This week is the Sabbath known as "Shabbat Shuva," the Sabbath of Return (NOT "shiva," which means "mourning" ). It is a special day between Rosh Hashanah (the Jewish New Year) and Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement).
The portion, one of the last of the Torah, deals with Moses's final valediction to the Children of Israel. He lays out the moral choice between good and evil, and -- this is crucial -- he tells them that they will fail, and they will be punished.
This is, at first, confusing: why set people up to fail? But Moses is doing the opposite: he is setting them up to succeed by telling them that even though they will stumble, they should not give up, because they will win eventually.
When you listen to recovering addicts describe their story, most of them admit that they have failed -- "fallen off the wagon" -- at least once or twice. It is important to see that as part of the recovery, rather than the end of recovery.
The point is not to excuse lapses, but to place them in an appropriate context -- one in which the overall trajectory is positive, and in which mistakes become less frequent and less damaging. The key is commitment over the long term.
Success requires courage, above all. As Moses says, repeating an earlier blessing he gave to Joshua, "Be strong and courageous!" (Deut. 31:6). And sometimes emotional courage is just as tough as any physical courage you can muster.
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
