Tonight marks the beginning of Yom Kippur, the day of Atonement.
As in past years, I have tried to reach out to people privately with whom I have had painful disagreements or whom I may have wronged in some way. Not everyone reaches back, but some do, and we mend things and move on.
There's also a lot of soul-searching that goes on. I've done a lot of work on myself (if I can say that without sounding too narcissistic) during the pandemic, and I think the last year was one of growth. But there are still things to tackle.
Some days are very, very tough. I share a lot on social media, but not that. I wrestle with questions and feelings that I can't really talk about (and which you probably don't want to hear about). But if you're struggling, you're not alone.
The traditional greetings for Yom Kippur are "G'mar chatimah tovah," which means "May you be inscribed for a completely good signature [in the Book of Life, in which every creature's fate is said to be recorded]; and "Well over the fast," because of the 25-hour fast that lasts through tomorrow at nightfall.
I'm grateful for the year that's been. I'm hoping for the strength for the next.
This is my first broadcast from the new office and studio in Washington, DC, where I'll be for a couple of years my neighborhood back in L.A. cleans up -- and as we follow the Trump administration from a little closer up than usual.
Topics:
- The anniversary of the attempted assassination of President Donald Trump
- The escalating tariff battle with various different trading partners
- The future of the Middle East peace talks, and ongoing antisemitism
- The Jeffrey Epstein files and whether they mean anything at all
- The continued crisis of the Texas floods, and stories of heroism and survival
And more!
Special guests:
- James Rosen - Newsmax chief Washington correspondent
- Bob Price - Breitbart News Texas reporter, on the ongoing floods
- Robert Cahill - Trafalgar Polling, on a new alliance of reliable pollsters
- Rabbi Yaakov Menken - Coalition for Jewish Values - on Israel & antisemitism
Tune in: 7-10 p.m. ET, 4-7 p.m. PT
Call: 866-957-2874
This week’s portion tells the grand story of the prophet who tried to curse people of Israel and instead ended up blessing them.
I am reminded that these portions continue to be relevant anew, as this particular reading lent the title for Israel’s recent 12 Day War against Iran, “Operation Rising Lion.”
This week's portion includes the commandment of the red heifer -- one of the classic "irrational" commandments whose fulfillment is an expression of faith. It also includes the regrettable episode in which Moses strikes the rock.
I referred to this story in a wedding speech last night. Why was Moses punished for striking the rock in Numbers, when he struck the rock without incident in Exodus -- both for the purpose of providing water to the people?
The answer is that in the interim, the Jewish people had received the Torah, which is like the marriage contract between the people of Israel and God. In a marriage, you do not resolve things by breaking boundaries, but through love.
The additional reading, from Judges Chapter 11, is the story of Jephthah (Yiftach), a man whom the leaders spurn, but to whom they must turn to save the nation. The parallels to our present political circumstances are striking.
Shabbat Shalom and Happy Fourth of July!
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