This week, the Jewish holiday of Sukkot changes the traditional reading. Instead of the final portion of the Torah, Ve'Zot Ha'Brachah -- which we read a couple days later, on the holiday of Simchat Torah, before starting over with Genesis -- we read a special portion from Exodus for the Jewish holiday of Sukkot.
The portion revisits the reconciliation between God and the Jewish people, when Moses begs Him to forgive them for the sin of the Golden Calf.
As with many reconciliations, the end result is that the two sides are even closer than they were before. In addition to revealing his presence to Moses, God gives the Jewish people the three yearly pilgrimage festivals, including Sukkot.
I was reflecting this morning on how special this holiday is, as I performed my morning prayers outside, in my family's sukkah (temporary dwelling). On this holiday alone, we not only have special rituals; we create our own sacred space.
That's unique, in terms of Jewish practice. Normally one does not pray alone; it is preferable to pray with a quorum, or minyan, of ten men in a synagogue. In Biblical times, people were discouraged from having personal altars at home.
And yet, on Sukkot, while we still are supposed to pray with the community, we are also commanded to create our own little sacred space. It is temporary, and fragile, but it is also very real -- bringing holiness into our home, and vice versa.
This week, we are tackling two major areas of contention between the Trump administration and Democrat governors: fighting crime, and redistricting. The president is sending the National Guard to blue cities -- and blue states are trying to stamp out Republican representation. Is this a civil war situation?
Special guests:
- Bradley Jaye -- Breitbart News congressional correspondent, on redistricting
- Tom Manza, California Business and Industrial Alliance, on Gavin Newsom
- Jon Fleischman, veteran California political expert, on the special election
- Dan Backer, veteran political lawyer and consultant, on corruption
- DJ Mark Anthony, on a recent visit to Rome and visiting Pope Leo XIV
Tune in: SiriusXM Patriot 125, 7-10 p.m. ET / 4-7 p.m. PT
Call: 866-957-2874
This week's portion is the last of the month of Av -- also known as Menachem (Comforter) Av -- which begins in mourning and ends in celebration and anticipation of the New Year and the process of repentance and renewal.
In a similar vein, the portion features Moses offering the Israelites a choice between a blessing and a curse. They are masters of their own fates: if they obey God's commandments, they receive the blessings -- and vice versa.
The key commandment is to reject idol worship. There is said to be something magnetic about the practice of worshiping idols in the new land, such that it would be constant moral battle, both individually and collectively, in the land.
Nowadays, according to Jewish tradition, humanity has lost the urge for idol worship (and the antidote, which is divine prophecy) -- but there are several near substitutes, such as lust or excessive appetites for worldly pleasures.
We are wired for compulsive behaviors, bad habits, and even addictions. These ...
We have so much to talk about this week -- Trump's efforts to negotiate peace through negotiation, and Gavin Newsom's efforts to divide Americans through gerrymandering. We'll also talk about Playboy leaving LA and California.
Special guests:
Frances Martel - Breitbart News foreign editor, on Russia & Ukraine
Bradley Jaye - Breitbart News congressional correspondent, on Newsom
Harmeet Dhillon - DOJ Civil Rights Division chief, on the fight against DEI
Jessica Vaugn - Playboy model on political commentator, on California
Tune in: SiriusXM Patriot 125, 7-10 p.m. ET, 4-7 PT
Call: 866-957-2874
