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...
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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:
And more!
Special guests:
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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