Benjamin Netanyahu just delivered a stunning speech about peace at the United Nations. I must admit that I choked up at several points. This is an incredible speech and will be remembered by history.
https://x.com/netanyahu/status/1705233834705379535?s=20
Moreover, it comes at the end of a week in which Israeli commentators on both the left and the right are declaring Netanyahu's visit to the U.S. a success. He charmed Silicon Valley; he won an invite to the White House; he made Zelensky happy; and the Saudi Crown prince said all the right things (and left out all the right things) on Fox News. This is a turning point for Netanyahu.
By that, I mean two things. One: Netanyahu now has a chance of achieving a real peace with Saudi Arabia, and doing so independent of whoever is in control of the White House, whether Trump or Biden.
Two: Netanyahu's status has been enhanced, such that he will return home having been recognized as a statesman, not a pariah -- despite the Israeli opposition spending money in the U.S. to protest his visit.
It is possible that Netanyahu will return in further command of his coalition, and with the advantage on the issue of judicial reform, where he may be able to secure a broad political agreement.
And as for the corruption charges against him... what about that?
Truly, an inspiring display of leadership and vision, overcoming incredible threats and challenges, internal and external.
This week's show will be slightly different from the norm: we'll focus on clips and topics, rather than guests -- and that, hopefully, will mean more input from the callers (unless you are all watching football on opening weekend).
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This week's Torah portion includes several laws about conduct in civic and personal life, the common theme of which is boundaries -- setting bounds to what one may do at home, at work, and even in the battlefield.
One noteworthy passage concerns Amalek, the evil nation that attacked the Children of Israel as they made their Exodus from slavery to freedom. Deuteronomy 25:17-19 commands Jews to obliterate Amalek's memory.
The South African government accused Israel of genocide on the basis of a story about Amalek in the Book of Samuel, in which King Saul was commanded to wipe out the entire evil Amalekite nation.
Because Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu quoted this week's portion -- "Remember what Amalek did to you" (25:17), the South African government claimed he was commanding soldiers to commit genocide.
It was an absurd and malevolent misreading of the Bible and of Jewish tradition. The commandment, as observed by Jews today, is to remember the evil of Amalek and fight ...