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 injustice in general -- not to wipe out another nation.
We are reminded that while the challenges we face today seem new and daunting, almost all of them have taken place already, in one form or another, and usually in the passages of the Bible. We can and do overcome.
New beginnings.
The war is over, and a new chapter begins.
President Donald Trump is on his way to the Middle East for a triumphant reception in Israel after concluding a hostage deal many thought impossible. We'll discuss the deal and some of the potential pitfalls still ahead.
And, of course, the government shutdown grinds on. Who would have thought? (I did -- I predicted, and still believe, that it won't end until the first week of November, after the off-year elections, because that's what this is about.)
We'll also talk about cultural issues, and America's sudden apparent turn to religion. It's a good thing, right? Yes, with a few caveats. Charles Murray, never one to shy away from controversy, will join us to share his thoughts on faith.
Special guests:
Bradley Jaye - Breitbart News congressional correspondent, on the shutdown
Jacki Alexander - CEO of HonestReporting, on Israel and war coverage
Charles Murray - author of "Taking Religion Seriously," on Americans' faith.
Tune in: SiriusXM Patriot 125, 7-10 p.m. ET, 4-7 p.m. PT
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This week's Torah reading is a special one for the Sabbath that occurs in the middle of the holiday of Sukkot. The intermediate days of the holiday are not as holy as the first and last, but the Sabbath has its own special splendor.
This week's reading is about the reconciliation of God and the Jewish people after the sin of the Golden Calf. Moses intercedes on the Israelites' behalf, and God rewards him with a new set of tablets -- and a renewed connection.
In the same way, the ceasefire deal that went into effect Friday, October 10 -- ending the war and heralding the return of the remaining Israeli hostages -- marks a renewal of the relationship between the Jewish people and God.
The October 7, 2023, terror attack took place on the last day of Sukkot -- which was also a Sabbath that year, and which is celebrated in Israel as Simchat Torah, typically one of the happiest days on the Jewish calendar.
The terror attack turned happiness to shock and despair. But the subsequent victory, won by...
