Blum's Blog
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Israel Wrap-up: Discovering Our Roots
I was listening to an interview of my daughter Lizzy Savetsky when she was asked: “What keeps you from blowing away when the winds of misfortune come your way?” Lizzy’s
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Update on Lizzy: Life Is Precious & Fragile
Those of you who are regular readers of my weekly posts are aware that my daughter Lizzy Savetsky is an outspoken activist supporting Israel and the Jews. Laurie and I
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Our Week in Israel: A Family on a Mission
In this weekly Family Legacy Planning series, I have often stressed the importance of a Family Mission Statement. Knowing who you are and what you stand for anchors a family.
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Pay Attention to the Signs: Learning Warning Signs from Vishniak’s Pre-Holocaust Europe
I wrote last week about our impactful visit to Yad Vashem, Israel’s Holocaust Memorial, on our trip a couple of weeks ago to Israel. The night before that tour, we
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What I Learned at Yad Vashem, Israel’s Holocaust Memorial
As promised last week, I will continue sharing highlights and lessons learned from our week in Israel, a glorious week that came to a horrifying end as Hamas began a
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A Week in Israel: From Highest Highs to Lowest Lows
I just returned from a dream week in Israel that ended in a nightmare. I am still wrapping my head around the highs and lows of this trip to the
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Senator Feinstein’s Other Battle, Through the Eyes of President Reagan’s Daughter
Senator Dianne Feinstein, who died last week, was the longest serving woman in the U.S. Senate. Last week’s post told the story of her battle against her stepdaughters. Today’s post
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Inheritance in a Blended Family: Senator Feinstein vs. the Blum Girls
For 50% of today’s wedding couples, it’s not their first trip to the altar. Moreover, 65% of those remarriages involve children from a prior marriage. Even in the best of blended
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Out of the Mouths of Babes: Lessons from My Granddaughter Stella
Stella Savetsky is the first born of our five grandkids. Each is equally precious, but for several reasons our 10-year-old granddaughter Stella is truly a special soul. Laurie and I are
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Family Travel Opportunity? Say Yes!
Laurie and I were invited to a cousin’s wedding in Baltimore and debated whether to go. You know the narrative: we’re so busy; we’ve been doing so much traveling lately.
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Estate Sale Leftovers Become Another Person’s Treasures
Last week’s post, “Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff,” addressed the challenges of dividing personal effects among the heirs and concluded that in a Will, there’s no “small stuff.” Even mixing
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Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff? There’s No “Small Stuff” in a Will
Grandma’s mixing bowl. Grandpa’s fishing pole. We’ve all been told: “Don’t sweat the small stuff.” Isn’t this just “small stuff?” Wrong! According to Kansas attorney Tim O’Sullivan, when someone dies, the