I came here to cover the war and water issues, but I also came here to answer my own questions about whether Israel will survive. Even after so many visits, when you read about the threats Israel is facing, and the pressure it is under… you wonder.
I attended a gathering of survivors of the October 7 attacks; dropped in on a group of visiting legislators who are facing tough opposition to Israel from their young constituents; returned to the communities of Kibbutz Be’eri and Kibbutz Nir Oz; covered a Passover seder in honor of the remaining hostages in Gaza; met mourners at the Supernova memorial site; took in the broad vista at Kibbutz Har’el; and found joy again at an Idan Raichel Project concert.
I think the answer to my questions is that Israel’s survival remains a miracle, one that spreads love and light to the world, to those who wish to see.
New beginnings.
The war is over, and a new chapter begins.
President Donald Trump is on his way to the Middle East for a triumphant reception in Israel after concluding a hostage deal many thought impossible. We'll discuss the deal and some of the potential pitfalls still ahead.
And, of course, the government shutdown grinds on. Who would have thought? (I did -- I predicted, and still believe, that it won't end until the first week of November, after the off-year elections, because that's what this is about.)
We'll also talk about cultural issues, and America's sudden apparent turn to religion. It's a good thing, right? Yes, with a few caveats. Charles Murray, never one to shy away from controversy, will join us to share his thoughts on faith.
Special guests:
Bradley Jaye - Breitbart News congressional correspondent, on the shutdown
Jacki Alexander - CEO of HonestReporting, on Israel and war coverage
Charles Murray - author of "Taking Religion Seriously," on Americans' faith.
Tune in: SiriusXM Patriot 125, 7-10 p.m. ET, 4-7 p.m. PT
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This week's Torah reading is a special one for the Sabbath that occurs in the middle of the holiday of Sukkot. The intermediate days of the holiday are not as holy as the first and last, but the Sabbath has its own special splendor.
This week's reading is about the reconciliation of God and the Jewish people after the sin of the Golden Calf. Moses intercedes on the Israelites' behalf, and God rewards him with a new set of tablets -- and a renewed connection.
In the same way, the ceasefire deal that went into effect Friday, October 10 -- ending the war and heralding the return of the remaining Israeli hostages -- marks a renewal of the relationship between the Jewish people and God.
The October 7, 2023, terror attack took place on the last day of Sukkot -- which was also a Sabbath that year, and which is celebrated in Israel as Simchat Torah, typically one of the happiest days on the Jewish calendar.
The terror attack turned happiness to shock and despair. But the subsequent victory, won by...
