This week's portion continues Moses's valediction to the Israelites. He promises them that God will reward them if they obey His commandments, and reminds them of how good He was to them during years of want and desert wandering.
Crucially, Moses reminds the people not to believe that when they become wealthy, and when they defeat their enemies, that they have done so because of their own efforts alone. He tells them God is the determinant of success.
In doing so, he reminds them of how God had mercy on them after the sin of the Golden Calf; had He not been merciful, they would have been destroyed.
He also tells them that the Land of Israel is a land watered by rain -- not by the Nile, as Egypt was. The implication is that Israel requires faith, and frugality, and careful planning -- while Egypt could be lazy and still see its fields watered.
The prosperity of Israel would depend on the people's faith and their morality.
This is the seed of the idea, embraced by the Founders of the American Republic, that morality was the foundation of any successful nation -- that the best constitution would be undone by a lack of personal and civic virtue.
The additional reading, from Isaiah (49:14 - 51:3), is the second of the portions of comfort that are read between the end of Tisha B'av and the launch of the Jewish New Year. It promises that God will not long forsake His people.
Today's episode is devoted to the second anniversary of the October 7 terror attacks. It was produced before the announcement of a ceasefire deal, yet remains current & relevant.
Please listen, and #bringthemhome.
SiriusXM Patriot 125, 7-10 p.m. ET (4-7 PT)
This week's portion is a beautiful poem, containing the Covenant between God and the people of Israel. But given the breaking news that Hamas may actually have agreed to release all of the Israeli hostages, I will devote my remarks to that.
One hopes it is true; if so, it makes this week's additional reading, from II Samuel 22, even more relevant: David's song of praise to the Lord for delivering him from the hand of his enemies.
"18 He rescued me from my powerful enemy,
from my foes, who were too strong for me.
19 They confronted me in the day of my disaster,
but the Lord was my support."
So much to focus on this week -- and much breaking news. A peace deal in the Middle East, perhaps? Eric Adams dropping out of the mayor's race? And a looming shutdown as Democrats push their demands beyond absurdity.
Special guests:
- Bradley Jaye - Breitbart News congressional correspondent, on the shutdown
- John Carney - Breitbart News financial editor, on the upcoming jobs report
- Jerome Hudson - Breitbart News entertainment editor, on the Kimmel fallout
- Frances Martel - Breitbart News foreign editor, on the UN and Gaza talks
- Matisyahu - award-winning reggae artist, on his new album, "Ancient Child"
Tune in: 7-10 p.m. ET, 4-7 p.m. PT
Call: 866-957-2874
