This week's portion includes some of the most dramatic stories of Abraham's life, including the binding of Isaac and the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.
There are so many lessons -- and questions -- in each. One of the most interesting aspects is the story of Lot's seduction by his daughters (with the aid of intoxication), who conceive by their own father. Though this is a deeply unnatural act, it is one borne of desperation, as the women are convinced their father is the last man remaining in the world. Curiously, there are important descendants of these unions -- descendants who would later play key roles.
It is one of many examples in which the Bible shows some kind of use for sin. We cannot understand why things work like this; we should not choose to follow the wrong path; but sometimes, it's strangely part of the plan. We can, then, learn to forgive ourselves and each other, and led God work His way.
This week's show will be slightly different from the norm: we'll focus on clips and topics, rather than guests -- and that, hopefully, will mean more input from the callers (unless you are all watching football on opening weekend).
Topics:
- The state of the economy
- The fight against crime
- The midterm election fight
- The struggle for peace between Russia and Ukraine
- The airstrike on the Venezuelan drug cartel
- The attempt to sink Kennedy
- The war in Gaza
- The case against Harvard
- The Trump presidency
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Call: 866-957-2874
This week's Torah portion includes several laws about conduct in civic and personal life, the common theme of which is boundaries -- setting bounds to what one may do at home, at work, and even in the battlefield.
One noteworthy passage concerns Amalek, the evil nation that attacked the Children of Israel as they made their Exodus from slavery to freedom. Deuteronomy 25:17-19 commands Jews to obliterate Amalek's memory.
The South African government accused Israel of genocide on the basis of a story about Amalek in the Book of Samuel, in which King Saul was commanded to wipe out the entire evil Amalekite nation.
Because Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu quoted this week's portion -- "Remember what Amalek did to you" (25:17), the South African government claimed he was commanding soldiers to commit genocide.
It was an absurd and malevolent misreading of the Bible and of Jewish tradition. The commandment, as observed by Jews today, is to remember the evil of Amalek and fight ...
