This week's portion tells the story of the birth and boyhood of Isaace, from the promise of the angels to the binding of Isaac for sacrifice on Mount Moriah. In between we the end of Sodom and Gomorrah, and the wells of Be'er Sheva.
In a portion with many famous passages, perhaps the most famous is Abraham's argument with God, in which he challenges the Lord to act in accordance with his own principles, and spare the city of Sodom for the sake of the innocent.
Ultimately, there are not enough innocent people -- even Lot behaves rather strangely -- and the city is destroyed. There is a later parallel to this story, and to the behavior of the Sodomites, at the end of the book of Judges (19-21).
There is also a parallel, told in the additional Haftarah reading (Kings II 4:1-37), of the Prophet Elisha and the good Shunemmitess, whom he promises a son -- and whom he later assists by bringing his son back from apparent death to life.
I once heard Aviva Zornberg say in a lecture that the child who is resurrected is the Prophet Jonah, and that his prayer in the belly of the whale is a recounting of his experience of being dead until he was revived through Elisha's assistance.
This is the final edition of THE AGENDA -- finished a few days early!
This week's portion elucidates some of the first laws and principles of the Torah that follow the Ten Commandments, including -- a message particularly relevant to freed slaves -- the Jewish restrictions on indentured servitude.
God also provides the basic civil laws of Jewish society, governing almost every area of life -- in this one portion! -- as well as several basic principles of faith and religious observance. Moses then ascends Sinai for 40 days.
One of the laws God gives is the law against taunting a foreigner. This is different from allowing people to enter your land illegally; it is about showing respect, however, for people from other lands and other groups.
I am reminded of the importance of this principle because of the rhetoric lately attacking Elon Musk, a fellow South African-turned-American, for his foreign roots -- often by people who favor illegal immigration, ironically.
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Since the Palisades Fire on January 7, my posts have been fairly sparse. I have just been so busy -- fighting the fire, covering the fire, helping neighbors, and launching a new podcast, "Three Homeless Guys," with two local friends.
Things are up and down. My family is still displaced, and we haven't resolved our living situation. We are awaiting answers from the insurance company (State Farm) on what they will cover, including alternative living expenses.
There are some incredible opportunities opening up -- more on that later -- and our kids are generally doing well, though this has been hard for them as well (especially the two middle kids, who miss their friends and their house).
The emotion of it all hit me yesterday. Today I feel wrung out. But I also feel that, in a way, going through the fire has been a process of refinement, of re-casting in a new mould, to face new challenges. And to win each new day.
So much to talk about, once again, as the Trump administration continues at breakneck pace. From DOGE chewing through the federal bureaucracy, to Marco Rubio heading out on his first missions for Trump, there's so much...
Special guests:
Assemblyman Carl DeMaio -- on the L.A. fires and reforming CA insurance
Matt Boyle -- Breitbart News political editor, on DOGE and confirmations
Jamie Paige -- founder of the Westside Current, on L.A. politics and the fires
Frances Martel -- Breitbart News foreign editor, on Rubio and Russia/Ukraine
Rob Hersov -- South African commentator, on SA's fight with the White House
Tune in: SiriusXM Patriot 125, 7-10 p.m. ET, 4-7 p.m. PT
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