What can one say after that surprisingly thrilling World Cup final? A great champion, Argentina's Messi -- who lost in 2014 -- has achieved his goal, while passing the torch to the only man to score more goals, France's Mbappe.
Well -- now, perhaps, Argentina can tackle inflation, which the country's labor minister said it would not do until after the country won the World Cup. Maybe things can finally turn around in that country -- and in ours? Who knows.
One thing is for sure: we are facing a crisis at the border, with the imminent end of Title 42, the only enforcement mechanism the Biden administration hadn't canceled. Amazingly, the media are blaming Republicans for the crisis.
We'll discuss the border, and some troubling news about suicide, but we'll also leave room for happiness and celebration -- discussing a new book about Sesame Street in Russia, and enjoying a live lighting of the Chanukah menorah.
Special guests:
- John Binder - Breitbart News immigration reporter (and fashion consultant)
- Natasha Rogoff - television producer and author of "Muppets in Moscow"
- John Wordin - CEO of LifeScore, on preventing veteran suicides
- Brandon Darby - Breitbart Texas editor and chief border reporter
Tune in: SiriusXM Patriot 125 7-10 p.m. ET, 4-7 p.m. PT
Call in: 866-957-2874
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
