Mendel Bluming | Blogger

Has there ever been a time in Jewish history when practically all synagogues were closed?!  These are unprecedented times in so many ways. It is interesting that in the same Torah portion in which the Torah commands us to congregate and create a sanctuary for G-d it also calls upon us to observe the Shabbat. Maybe the coronavirus meaning of that, is that there are times when it is not possible to congregate to build a sanctuary for G-d and at that time G-d finds his sanctuary in your home through Shabbat. Instead of congregating in space, we can congregate in time. If the entire Jewish people are united through the observing of Shabbat each person to whatever extent they are up to, we become united as one. It is not social distancing today, it is health precaution distancing but our social connections are finding deeper roots. We are finding so many ways to connect by being there for each other whether it is through online conferencing, face time looking out for each ...

How do you deal with feeling unsettled and a bit anxious during this virus, our sense of certainly that we so rely on seems gone. Here's a thought: It is not that we have lost our sense of certainty. We have lost our illusion of certainty. We never had it to begin with. This could be majorly unsettling, or amazingly liberating. This tiny virus of 125 nanometres has sent the entire world into chaos. All of our plans are up in the air, markets are going crazy, entire countries shutting down, and we have no clue what the future holds. But that is always the case. We never know what the future holds. We only think we do, and keep getting surprised when things don't pan out the way we expected. Now the mask is off. We have to admit our vulnerability. What will happen next? We don't know. Our experts don't know. Our leaders don't know. Only G-d knows. And that is the point. Only G-d knows. Close your eyes and feel the uncertainty, make peace with...

On the Jewish holiday of Purim there are four important mitzvot that each person is meant to perform. One is to give food gifts to each other, the other is to have a festive meal and the third is to listen to the reading of the Megillah in the evening and morning. The fourth one is called Gifts to the Poor/ Matanot Lievyonim. Isn’t that interesting? It is not called charity to the poor or alms to the poor, it is called gifts to the poor What’s the difference between them? A world of difference... If you came home on your wedding anniversary with a gift envelope for your wife that says ‘charity’, you had better duck for cover, no matter how generous the amount in the envelope was. I wouldn’t advise you to try the experiment, rather suffice with imagining it... If however the envelope was labeled ‘matana’ (gift), and the amount fit her expectations, you will achieve the desired results. Try it – the gift one – you will no doubt be happy with the results. Why the...

I was interviewed for a blog and out of concern that you will not read it :) I am posting it here in order to share the ideas with you: “So Rabbi Menachem Bluming, many these days are taking a day to unplug and to disconnect, to regain their sanity and to center themselves, in what way does that differ from the biblical Sabbath? Why the need for the many restrictions and observances?” “Yes, although in the past the idea of taking a day to disconnect may have been less appreciated and recognized, today it is an absolute necessity,” Mendel Bluming asserted. “However,” Bluming continued, “Shabbat is so much more than disconnecting. The Talmud in the tractate of Shabbat page 10 teaches us that before God shared the Sabbath with the Jewish people he told Moses, “I have a precious gift in My storehouse of hidden treasures. Shabbat is its name, and I desire to give it to the Jewish people; go and inform them.” “Why did he deem it a gift rather than a list of restrictions?” M...

When you listen to the news it sounds like world is descending into utter chaos rather than marching toward a redemptive state! Remember though, that bad stories keep listeners more captivated! There must be a villain if it is to sell. In every key factor, the world is better today than it has ever been, and it's just getting better. We are healthier, safer, freer, smarter and richer than our forebears. And we don't even know it. Some examples: - In 1950, 75% of the world population was living in extreme poverty. Today it is down to 10%. Food is more accessible and abundant today than ever before. - International conflict is at an all time low. Historically, the chances of dying in battle or as a result of war were extremely high. Today they hover at around 0.04%. - Two hundred years ago, 40% of babies died before the age of five. Today that figure is a tiny fraction. Even in Africa their rate has halved in the last 30 years. - Until very recently,...

Flowers are useless. They are impractical, temporary, and they are not an investment. But that's precisely their power. You buy them for no reason other than because your wife likes them. You do it just for her. This is the very definition of romance—doing something just to express love. Nobody needs flowers, they won't be around forever, but they make someone whom you love smile, so you buy them. That's why our relationship with G d is so romantic. He needs nothing from us humans, and we won't be around forever. But He gets immense pleasure out of it when we do a mitzvah, an act that He has commanded. So we do it. Not for what we get out of it, and not for what He gets out of it, but just because He likes it and wants it. The moment we do something that makes no sense to us but makes our loved one happy, we have truly transcended ourselves and connected with someone else. Stop thinking about yourself and think about her. That's the power of the ro...

The panic and travel warnings and changes of business plans are great due to the spread of the coronavirus. I was interviewed for an article about it from a Jewish perspective and because you probably have not read that article, I will post it here :) “So Rabbi Menachem Mendel Bluming are there any Jewish teachings, lessons or travel warnings that you are receiving internally regarding this virus?”, we asked. “Before I proceed of course the Torah requires that we follow medical advice and I am not a doctor nor am I the CDC and so I encourage everyone to follow the advice of medical professionals”, Bluming began. “Here are a few thoughts. In truth this season of the regular virus has been and continues to be catastrophic and yet it has not caused the same panic as the coronavirus. Somehow because we seem to be used to the regular virus each year we think that it is somewhat under control or under our control and it does not cause us fear. So too so many people engage in ac...