SECOND UPDATE: Show is to be replaced this evening by a special program! Somehow I missed the memo! So, I won't be on tonight. Apologies to all concerned.
UPDATE: We will now add the passing of Jimmy Carter to the program...
Today is the last show of 2024 -- and it's been an incredible year. So many troubles in the world -- but so many miracles, too, and a change to make things right again. In the spirit of the show, we'll look forward, and not backward.
We'll start with what to expect this week and next: the new Congress, the first confirmation hearings, the drama over certifying Trump as the president-elect on January 6, and the plans for the Inauguration (I'll be there, hopefully).
Then we'll go through Trump's agenda. What is going on with the debate over immigration? Does it mean the MAGA movement has split on the cusp of taking power -- or is it a sign of a vigorous and healthy internal debate?
I'll walk through what Trump's agenda for his first 100 days could mean. You've seen (or read) my suggestions for Trump's agenda. We'll talk about what is realistic to expect, as well as what may have changed in recent weeks.
It's going to be three hours of me -- no guests -- so I hope you enjoy it! I'm looking forward to sharing my thoughts with you and hearing from you about yours -- if you're not watching football on this wintry Sunday evening.
Tune in: SiriusXM Patriot 125, 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
