Please see my article in The Times of Israel called “The Art of Friendship.”
My hope and prayer is that this is just a small microcosm of friendship and peace that can spread in all communities, societies, nations, and lands, so that we are no longer black or white, Jew, Muslim, or Christian, or any other divisive label, but rather that we are all children of G-d, and plain and simple, friends.
(Credit Photos: Andy and Dossy Blumenthal)
Seeing this wheelchair was a reminder to me to:
Life is tough on everybody, but when you have a disability, it can be even harder.
It doesn’t take much to see or ask if there is anything you can do to help someone.
Just the gesture alone can go a long way to making people feel valued, cared about, and that they are not alone out there.
We all need help sometimes, so why not help others? đ
(Credit Photo: Dossy Blumenthal)
Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called “Playing The Odds.”The stranger told me: Precisely fifty years ago, the doctor told me the exact same thing about having a one in a hundred chance of paralysis if they operated. So, what did I do? I went to see the Rabbi (Avigdor Miller) and ask his advice, and the Rabbi says to me: “A Jew doesnât take odds like that!”
I thought to myself while Jews donât take those wild odds (1 in a 100 of paralysis), why do they play the odds with their souls by pretending to be religious on the outside, but on the inside and away from human eyes doing evil? Surely, we all know that G-d sees everything and that a faithful judgment awaits us all. And it all made sense not to play the odds not only with our physical health, but also with our spiritual wellbeing.
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
Please see my new article in The Time of Israel called “The Power of Giving to Overcome Abuse.”
We can’t outsmart G-d, and we can’t take what isn’t rightfully ours. In effect, the charity we must give, already belongs to G-d, and we can’t keep it or invest it, because at the end of the day, G-d will have what is His. And with this realization, lying back down in bed, I sung the words from Proverbs many times to myself and smiled, thanking G-d for my children who teach their parents and for G-d enabling me to learn new lessons for my soul and how the blessings from G-d are ultimately realized.
In short, while sexual molesters (i.e. monsters) steal from the bodies of their victims and inflicts devastating harm to them physically, mentally, and emotionally, in stark contract are those who give charitably to others, giving of themselves in order to make others that are in need whole again in body, mind, and soul.
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called “When Hypocrisy Leads to Abuse.”
As many of you, I have been following the news about sexual abuse allegations against Rabbi Chaim Walder and have been horrified and disgusted that this renowned ultra-orthodox Childrenâs book author and therapist is now accused of abusing the same. Like community Rabbis (e.g. Rabbi Barry Freundel) or Jewish educators (e.g. Stanley Rosenfeld), this phenomenon of using a privileged position to take advantage of women and children is certainly, by this time, not new and remains a stain on the Jewish community, no different than that of the Catholic Church or the Boy Scouts for the abuse by its priest and leaders on those that trusted them and the religious values and ideals they represent.
Truly, these horrible acts of hurting, abusing, and scarring for life women and children (including boys) are regrettably alal around us, whether with domestic violence, rape, sexual abuse, and human trafficking. But fortunately now they are at least âout of the closetâ where rather than have the community deny the possibility that such evil exists or even circle the wagons to wholly protect the perpetrators (before fully investigating the facts), we now have greater recognition and are working towards accountability of these wrongs, and hopefully, far greater protection for people in the future.
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called “Jewish Unity Is Strength.”
It didnât matter what race or nationality the person who had been hit by the car was, she was a human being in pain and who needed the help of others. We Jews need to remember that this is life in a nutshell. Life can change in split instance for better or G-d forbid, for worse. We need one another. No man is an island. We canât afford to play holier than thou with anyone else. Only G-d can judge who is really âreligiousâ and who is wanting.
It brought to my mind the irony that with the Jewish people, we are a small minority in the world, and yet we often disagree, fight, and can be intolerant and neglectful of one another despite facing anti-Semitism and other crises. This is far from the ideal of demonstrating love and acceptance, unifying ourselves together, and becoming as strong and effective as a âlight unto nationsâ that we could and should be.
We can have our personal and communal ideals and standards, but at the same time have empathy for the journey that people are on. Therefore, we should strive to treat each other with kindness and tolerance and put aside the lofty and phony airs of personal judgement and exclusivity. Because in the end, no one knows who is laying next on the street waiting for that ambulance to come.
(Credit Painting: Dannielle Blumenthal)
Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called “What’s Your Kindness.”
When we are happy, we are able to graciously and generously give to others, and when we give to others, we are able to be happy! All the other pursuits in life such as wealth, ego, good looks, and so on are nothing but vanities (like King Solomon said in Ecclesiastes), and in the end lead to nothing but loss and suffering. However, giving and the happiness and positive spiritual energy it creates endures.
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called “Love Your Family As The Stranger.”
When it comes to strangers, itâs almost easier to put on a face, act all proper, and do whatâs right because they arenât our family, thus Avraham could run to help the strangers. Yet, when it comes to our own families, we donât feel it necessary to keep up pretenses. We sometimes say and do things to family that we would likely never say to or do in front of strangers, like Avraham telling Hagar and Ishmael to get out! We may even betray and hurt the ones we love, like when Avraham said Sarah was his sister putting her at jeopardy with Avimelekh. Further, we âsacrificeâ our children and spouses by putting our work (sometimes 24/7), social media, and our own brand and needs first, and donât adequately pay attention to whatâs really going on with our families, their needs, aspirations, and troubles; for example, Avraham was going to sacrifice Isaac, his and Sarahâs only child and âthe son of her old age.â We take for granted and even advantage of our families, because we can. And some at the further bad end of the spectrum, âgo home and kick the dog!â Yes, the pictures that everyone posts on Facebook and Instagram are what people want you to see and think about them (their personal brand): that everythingâs all rosy and they have the perfect lives and families, but I venture to guess that often, itâs far from the reality of what goes on âbehind closed doors.â
All of us need to pay attention and do whatâs right not only when we want to look good in front of others, but knowing that even in our own homes, G-d is watching what we do and how we treat each other.
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called “We Are All Disabled.”
And what happens to us after creation? Life happens, and people suffer from the happenstance and the often harsh ânurtureâ of this world. Whether from disease, accidents, or hurt inflicted on us from others â intentional or not â we all have âdisabilitiesâ and as difficult as it is to live with it, there is no shame in it!
Disabilities are an opportunity, however painful and humiliating for us to learn and grow and for others to be able to demonstrate love, compassion, and kindness to us…There is no running or hiding from disability, it is part of our mortal world. But from the scars and suffering of life, we must create healing. From disability, it is our job to turn it into ability, capability, and mobility!
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
Nice sign on the electrical pole, reminding us to always:
Be đ Kind
What kind?
The kind that has compassion on others, cares and love them, and does what’s right.
That’s really the only kind worth being! đ
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
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