There is a Jewish tradition that natural-flowing waters, such as rivers and oceans, have the capacity to provide spiritual cleansing and renewals. The practice of ritual immersion, which is done by women after menstruation ends and done by men before Jewish holidays, is the origin of baptism in Christianity.
Normally, the ritual of immersion is performed in a mikveh, or ritual bath, which is typically indoors. Though initially filled with waters of natural origin, a mikveh typically remains enclosed. This allows it to be heated to comfortable temperatures, and also allows for privacy (since the immersion must be nude).
But outdoor immersion is still practiced, where possible. And the practice means that the entire landscape around us -- wherever there is natural water -- has little spiritual portals, places where the physical world and the spiritual world intersect, if you know the right way to immerse and the right blessing to say.
Being aware of this practice -- of the direct spiritual potential of the natural world around us -- means experiencing reality in a slightly altered fashion. It means that the landscape itself can feel invested with potential -- if the quiet, secret paths can be found, if you have the daring to take them where they lead.
This is my first broadcast from the new office and studio in Washington, DC, where I'll be for a couple of years my neighborhood back in L.A. cleans up -- and as we follow the Trump administration from a little closer up than usual.
Topics:
- The anniversary of the attempted assassination of President Donald Trump
- The escalating tariff battle with various different trading partners
- The future of the Middle East peace talks, and ongoing antisemitism
- The Jeffrey Epstein files and whether they mean anything at all
- The continued crisis of the Texas floods, and stories of heroism and survival
And more!
Special guests:
- James Rosen - Newsmax chief Washington correspondent
- Bob Price - Breitbart News Texas reporter, on the ongoing floods
- Robert Cahill - Trafalgar Polling, on a new alliance of reliable pollsters
- Rabbi Yaakov Menken - Coalition for Jewish Values - on Israel & antisemitism
Tune in: 7-10 p.m. ET, 4-7 p.m. PT
Call: 866-957-2874
This week’s portion tells the grand story of the prophet who tried to curse people of Israel and instead ended up blessing them.
I am reminded that these portions continue to be relevant anew, as this particular reading lent the title for Israel’s recent 12 Day War against Iran, “Operation Rising Lion.”
This week's portion includes the commandment of the red heifer -- one of the classic "irrational" commandments whose fulfillment is an expression of faith. It also includes the regrettable episode in which Moses strikes the rock.
I referred to this story in a wedding speech last night. Why was Moses punished for striking the rock in Numbers, when he struck the rock without incident in Exodus -- both for the purpose of providing water to the people?
The answer is that in the interim, the Jewish people had received the Torah, which is like the marriage contract between the people of Israel and God. In a marriage, you do not resolve things by breaking boundaries, but through love.
The additional reading, from Judges Chapter 11, is the story of Jephthah (Yiftach), a man whom the leaders spurn, but to whom they must turn to save the nation. The parallels to our present political circumstances are striking.
Shabbat Shalom and Happy Fourth of July!
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