We have a very special show this week -- starting with a great hour-long conversation with South Africa's Gareth Cliff, a radio and podcasting host who is one of the most insightful observers of America's political scene from abroad.
Gareth offers a unique perspective on the Mar-a-Lago raid; on the electricity shortage; and also -- you're going to want to hear this -- on the student loan bailout. He also talks about the prospects for political change in South Africa.
Next, we discuss the student loan bailout -- which has proven to be surprisingly unpopular, given that it's essentially free money. It turns out that Americans care about responsibility and fairness -- even above short-term self-interest.
Special guests:
Gareth Cliff - broadcaster and podcaster from CliffCentral.com
Noah Weinrich - spokesperson for Heritage Action, on the student loan bailout
John Carney - Breitbart News financial editor on the student loan bailout
Michael McAdams - NRCC comms director, on prospects for the midterms
Lee Smith - author of The Plot Against the President, on Mar-a-Lago raid
Paris Dennard - consultant and pundit, on midterms and Rayshard Brooks
Tune in:
SiriusXM 125, 7-10 p.m. ET, 4-7 p.m. PT
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
