This week is a special Sabbath -- "Shabbat Nachamu," the Sabbath of Comfort. It is the first Sabbath of recovery after Tisha B'Av, the Ninth of Av, which is the saddest day on the Hebrew calendar and the culmination of three weeks of mourning for the Holy Temple.
The additional reading for this week comes from Isaiah 40: "Be comforted, be comforted, My people." In contrast to the visions of destruction and exile predicted by Jeremiah, Isaiah foretells a future of salvation, forgiveness, redemption, and, ultimately, return.
This year the message of Shabbat Nachamu is particularly poignant, because of the divisive debates in Israel and around the Jewish world about judicial reform in that country. After the passage of the first of Benjamin Netanyahu's bills, there is hope for reconciliation.
The Torah portion itself continues Moses's valediction to the people of Israel before he dies and they continue into Israel. It includes the Shema, the most famous Jewish prayer, recited several times daily, and in distress: "Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord, is One."
Today's episode is devoted to the second anniversary of the October 7 terror attacks. It was produced before the announcement of a ceasefire deal, yet remains current & relevant.
Please listen, and #bringthemhome.
SiriusXM Patriot 125, 7-10 p.m. ET (4-7 PT)
This week's portion is a beautiful poem, containing the Covenant between God and the people of Israel. But given the breaking news that Hamas may actually have agreed to release all of the Israeli hostages, I will devote my remarks to that.
One hopes it is true; if so, it makes this week's additional reading, from II Samuel 22, even more relevant: David's song of praise to the Lord for delivering him from the hand of his enemies.
"18 He rescued me from my powerful enemy,
from my foes, who were too strong for me.
19 They confronted me in the day of my disaster,
but the Lord was my support."
So much to focus on this week -- and much breaking news. A peace deal in the Middle East, perhaps? Eric Adams dropping out of the mayor's race? And a looming shutdown as Democrats push their demands beyond absurdity.
Special guests:
- Bradley Jaye - Breitbart News congressional correspondent, on the shutdown
- John Carney - Breitbart News financial editor, on the upcoming jobs report
- Jerome Hudson - Breitbart News entertainment editor, on the Kimmel fallout
- Frances Martel - Breitbart News foreign editor, on the UN and Gaza talks
- Matisyahu - award-winning reggae artist, on his new album, "Ancient Child"
Tune in: 7-10 p.m. ET, 4-7 p.m. PT
Call: 866-957-2874
