Today is a Jewish fast day, remembering the day the Babylonians breached the walls of Jerusalem, so I'll be doing this show without the usual popcorn and coffee. Will I make it? Tune in to find out -- and to hear from amazing guests.
We'll start with Joe Biden's visit to the Middle East. The Saudis now say they will not increase oil production, and opening their skies was not a move toward peace with Israel. So did he achieve anything? I think he did, in spite of himself.
While Joe was away, California Gov. Gavin Newsom paid a visit to Washington, testing the waters for a presidential run -- just in case, you know, something were to ... happen to Biden. He's angling to be the alternative -- to Kamala.
Meanwhile, back home, L.A. is preparing to host the MLB All-Star Game, which was controversially moved from Atlanta last year for political reasons. What will it say about life in L.A., and California -- and blue-state America?
The primary elections are one way to take the pulse of the electorate -- and we will talk to a candidate who's in the field in Maryland, Mathew Foldi, in a newly-competitive district that Republicans think they can take in the midterms.
Special guests:
Alan Dershowitz -- noted legal pundit, on Biden's Middle East trip, and Roe
Elex Michaelson -- of Fox 11 KTTV, who interviewed Gavin Newsom in DC
Matthew Foldi -- Republican primary candidate in Maryland's 6th district
Jessica Vaugn -- model and pundit, on the economy and L.A. today
Tune in: SiriusXM Patriot 125, 7-10 p.m. ET, 4-7 p.m. PT
Call in: 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
