Yesterday, I accompanied my cousin to the gravesite of her dad, my uncle, whom she barely knew, in Port Elizabeth (Gqberha). She had never been there before; it was incredibly meaningful to help her make that connection.
I had been to the grave before. It sits alongside a coastal road, which in turn runs through PE's industrial core, and its port on the Algoa Bay. It is generally a gritty city, built by coal and rail, and often buffeted by blustering winds.
Yet it was quite wonderful on Sunday morning -- warm and humid, with a thin layer of clouds providing a bit of shade. On the beach, swimmers of every color competed in local races; boxers sparred; children ran and played games.
The low tide made the beachfront especially beautiful. Families lounged in tidepools, safe behind the rocks from the Indian Ocean waves. Dogs waded through the shallow water. Fishermen cast their rods; surfers braved the break.
I finally felt a sense of peace that had eluded me -- both in my first hectic two days in Cape Town (where I am back, now, writing this), and in Johannesburg, which is a study in chaos. Then it was back to the airport, and Cape Town...
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.
...
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
Call in: 866-957-2874
