This week features one of the greatest stories of the latter two books of the Torah: the rebellion of Korach, which came after the treachery of the spies and the failure of the people to enter the Land of Israel.
It is not surprising that there might be some resistance to Moses's leadership; after all, the idea he had failed was not so far-fetched. What is curious is that some of Korach's descendants turn out great.
The Prophet Samuel, for example, one of the great moral lights of the Bible, was a descendant of Korach. Chabad.org explains that this is a sign of the power of repentance; we read the additional portion from the Book of Samuel (11:14 - 12:22) in his honor.
https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/112283/jewish/Samuel.htm
The story from Samuel talks about the rebellion of the people at the end of the age of judges, when they demanded a king. It was a form of insubordination -- but in this case, God blessed the people, even though Samuel was skeptical.
The great insight of Samuel is that the king, too, must be subject to the laws and commandments of God -- but without being a high priest or religious leader. Thus was the rule of law established -- which Korach, Samuel's ancestor, had threatened to disrupt.
That is the true repentance -- one of convictions, not just deeds.
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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