Today is the first day of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. It is now 5784 on the Jewish, or Hebrew, calendar.
It is also the Jewish Sabbath, which means that certain Rosh Hashanah traditions, like sounding the shofar (or ram's horn), will be deferred until the second day, tomorrow.
The reason: we cannot carry items outside of a private domain on the Sabbath, and there is a worry that we might carry the shofar to the synagogue.
Why are there two days of Rosh Hashanah? It's not because of the usual reason many Jewish holidays last two days, at least outside of Israel, which is that people living outside Israel in the days before modern technology could not be sure exactly when the holiday was.
Rather, Rosh Hashanah is two days -- even in Israel -- because it was declared on the first day that witnesses saw a new moon in the sky, and if the witness testimony could not be confirmed until late in the day, that would mean that some of the Rosh Hashanah commandments could not be performed. Hence the second day -- because everyone needs a second chance, after all.
People observe the holiday by attending synagogue, and by eating festive meals, including apples dipped in honey. Some may even dip their Sabbath bread, or challah, in honey. We also wish each other a "Shanah Tovah" -- "Happy New Year" -- or "Shanah Tovah u'Metuka" -- a sweet and happy New Year.
The Torah reading for today is the story of the birth of Isaac, which is paralleled in the additional reading from Samuel. In both cases, a barren woman was given a child -- no doubt the subject of many prayers at this time of year.
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
