Szajnbrum: Rising Lion and ........

......... a Deceptive or Disturbed Mind

by Tzvi Szajnbrum, Attorney at Law and Notary | Jun 24, 2025 | Inspirational or Personal, Wars and Operation in Israel

Summary

“The first principle is that you must not fool yourself—and you are the easiest person to fool.”

The Human Mind – A Brief Introduction

The human mind is an astonishing machine, capable of fabricating (and I intentionally avoid the term “producing”) a series of so-called “facts” that are, in reality, nothing more than pseudoscience—or fairy tales, depending on how you prefer to call them.

Why do we believe in what we want, even if it isn’t real? The truth is, human beings often believe what they want to believe. They build their own version of reality—especially when they feel the need to do so.

The Art of Deception as a Trade

Physicist Richard Feynman once wisely said:

“The first principle is that you must not fool yourself—and you are the easiest person to fool.”

This very art of self-deception is what distorts history. Anyone with a taste for history (and not stories) can pick any topic and will easily find wildly differing “historical facts” recorded by various “renowned historians.”

How is this possible? A fact should be just that—a fact, not an interpretation. History should document real events. Stories are for fiction.

The answer: our minds can be manipulated—by others, but above all, by ourselves.
A simple example: the Fata Morgana, a type of mirage named after the sorceress Morgan le Fay, half-sister of King Arthur. It’s an illusion—not reality.

But as I say:

Anyone who wants to see an oasis and ignore the desert will have no trouble seeing a Fata Morgana wherever they please.

Propaganda and Psychology

The profession of psychology has shifted dramatically in recent decades. Today, mass psychology is in high demand—from retail layouts to media manipulation, it’s used to construct “realities” through propaganda.

Propaganda consists of systematic efforts to promote a belief, idea, or cause—to influence and persuade the audience.

Humanity has produced some master propagandists. Among the most infamous was Nazi propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels, who used his craft to aid in the extermination of Jews.

Propaganda became a weapon against the masses, the ultimate tool to create mental deception. The better it is executed, the more power it holds.

Mao, Stalin, Hitler, Pol Pot, Idi Amin, Saddam Hussein, Lenin, Genghis Khan, Hirohito, Hernán Cortés, Tamerlane, Nurhaci—these names together account for the extermination of at least 180 million human beings.

And I’m sure many readers won’t recognize most of these names. Human memory is forgetful—and when it suits us, we conveniently suffer from self-induced amnesia.

All tyrants and nepotists have employed propaganda. The most iconic example is Mao Zedong, the greatest mass murderer in history, responsible for 70 million deaths—mostly Chinese—and still revered by many in China as a hero.

Others are remembered as monsters—except Leopold II of Belgium, who orchestrated the genocide of 10 million Congolese yet is still seen by many in Belgium as a “humanitarian.” Proof again that mass propaganda remains alive and well.

Mass Manipulation and Mental Deception Are Twin Sisters

The Media and the Truth

It’s no secret: media can wield devastating power when it chooses to. It can push youth toward suicide, destroy entire communities, or create fanatical cults.

With the aid of modern psychology and technology, it’s now easier than ever to marginalize someone—to portray an innocent person as a monster or a pariah.

At the same time, mass propaganda creates hollow idols, illusions, “benevolent” governments, and “exemplary” leaders—none of whom are what they claim to be.

Propaganda is more powerful than any weapon. As the Proverbs teach us: “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” (Proverbs 18:21)

Whether you wield the tongue, the pen, the pencil, or the keyboard—the consequences can be equally catastrophic.

The Media, Israel, and Reality

When media outlets blindly oppose Israel, they abandon all objectivity, spreading only what suits their narrative. In doing so, they become tools of propaganda.
They care little for the truth—only the target matters.

In recent years, the international media has built a distorted image of Israel.

Israel and the Future

Never in its brief history has the State of Israel faced such immense internal and external challenges—here, I speak only of the external ones.

Final Thoughts

We must stop relying on foreign nations, other peoples, or the diaspora. The responsibility is ours—those of us who live in Israel must make the decisions.

Sadly, we are still chained to flawed assumptions. One such illusion is our belief that the U.S. is Israel’s intimate friend. Even worse, we now glorify Donald Trump for confronting Iran.

But there is no greater mistake.

It’s time we recognize this for what it is: not friendship, but geopolitical—and often deeply personal—interest. Leaders want to see their names etched in history books, like Roosevelt, Churchill, or Truman.

Trump will never be more than Trump and no more.

Netanyahu, to his credit, acted decisively during one of Israel’s most critical moments.

Either way, we are in the midst of a war that is far from over. Even when this war ends, Israel will remain surrounded by enemies—and embraced by questionable “allies.”

Conclusion:

We are far from stability—and even farther from comprehensive peace in the region.

As long as we continue to act with moral naïveté in a world that cares only for its own interests, our road to true freedom will only become more twisted and difficult.