This week's portion is best known for containing the story of the Golden Calf, one of the great spiritual tragedies in the history of the world. It remains an enduring mystery: how could the people turn away from God, so soon after the giving of the Ten Commandments, and the great revelation of His presence?
Sometimes there are similar tragedies in love -- a betrayal by one of the lovers in the course of courtship, which has no apparent purpose or explanation.
Amazingly, the reconciliation between God and the people of Israel creates an even stronger bond -- just as the reconciliation between lovers, if it is still possible, can create a relationship that is even stronger than it was before.
There is also the wonderful principle of the half-shekel census -- counting people by counting coins, rather than treating human beings like numbers. Unlike the lavish contributions to the Tabernacle, which reflected a person's means and willingness to pay, the half-shekel is a reminder that we are all equal in God's eyes, though we may have different talents or material means.
The additional reading (Kings I 18:20-39) tells the story of the Prophet Elijah's confrontation with the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel. Last year, on a visit to Israel, I saw the mountain where that confrontation is thought to have happened, as well as the Kidron Brook to which he pursued the false prophets.
I should have noted in my message about the weekly Torah portion that this week is Shabbat Chazon, the Sabbath of Vision. We are about to mourn -- but see through that pain to something better that lies beyond, on the other side.
Wishing you the best vision -- and an incredible reality to follow. It happens!
We begin the final speech of Moses to the people of Israel before they enter the Promised Land. He relates the ups and downs of the years of wandering in the desert, before, finally, the people have the merit to enter the land itself.
This Sabbath always precedes Tisha B'Av, the Ninth of Av, the saddest day on the Jewish calendar. It is the anniversary of the destruction of both of the Holy Temples, and a catch-all for many calamities that befell the Jewish people.
A word on Tisha B'Av. This year I am leaving for an overseas trip during the afternoon of the holiday -- in the middle of a fast day. Not idea, but there was no other choice. But my flight is in the afternoon, which is significant.
We relax some of the harsh, mournful customs of the day in the afternoon. We start to pray normally; we sit on regular chairs; we start to have hope again in the redemption that will, one day, lead us all back from exile to our home.
I'll be taking a trip to a land where an important part of ...
President Trump is in Scotland, playing golf and making big trade deals -- a major deal with the EU, in fact. Meanwhile, there is a global outcry about humanitarian aid to Palestinians (not about the Israeli hostages, mind you).
On top of that, Democrats are at their lowest polling numbers ever -- so they are trying to win control of the House by redistricting in the middle of a 10-year Census cycle. Oh, economic optimism is up, so they have a tough road.
And Tulsi Gabbard's revelations about the Russia collusion investigation make it clear that Obama's lieutenants lied to Congress. How deeply was he himself involved? The media continue to ignore the evidence, but we certainly won't.
Special guests:
Nick Gilbertson - Breitbart News White House correspondent, on EU deal
Frances Martel - Breitbart News foreign editor, on Trump abroad and Russia
John Spencer - urban warfare expert, on humanitarian aid and war in Gaza
Bradley Jaye - Breitbart News congressional correspondent, on the ...
