This week's portion begins with the physical requirements for the priesthood, as well as the sacrificial animals: both must be free from blemishes. It moves on to basic laws of the Sabbath and holidays.
The portion ens with the laws on dealing with blasphemy, and then the basic civil code of restitution for personal injury damages -- the value of an eye for an eye, the value of a tooth for a tooth, and so on.
It might seem odd that the Torah is so exacting about physical perfection. After all, isn't the role of the priest, and the animal, a spiritual one? Why must both be free of physical deformities?
Furthermore, isn't that unfair? We cannot help it is we are born with imperfections, or suffer accidents. The Torah seems to be excluding people who may have suffered through no fault of their own.
A friend once told me that the essence of the left-wing vision for the world is radical equality -- which leads to tyranny; and that the essence of the right-wing vision is excellence -- which can be cruel.
The Torah rejects the idea of radical equality. It says that some people simply will be born into certain roles, and that some people will be excluded, and that there is nothing we can do about it.
But it also includes the idea that in a different context, we really are all equal. The laws of blasphemy apply to all. The laws of restitution apply to all. We are equal before the law, always.
This week happens to coincide with Pesach Sheni -- the second Passover, when people who were ritually impure the month before can offer up their Passover sacrifices. It is a "make-up" day.
The "cruelty" of exacting standards for the Passover service excluded them. But they still have the same obligations as everyone else -- and they will have an opportunity to worship, too, in their own way.
https://www.chabad.org/parshah/torahreading.asp?aid=2492749&jewish=Emor-Torah-Reading.htm&p=complete
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
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