You may have noted my apology on Twitter, regarding something I said last Saturday. I'm reiterating that here.
https://twitter.com/joelpollak/status/1713230201537376497
I am taking down the first tweet I posted on X when I learned about the terror attack by Hamas against Israeli civilians last Saturday. And I'm apologizing for it, because it's hurtful, and it's dangerous if it's left up and serves as any kind of justification for evil. (cont ->)
My first reaction when I heard the shocking news from Israel was to do whatever I could to defend the people -- my people -- from attack. I raced home from my synagogue, interrupting the Sabbath and the Jewish holiday. I felt I had to do something, anything.
I sent a tweet urging Israel to "wipe out" Gaza after evacuating civilians aside from military-age men. My exact words:
"I have broken the Sabbath and Jewish holiday to deliver this message: Israel should wipe out Gaza. Allow 48 hours to evacuate women, children and the elderly. Destroy everything that remains, plow it under, and annex it to Israel. This is the end for Hamas and Palestinian terror."
We have all said things we regret in moments of anger and fear and sadness, even to people we love. Generally, I avoid social media when I am angry, or upset, for precisely this reason.
I don't want to see Palestinians killed. I just want Israelis to live.
If I had to write the same tweet today, it would be something like this:
“I have broken the Sabbath and Jewish holiday to deliver this message: Israel should do whatever is necessary to defend its people. Hamas must be destroyed, and Palestinians must reject violence. This is the end for Hamas and Palestinian terror.”
So I'm taking down my tweet. I could leave it up, defiantly, but that's not who I am. I do believe in clarifying, and I also believe in making amends.
I want Israelis and Palestinians to live together in peace. I also want Palestinians to stop murdering Israelis. That's a precondition for any kind of peace.
I'm greatly encouraged by the fact that Arab and Muslim Israelis have stood together with Jewish Israelis, and I'm deeply grateful to the friends, including Arab and Muslim friends, who have reached out to me.
I want people who say they care about Palestinians to start criticizing terrorism and stop defending -- even celebrating -- terror.
The fact that they are still justifying terror does not excuse my own tweet last Saturday; we are all individually morally responsible for our own actions and words. And I don't believe what I said was correct.
So -- I'm sorry. My words were wrong. I overreacted. I'll try to do better.
This is the final edition of THE AGENDA -- finished a few days early!
This week's portion elucidates some of the first laws and principles of the Torah that follow the Ten Commandments, including -- a message particularly relevant to freed slaves -- the Jewish restrictions on indentured servitude.
God also provides the basic civil laws of Jewish society, governing almost every area of life -- in this one portion! -- as well as several basic principles of faith and religious observance. Moses then ascends Sinai for 40 days.
One of the laws God gives is the law against taunting a foreigner. This is different from allowing people to enter your land illegally; it is about showing respect, however, for people from other lands and other groups.
I am reminded of the importance of this principle because of the rhetoric lately attacking Elon Musk, a fellow South African-turned-American, for his foreign roots -- often by people who favor illegal immigration, ironically.
...
Since the Palisades Fire on January 7, my posts have been fairly sparse. I have just been so busy -- fighting the fire, covering the fire, helping neighbors, and launching a new podcast, "Three Homeless Guys," with two local friends.
Things are up and down. My family is still displaced, and we haven't resolved our living situation. We are awaiting answers from the insurance company (State Farm) on what they will cover, including alternative living expenses.
There are some incredible opportunities opening up -- more on that later -- and our kids are generally doing well, though this has been hard for them as well (especially the two middle kids, who miss their friends and their house).
The emotion of it all hit me yesterday. Today I feel wrung out. But I also feel that, in a way, going through the fire has been a process of refinement, of re-casting in a new mould, to face new challenges. And to win each new day.
So much to talk about, once again, as the Trump administration continues at breakneck pace. From DOGE chewing through the federal bureaucracy, to Marco Rubio heading out on his first missions for Trump, there's so much...
Special guests:
Assemblyman Carl DeMaio -- on the L.A. fires and reforming CA insurance
Matt Boyle -- Breitbart News political editor, on DOGE and confirmations
Jamie Paige -- founder of the Westside Current, on L.A. politics and the fires
Frances Martel -- Breitbart News foreign editor, on Rubio and Russia/Ukraine
Rob Hersov -- South African commentator, on SA's fight with the White House
Tune in: SiriusXM Patriot 125, 7-10 p.m. ET, 4-7 p.m. PT
Call in: 866-957-2874
