This week's reading focuses on the completion of the Tabernacle, for which the entire people gather. The whole text celebrates the beauty of art and craftsmanship, in the context of a communal gathering for a ritual purpose.
This portion beautifully illustrates both the importance of art within Judaism, and its role, as well as the spirit of unity that prevails in the best of times.
The additional readings consider the story of one of the righteous kings of Judah, who was named Jehoash. After the high priest, Jehoiada, eliminated the evil regime of Queen Athaliah, Jehoash establishes a system for contributions to the Temple -- one that will not be subject to corruption or misallocation.
Art and unity are only possible with prosperity -- and fiscal transparency!
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 ...
