What a dramatic week it was... and the coming week could be even crazier -- and why not? So many things are in motion, and we're along for the ride, at home and abroad, for better or for worse.
We'll start by observing that June 24, 2023 was the first anniversary of Dobbs, the decision that overturned Roe v. Wade. It energized Democrats to hold back the "red wave" of 2022. Is abortion a losing issue for Republicans in 2024?
Next, we'll deal with the extraordinary news about Hunter Biden pleading guilty to two tax misdemeanors, plus accepting a diversion for a felony gun violation, with the foreign corruption allegations largely untouched and unexplored.
It already looked like a cover-up -- and then the IRS whistleblower testimony was released suggesting that AG Merrick Garland and the DOJ were involved in keeping a lid on the prosecution. Say what?
Then there was this weekend's rebellion in Russia. where mercenary leader Yegveny Prigozhin threatened to topple Putin's regime. Would he have ended the war, or accelerated it? And what lies ahead?
We'll discuss...
Special guests:
- Carrie Severino - Judicial Crisis Network, on Dobbs anniversary
- Emma-Jo Morris - Breitbart News political editor, on Hunter deal
- Will Scharf - Missouri AG candidate, on Trump indictment
- Frances Martel - Breitbart News foreign editor, on Russia rebels
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
