Today, the 3rd day of the Jewish News Year 5783, is a "minor" (dawn to dusk) fast known as the fast of Gedaliah. It pours the assassination -- by Jews -- of the Babylonian-appointed Jewish governor of the conquered territory of Judea. He was a puppet ruler, but he was also the last of the Davidic line of kings.
The rabbis instituted the 3rd of Tishrei as a fast day in mourning for the groundless hatred that led to the assassination. It is still a relevant lesson.
We are living through a time in which leaders, though democratically elected, are seen as illegitimate, even as threats to the nation. Their enemies will stop at nothing to destroy them. It is a time of disconnect and growing instability.
The fast is a difficult yet timely one. Conveniently, it also allows the penitent to starve off some of the calories of the two-day Rosh Hashanah holiday, and to warm up for the major fast of Yom Kippur -- sunset to nightfall -- next week.
This is my first broadcast from the new office and studio in Washington, DC, where I'll be for a couple of years my neighborhood back in L.A. cleans up -- and as we follow the Trump administration from a little closer up than usual.
Topics:
- The anniversary of the attempted assassination of President Donald Trump
- The escalating tariff battle with various different trading partners
- The future of the Middle East peace talks, and ongoing antisemitism
- The Jeffrey Epstein files and whether they mean anything at all
- The continued crisis of the Texas floods, and stories of heroism and survival
And more!
Special guests:
- James Rosen - Newsmax chief Washington correspondent
- Bob Price - Breitbart News Texas reporter, on the ongoing floods
- Robert Cahill - Trafalgar Polling, on a new alliance of reliable pollsters
- Rabbi Yaakov Menken - Coalition for Jewish Values - on Israel & antisemitism
Tune in: 7-10 p.m. ET, 4-7 p.m. PT
Call: 866-957-2874
This week’s portion tells the grand story of the prophet who tried to curse people of Israel and instead ended up blessing them.
I am reminded that these portions continue to be relevant anew, as this particular reading lent the title for Israel’s recent 12 Day War against Iran, “Operation Rising Lion.”
This week's portion includes the commandment of the red heifer -- one of the classic "irrational" commandments whose fulfillment is an expression of faith. It also includes the regrettable episode in which Moses strikes the rock.
I referred to this story in a wedding speech last night. Why was Moses punished for striking the rock in Numbers, when he struck the rock without incident in Exodus -- both for the purpose of providing water to the people?
The answer is that in the interim, the Jewish people had received the Torah, which is like the marriage contract between the people of Israel and God. In a marriage, you do not resolve things by breaking boundaries, but through love.
The additional reading, from Judges Chapter 11, is the story of Jephthah (Yiftach), a man whom the leaders spurn, but to whom they must turn to save the nation. The parallels to our present political circumstances are striking.
Shabbat Shalom and Happy Fourth of July!
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