Joel Pollak
Politics • Lifestyle • News • Travel • Writing
I will share my thoughts about American politics, as well as current events in Israel and elsewhere, based on my experiences in the U.S., South Africa, and the Middle East. I will also discuss books and popular culture from the perspective of a somewhat libertarian, religiously observant conservative living in California. I will also share art and ideas that I find useful and helpful, and link to my content at Breitbart News, Amazon, and elsewhere.
Interested? Want to learn more about the community?
Weekly Torah reading: Beshalach (Exodus 13:17 - 17:16)

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 that commandment is the "remember" part. It has been widely misinterpreted by antisemites to be a kind of warrant for genocide -- most recently, by the South African legal team at the ICJ (the same lawyer also defended "Kill the Boer" as a form of free expression, not hate speech).

The additional reading, from Judges 4, describes the story of Deborah. The story is celebrated by feminists but it is also just a generally relatable tale of how, in a time where leadership is lacking, we are each called upon to step forward and provide the courage and direction that the situation requires.

https://www.chabad.org/parshah/torahreading.asp?aid=2492619&jewish=Beshalach-Torah-Reading.htm&p=complete

Interested? Want to learn more about the community?
What else you may like…
Videos
Posts
Time-lapse sunrise at Temescal Falls
00:00:17
This is what is left of my special place in the forest

Burned, then covered in mudslides and rockslides. The river still flows through it. But we have lost so much. I have to believe the spirit still lives on.

00:00:16
The drive home 💔
00:00:46
Weekly Torah reading: Shlach (Numbers 13:1 - 15:41)

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 ...

Weekly Torah portion: Beha'alotecha (Numbers 8:1 - 12:16)

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.

https://www.chabad.org/parshah/torahreading.asp?aid=2495737&jewish=Behaalotecha-Torah-Reading.htm&p=complete

Weekly Torah reading: Naso Numbers 4:21 - 7:89

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

See More
Available on mobile and TV devices
google store google store app store app store
google store google store app tv store app tv store amazon store amazon store roku store roku store
Powered by Locals