This week's portion is the opening of the book of Numbers. It describes the precise arrangement of the various tribes of Israel as they encamped, and the way in which they used to travel. It is about establishing order in a void.
Many military leaders have observed that the tiny rituals of a soldier or sailor's life -- folding clothes properly, making a bed, polishing boots, etc. -- may seem useless, but they instill a sense of discipline and coherence that later saves lives.
I am particularly fond of this portion because I read it on my bar mitzvah. The additional reading, from Hosea 2, includes two passages (21-22) that are recited every morning upon winding the tefillin straps around one's finger.
The verses talk about betrothal, and though they mean a betrothal of the Jewish people to God, I always think about my own connection to my wife, who enriched and renewed my faith, and bound me closer to it, through her.
This weekend (Saturday night through Monday at nightfall) also marks the Jewish holiday of Shavuot, or Pentecost, celebrating the anniversary of the giving of the Torah on Mount Sinai. We celebrate in many ways -- studying all night and reading the book of Ruth, which celebrates both faith and romance. And we also eat a lot of ice cream and other dairy products, remembering that the Israelites refrained from eating meat before Mount Sinai. A delightful treat!
This week, we are tackling two major areas of contention between the Trump administration and Democrat governors: fighting crime, and redistricting. The president is sending the National Guard to blue cities -- and blue states are trying to stamp out Republican representation. Is this a civil war situation?
Special guests:
- Bradley Jaye -- Breitbart News congressional correspondent, on redistricting
- Tom Manza, California Business and Industrial Alliance, on Gavin Newsom
- Jon Fleischman, veteran California political expert, on the special election
- Dan Backer, veteran political lawyer and consultant, on corruption
- DJ Mark Anthony, on a recent visit to Rome and visiting Pope Leo XIV
Tune in: SiriusXM Patriot 125, 7-10 p.m. ET / 4-7 p.m. PT
Call: 866-957-2874
This week's portion is the last of the month of Av -- also known as Menachem (Comforter) Av -- which begins in mourning and ends in celebration and anticipation of the New Year and the process of repentance and renewal.
In a similar vein, the portion features Moses offering the Israelites a choice between a blessing and a curse. They are masters of their own fates: if they obey God's commandments, they receive the blessings -- and vice versa.
The key commandment is to reject idol worship. There is said to be something magnetic about the practice of worshiping idols in the new land, such that it would be constant moral battle, both individually and collectively, in the land.
Nowadays, according to Jewish tradition, humanity has lost the urge for idol worship (and the antidote, which is divine prophecy) -- but there are several near substitutes, such as lust or excessive appetites for worldly pleasures.
We are wired for compulsive behaviors, bad habits, and even addictions. These ...
We have so much to talk about this week -- Trump's efforts to negotiate peace through negotiation, and Gavin Newsom's efforts to divide Americans through gerrymandering. We'll also talk about Playboy leaving LA and California.
Special guests:
Frances Martel - Breitbart News foreign editor, on Russia & Ukraine
Bradley Jaye - Breitbart News congressional correspondent, on Newsom
Harmeet Dhillon - DOJ Civil Rights Division chief, on the fight against DEI
Jessica Vaugn - Playboy model on political commentator, on California
Tune in: SiriusXM Patriot 125, 7-10 p.m. ET, 4-7 PT
Call: 866-957-2874
