Today's news might reasonably be pre-empted by the story of the Baltimore Ravens kicker who knocked an NFL record 66-yard field goal off the crossbar in Detroit to win the game, crushing Lions fans' hopes for the 3,751st time.
But we do have other news to talk about. This is a big week ahead, with Congress facing three giant fiscal hurdles: 1. A budget to fund the federal government and avert a shutdown; 2. A bill to raise the debt limit and avoid default; 3. A bill on "infrastructure" that will a) cost up to $3.5 trillion and fund Socialism, and/or b) cost $1.2 trillion, mostly not funding real infrastructure.
We also have news on the pandemic: it's here to stay. We live in its world, rather than the other way around. At least that's what the drug companies say.
And the border is still a disaster. When DHS Secretary Mayorkas tells White House reporters that the Haitian migrants are all facing removal proceedings, they all nod sagely and marvel at the wonderful job Biden's doing. For people who live in the real world: "proceedings" mean the same thing as "release."
Our guests today:
- Dr. Kelli Ward, AZ GOP chair -- on the Arizona audit of the 2000 vote
- Rep. David Kustoff (R-TN) -- on the fight to fund Israel's Iron Dome
- Rep. Chip Troy (R-TX) -- on the ongoing border crisis
SiriusXM Patriot 125, 7-10 p.m. ET, 4-7 p.m. PT
Our number: 866-957-2874
This is the portion that all journalists should love: the Torah tells the story of the 12 spies, only two of whom tell the truth when the other ten shade it in a negative away (perhaps to suit a political agenda that is opposed to Moses).
It's not that the ten "lying" spies misconstrue the facts about the Land of Israel; rather, they interject their opinions that the land is impossible to conquer, which strikes unnecessary terror into the hearts of the people.
We have many examples of such fake news today -- from the Iranian propaganda outlets spreading false claims that they are winning the war, to California politicians spreading false horror stories about ICE raids in L.A.
The people realize, too late, that they have been fooled, and once they are condemned to die in the desert, they try to rush into Israel -- only to be defeated by the inhabitants, as the spies predicted that they would be.
But as consolation, God gives the people new commandments -- focused on things they must ...
This week's portion discusses the procedure for lighting the menorah, the holy seven-branched lamp, in the Tabernacle (and later the Temple). It also describes an episode where the people crave meat, and God punishes them by giving it to them in excess. We also read the story of Miriam, Moses's sister, who is punished with the spiritual skin blemish of tzara'at for speaking about her brother, thus violating the prohibition against lashon hara (evil tongue).
I heard a fantastic sermon this week about the lighting of the menorah: that while only the priests were qualified to clean and purify the menorah, anyone could light it. A reminder that each of us can inspire others along the way.
This week we study the vow of the Nazirite; a reminder that sometimes trying to be too holy is excessive, and the best we can do is to be the best that we are.
https://www.chabad.org/parshah/torahreading_cdo/aid/2495720/p/complete/jewish/Naso-Torah-Reading.htm
