Article in The Times of Israel by Andy Blumenthal: My dear father, Fred Blumenthal (ZT”L), like many from his generation, used to read Reader’s Digest. I remember that there was a section called “Points to Ponder,” which I thought was a good title for things that can have a deeper and more profound meaning in our lives. So in this vein, I’d like to share a variety of thoughts that may give you pause to ponder as well.

1. 1/22/23, 2:10 AM Ten 'Points to Ponder' | Andy Blumenthal | The Blogs
https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/ten-points-to-ponder/ 1/6
THE BLOGS
Andy Blumenthal
Leadership With Heart
Ten ‘Points to Ponder’
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2. 1/22/23, 2:10 AM Ten 'Points to Ponder' | Andy Blumenthal | The Blogs
https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/ten-points-to-ponder/ 2/6
Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal
My dear father, Fred Blumenthal (ZT”L), like many from his generation, used to
read Reader’s Digest. I remember that there was a section called “Points to
Ponder,” which I thought was a good title for things that can have a deeper and
more profound meaning in our lives. So in this vein, I’d like to share a variety of
thoughts that may give you pause to ponder as well.
Humor is medicine.
1. “America is the best country in the U.S.”
This is sarcastically stated by comedian Judah Friedlander, who makes fun of a
lot of stupid things people do in this country, including thinking America is in
the USA (and not the other way around)!
2. “Who is Rabbi Tellus?”

3. 1/22/23, 2:10 AM Ten 'Points to Ponder' | Andy Blumenthal | The Blogs
https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/ten-points-to-ponder/ 3/6
In a synagogue that I grew up with as a little child, the Rabbi in his weekly
sermons always used to quote from the Rabbis and say, “The Rabbis tell us…,”
but my Oma (grandmother), who was hard of hearing, used to misunderstand
what he was saying and would ask afterwards, “Who is Rabbi Tellus?” Of course,
this made everyone laugh and helped us remember that laughter is an elixir of
life almost as important as the sermon itself.
Suffering is a distraction.
3. “A world without G-d is savagery.”
I don’t remember where I heard or read this, but I really like it. Think about
what life in this world would be like without G-d; that’s right, it would be
complete chaos, corruption, and savagery (not just the elements of it we have
now!). Having faith and knowing that G-d is with us and watching us makes it
easier to do the right thing in life and avoid the mass devolution into a dog-eat-
dog world.
4. “Violence is the short road, and illness is the long road.”
I recently heard this in a wild west action movie where one of the main
characters considers the difference between violence and sickness as a way to
the end of human life: violence can be more brutal but kills faster, whereas
illness eats away at a person over time. Regardless of how and when you die,
what’s most important is how you lived.

4. 1/22/23, 2:10 AM Ten 'Points to Ponder' | Andy Blumenthal | The Blogs
https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/ten-points-to-ponder/ 4/6
5. “You’re not choosing the pain, but you’re choosing the suffering.”
This is from psychologist Lori Gottlieb, who explains that we all feel pain from
hurtful things in our lives, but it is we who choose whether to simply suffer with
it or learn from it and do something constructive to improve our lives.
Striving is what we’re here for.
6. “In choosing one thing, we must reject another.”
We can’t have it all. All of life is about making choices. Whenever you choose
one thing, you are rejecting others. Almost by definition, you can’t ever be fully
happy with your choices because you had to give up other things for them.
Moreover, you’ll never really know if you made the “right” choice.
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5. 1/22/23, 2:10 AM Ten 'Points to Ponder' | Andy Blumenthal | The Blogs
https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/ten-points-to-ponder/ 5/6
7. “Normal is just a setting on a washing machine.”
I read this in Catherine Gildiner’s book, Good Morning Monster. The question
this invokes is whether there are really any “normal” people out there in this
world or whether we are all just varying degrees of tarnished human beings
trying to not only survive but also make things better.
8. “Failure is a process.”
I heard this on the television show Alone, where contestants try to outsurvive
their competition. The point is that failing (no matter how badly or how many
times) doesn’t make you a failure; it’s just part of the process of learning to
succeed!
There is always cause for hope.
9. “A foolish man lives for himself; a wise man lives for a purpose.”
This is a quote attributed to Italian Renaissance banker and politician Cosimo
de’ Medici. Despite being enormously wealthy and a huge patron of the arts and
culture, he realized that living with purpose is really what provides meaning,
resilience, and hope.
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6. 1/22/23, 2:10 AM Ten 'Points to Ponder' | Andy Blumenthal | The Blogs
https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/ten-points-to-ponder/ 6/6
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Andy Blumenthal is a dynamic, award-winning leader who writes frequently about Jewish life,
culture, and security. All opinions are his own.
10. “Wherever shadows fall, light is always nearby.”
This is from a Thai martial arts movie. It reminds me of the Jewish belief of how
just one small light can dispel a lot of darkness in the world. This is another
culturally hopeful way to put it: whenever we are overcome by dark shadows, we
can rest assured that light and life are not far away.
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