I am thinking about Memorial Day today, and I can't help but note the contrast in how Israel observes their version of the holiday -- with a true solemn day of mourning -- versus how we celebrate it, with all kinds of fun and barbecues.
Actually, let me rephrase that. There's nothing wrong with having fun on Memorial Day. I'm sure at least some of those who gave their lives for our country would want us to enjoy our freedom and leisure as much as possible.
I suppose I feel like it's not clear right now if we are honoring their sacrifice by making sure that this country is in the best shape it could be -- and making it the kind of place worth sacrificing for in future. We have lost a lot of faith.
I'm hoping the next presidency can restore that faith -- though so many Americans are primed to hate the "other side." It will take a great deal of skill to bring us together again -- if that is even possible. I certainly hope it is...
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
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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 ...
