I'm on the El Al flight to Israel. It's almost full, just like the one I took 3 weeks ago. It was encouraging to see a giant pile of duffel bags and suitcases at LAX: donations for the war effort from friends of Israel.
I've been wrestling with this trip a bit. The last one was special; I cannot expect it will be the same. And I have also been enjoying my children and my wife a lot the past several days. It's hard to leave.
At the same time -- I know there are men deep inside Gaza right now who have left their wives and children at home for weeks, to fight a terror that not only threatens Israel, but all of us around the world.
I cannot sit this one out. I cannot stay at home and say, thankfully, that I and my loved ones are safe. I have to go; I have to write the story, at some personal risk. It is a duty, and it is worth the effort.
Something happened to me over the past two weeks that hasn't happened to me before: people have come up to me, over and over, and told me how closely they followed my writing on Israel.
I'm bearing witness in a way that I cannot simply do from afar. And so I must go. And I'm happy to go, happier still as the journey goes along. Happy to be there, to remind Israelis that they are not alone.
I don't know exactly what I will see. I'm starting in the north, then going south. There will be interviews, meetings, chance encounters. Maybe a rocket attack or two. We shall see. It will be worthwhile.
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.
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