This week's portion includes the story of Joseph's redemption from prison, when he emerges, interprets Pharaoh's dreams, and becomes the viceroy. He saves Egypt, enriches Pharaoh, and saves his family.
His family does not know that yet, of course: the brothers do not recognize Joseph when they come to Egypt to buy food. He knows who they are, however, and he test about testing their repentance.
This is the first of the last three portions of Genesis, and the second portion in the 4-part story of Joseph. It is a portion that has always had a special place in my heart, ever since my early childhood.
May Israel and the Jewish people experience a redemption in the coming days that is as great and proud as that of Joseph -- and may those who plotted our destruction see their own, instead.
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).
Topics:
- The state of the economy
- The fight against crime
- The midterm election fight
- The struggle for peace between Russia and Ukraine
- The airstrike on the Venezuelan drug cartel
- The attempt to sink Kennedy
- The war in Gaza
- The case against Harvard
- The Trump presidency
Tune in: SiriusXM Patriot 125, 7-10 p.m. ET / 4-7 p.m. PT
Call: 866-957-2874
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 ...
