This is the final edition of THE AGENDA -- finished a few days early!

This week's portion describes the parting of the Red Sea and the initial trials of the Israelites in the desert, when they complained about the lack of water and food. God provides the manna from Heaven to feed them, but we see a deeper spiritual crisis among liberated slaves who yearn for slavery again.

Two interesting points. The first verse mentions that the Israelites avoided leaving via the direct route, which would have taken them toward the land of the Philistines, an ancient civilization at war with the Israelite kingdoms for many centuries before being overcome themselves by the Babylonians.

(The area of the Philistines was controlled by the later Israelite kingdoms.)

In addition, the portion describes the battle between Amalek and the Israelites. Amalek takes advantage of the vulnerability of the newly-freed slaves and attacks them. This is the essential evil of Amalek -- and the reason for the commandment never to forget what Amalek did, and to eliminate it.

The essence of ...

What an incredible week we have coming. Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu is here; confirmation fights continue; a trade war looms; the fire fallout goes on; plus, the Grammys and the insane Lakers/Luka trade.

Special guests:

• John Carney, financial editor, Breitbart News, on the tariff/trade war
• John Hayward, foreign policy reporter, Breitbart News, on hostages
• Matt Boyle, political editor, Breitbart News, on confirmation fights
• Jerome Hudson, entertainment editor, Breitbart News, on the Grammys
• Dylan Gwinn, sports editor, Breitbart News, on the Lakers/Luka trade

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This week's portion deals with the final three Plagues (Locusts, Darkness, and the Death of the Firstborn), as well as the Passover ceremony, and the Exodus.

One of my rabbis, whose family has been deeply affected by the Palisades Fire, wrote an extended contemplation of the plague of Darkness. He suggested that we try to uncover the light within the darkness in moments of difficulty.

I have just two thoughts to add about this week's portion. One is about the odd phenomenon of my house being spared from the fire. People have commented that it must have been because of my "mezuzot" -- the scrolls that Jews affix to almost every doorpost in the house in commemoration of the Passover blood. According to tradition, a mezuzah protects the house, just as the blood of the paschal lamb protected the Israelites from the Angel of Death in Egypt.

I don't know -- there are rabbis who lost their homes, and they certainly had mezuzot. Plus, I was missing one mezuzah that fell off a closet door. But who...