this Shabbat there is not life in that holy house of worship, but another familiar Jewish massacre from a gunman screaming, “All the Jews need to die!”
Let us be strong together and hope for the full redemption when peace and brotherhood will soon prevail. 😉
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
I saw this sign posted at an organization’s office.
I thought it was a nice way to motivate people working there.
“What people are saying:
You are making a difference.”
Later in the sign, it says:
“The work you do is important.”
Isn’t this really what is critical to people–that what they do is important.
Yes, we need to earn a living and pay our bills.
And sure, we’d like something left over to save for a rainy day.
But our lives are more than materialism.
We are spiritual beings inside.
At the pinnacle, we need to know that our lives mean something!
– That we are touching people’s lives.
– That we will be remembered for the good we did.
– That our good deeds and words will live on.
– That our children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren (etc.) will carry the lessons and message forward.
– That we’ve contributed in some meaningful way to the fight of good over evil in this world and the next.
– That we’ve shown proper respect and worship to our L-rd/Maker/Sustainer.
When we make a difference, it’s about so much more than what money can buy.
It’s about our soul, our contribution, and even destiny. 😉
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
So I am learning that synagogue is more than a place to worship G-d.
It is a place of and for the people to express their full range of emotions.
Frankly, I think it is a place for people to laugh and to cry.
Rarely, a week goes by when not one or both of these emotions/actions happen.
Yes, we cry out to G-d in supplication and also are joyous in his holy majesty and presence.
But more than that, as a community, we come together to share of our week and ourselves with each other.
One one hand, we laugh with each other at the funny and ridiculous things that happen to us and at the joy we feel for the blessings that G-d bestows on us daily.
On the other, we cry on each other’s shoulders at the pain and loss that we (G-d forbid) at times must face and endure in the face of illness, evil, and tragedy.
Just today, both things happened in the synagogue and my heart was at one time uplifted with gladness and then at another greatly saddened with the hurt shared–occurrences of each in just a short span of time.
Yes, we laugh and we cry together–alone, it is at once empty and at the other unbearable.
We need to support each other; there is no other way that is not extreme madness.
Put your arms around another to embrace them in great happiness and to let them cry mightily on your shoulder.
Sharing with each other at our houses of worship–that is how we show G-d that we are bound to Him and to each others’ souls–all children of G-d trying to make it together to the next service. 😉
(Source Graphic: Andy Blumenthal)
So I took this photo in a Jewelry store in Mamilla Mall in Jerusalem.
All these beautiful hamsas!
Hamsas are traditional symbols of G-d’s protection and to ward off the evil.
These were some very beautiful ones.
Some say that it is symbolic of the hand of Miriam, Moses’ sister, raised in a protective stance over the people.
Five fingers are like the five books of the Torah and a reminder to use all five of our senses in worshipping and praising G-d.
Talking to someone yesterday about surviving in the face of some very difficult challenges, she said to me:
“Remember, just because the adversary is powerful, you are the David to the Goliath!”
With G-d’s help and blessings, even a little David can slay the giant evil Goliath.
For the New Year of 2018 and forward, G-d should bless us and protect us, shine his face upon us and be gracious unto us, lift up his countenance upon us, and give us peace!
The L-rd is the ultimate strength and justice and in front of Him no evil will stand.
Our faith may be tested, but from it, we will come out smarter, stronger, and better souls, as G-d teaches us to look always to the Heavens where all good emanates. 😉
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
Hey, congratulations to Roger Federer on winning his 19th tennis championship.
It’s an absolutely awesome level of athletic achievement and it’s definitely something to celebrate.
But when I saw this photo of him and his trophy in the paper this morning, it seemed over the top!
Whenever someone sets their mind to something, works really hard, and is thank G-d able to achieve it–that is something to be happy about and enormously grateful for.
Hey, listen, I understand there are some real superstars out there and I respect them!
However, seeing this guy clutching his trophy in both hands, smelling it, kissing it, and more…it looks to me more like idolatry than the pure, sweet smell of success.
I get it–he worked super hard, achieved impossible things, and deserves to savor the incredible moment–no one is taking that away from him.
Instead of that gold trophy, wouldn’t you rather see him kissing his wife and children, thanking G-d (and his coach maybe), and saying things like how he will continue to use his success and earning to help others or maybe train the next generation of aspiring athletes.
I applaud Federer more for his known philanthropy in helping disadvantaged children and doing charitable events for disaster victims than for winning his 19th championship (hey, 18 would’ve been fine too).
In the end, self- (and trophy-) love and admiration is not the something to celebrate, but should instead point us back to character and using our strength and achievements to help others.
For what is really important in life, there is no earthly trophy for–and certainly not one worth any ultimate embrace. 😉
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal via Wall Street Journal)
Today, Rabbi Haim Ovadia gave an interesting speech at Magen David Synagogue about the life of Jacob and his relationships to stones.
Here’s what I took away from this:
– Jacob took a stone to rest his head on (i.e. a pillow) and went to sleep.
– After Jacob dreamed about the Angels ascending and descending the ladder to the heavens, he anointed the stone with oil and consecrated it to G-d.
– When Jacob sees Rachel coming to water her father, Laban’s sheep, Jacob rolls the stone from off the well to quench their thirst.
– As Jacob blessed his 12 sons, he is called the “stone of Israel.”
So what’s the significance of all this stone in Jacob’s and in our lives?
MILESTONES: We celebrate major stages (milestones) in our lives like births, Bar/Bat Mitzvahs, graduations, weddings, and jobs/promotions, and we also give diamond (stone) rings to our beloved upon engagement.
CORNERSTONES: We build the foundations (cornerstones) for progress and advancement with our contributions to the world (giving to others, leaving the world a better place than when we got here).
HEADSTONES: We mark and honor a person’s life and place a headstone at their grave to signify our love, respect, and gratitude for everything they have done.
I’d add that hopefully, along the way in our lives, we don’t have too many problems and too much stress and get KIDNEY STONES.
Interestingly “Some people have a heart of stone, and some stones have a heart.”
Like the Western Wall (“The Kotel”) of the Temple in Jerusalem where the Jews pray to G-d–the stones in the wall have history, they have seen the joys and challenges of the people, and they have heard the stories and prayers of the worshippers that go to pray there.
Stones themselves are neutral–they can be used to celebrate, consecrate, build, and memorialize, with, and stones can also be used to hurl and smash and kill with.
For Jacob and his children, even simple stones are a way to worship G-d Almighty. 😉
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
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