This week's portion launches the book of Leviticus. Commonly disdained for its intense focused on priestly rituals and sacrifices, Leviticus is essential to understanding the spiritual relationship between God and the Jewish people.
I must admit that my eyes glaze over when I read about the intricacies of the Temple service, and all the details of the sacrifices that are to be performed. Other people -- true scholars -- seem to have infinite patience for these laws.
Then I think about rituals that I do find fascinating, such as the ritual of the mikvah, which involves immersing yourself in water to renew your soul and connect to God. You can do this through almost any natural body of water.
If you feel a connection to a particular form of observance, then it holds a fascination for you. Some feel that way about prayer; some feel that way about charity. For some, it is the study of the laws of sacrifices in Leviticus.
In the Jewish eschatology, the Temple sacrifices will resume when the Messiah returns and the Third Temple is built. Some people feel that day is imminent. Whether it is or not, there is something special in a feeling of anticipation.
I should have noted in my message about the weekly Torah portion that this week is Shabbat Chazon, the Sabbath of Vision. We are about to mourn -- but see through that pain to something better that lies beyond, on the other side.
Wishing you the best vision -- and an incredible reality to follow. It happens!
We begin the final speech of Moses to the people of Israel before they enter the Promised Land. He relates the ups and downs of the years of wandering in the desert, before, finally, the people have the merit to enter the land itself.
This Sabbath always precedes Tisha B'Av, the Ninth of Av, the saddest day on the Jewish calendar. It is the anniversary of the destruction of both of the Holy Temples, and a catch-all for many calamities that befell the Jewish people.
A word on Tisha B'Av. This year I am leaving for an overseas trip during the afternoon of the holiday -- in the middle of a fast day. Not idea, but there was no other choice. But my flight is in the afternoon, which is significant.
We relax some of the harsh, mournful customs of the day in the afternoon. We start to pray normally; we sit on regular chairs; we start to have hope again in the redemption that will, one day, lead us all back from exile to our home.
I'll be taking a trip to a land where an important part of ...
President Trump is in Scotland, playing golf and making big trade deals -- a major deal with the EU, in fact. Meanwhile, there is a global outcry about humanitarian aid to Palestinians (not about the Israeli hostages, mind you).
On top of that, Democrats are at their lowest polling numbers ever -- so they are trying to win control of the House by redistricting in the middle of a 10-year Census cycle. Oh, economic optimism is up, so they have a tough road.
And Tulsi Gabbard's revelations about the Russia collusion investigation make it clear that Obama's lieutenants lied to Congress. How deeply was he himself involved? The media continue to ignore the evidence, but we certainly won't.
Special guests:
Nick Gilbertson - Breitbart News White House correspondent, on EU deal
Frances Martel - Breitbart News foreign editor, on Trump abroad and Russia
John Spencer - urban warfare expert, on humanitarian aid and war in Gaza
Bradley Jaye - Breitbart News congressional correspondent, on the ...
