How's your new year going? Mine is incredible. I mean, really good.
That's not to say the world's in a better place, but I certainly am.
I hope some of my newfound optimism is something you'll enjoy...
Today we're looking ahead to the Iowa caucuses, which take place Monday, on Martin Luther King Jr. Day (sort of an odd choice, no?). We'll also look at what's happening in the Middle East -- and how it is affecting politics here in the U.S.A. as we head into the election.
We'll also look at MLK Day and how it intersects some of these themes. In particular, I'm going to play an excerpt from my 2021 book, "The Zionist Conspiracy (and how to join it)," which I'm busy recording on audiobook. The section I'll play deals with Black Lives Matter and what it can learn from Israel. Yes, you heard that right -- the BLM movement has opposed Israel, but there is actually a lot it can learn.
We'll also talk to John Bryan, who bought a home rumored to have an old Revolutionary War fort inside it. Not only did he discover the fort, but he also restored it. You'll want to hear the amazing story.
Special guests:
Richie Greenberg - on San Francisco calling for a Gaza ceasefire
John Bryan - on restoring a Revolutionary War fort
Frances Martel (tentative) - on the war against the Houthis
Tune in: SiriusXM Patriot, 7-10 p.m. ET, 4-7 p.m. PT
Call in: 866-957-2874
This is the portion that all journalists should love: the Torah tells the story of the 12 spies, only two of whom tell the truth when the other ten shade it in a negative away (perhaps to suit a political agenda that is opposed to Moses).
It's not that the ten "lying" spies misconstrue the facts about the Land of Israel; rather, they interject their opinions that the land is impossible to conquer, which strikes unnecessary terror into the hearts of the people.
We have many examples of such fake news today -- from the Iranian propaganda outlets spreading false claims that they are winning the war, to California politicians spreading false horror stories about ICE raids in L.A.
The people realize, too late, that they have been fooled, and once they are condemned to die in the desert, they try to rush into Israel -- only to be defeated by the inhabitants, as the spies predicted that they would be.
But as consolation, God gives the people new commandments -- focused on things they must ...
This week's portion discusses the procedure for lighting the menorah, the holy seven-branched lamp, in the Tabernacle (and later the Temple). It also describes an episode where the people crave meat, and God punishes them by giving it to them in excess. We also read the story of Miriam, Moses's sister, who is punished with the spiritual skin blemish of tzara'at for speaking about her brother, thus violating the prohibition against lashon hara (evil tongue).
I heard a fantastic sermon this week about the lighting of the menorah: that while only the priests were qualified to clean and purify the menorah, anyone could light it. A reminder that each of us can inspire others along the way.
This week we study the vow of the Nazirite; a reminder that sometimes trying to be too holy is excessive, and the best we can do is to be the best that we are.
https://www.chabad.org/parshah/torahreading_cdo/aid/2495720/p/complete/jewish/Naso-Torah-Reading.htm
