This week's portion tells the story of Balaam, the "evil" prophet whom King Balak hired to curse the Israelites -- and who blessed them instead.
The story is fascinating and mysterious. There is also a talking donkey involved, many millennia before Shrek.
Balaam blesses the people three times, and the last blessing has become a core part of the daily morning prayers in Judaism: "How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob, your dwelling place, O Israel" (Numbers 24:5).
It might seem odd to bless a tent city; we have them in L.A., and they are terrible.
The Sages puzzled over what, exactly, about this particular tent city evoked praise.
For one thing, the tents were clean, and orderly, and arranged in a very specific geographic pattern, according to tribe (see Numbers 2).
One commentary suggests that the tents were arranged so that one never looked into another, preserving privacy and modesty.
But I think perhaps the praise is meant to emphasize the importance of the everyday -- the routine, the mundane.
If what you do on a daily basis -- your "system" for managing life -- is good, then even the humblest tasks can have immense power over the long run.
You can achieve incredible things if you just devote a few minutes per day to achieving them.
That was Israel's power -- not greatness and might, but a devotion to things that were ordinary, allowing the humblest tasks to reflect faith and devotion.
Today's episode is devoted to the second anniversary of the October 7 terror attacks. It was produced before the announcement of a ceasefire deal, yet remains current & relevant.
Please listen, and #bringthemhome.
SiriusXM Patriot 125, 7-10 p.m. ET (4-7 PT)
This week's portion is a beautiful poem, containing the Covenant between God and the people of Israel. But given the breaking news that Hamas may actually have agreed to release all of the Israeli hostages, I will devote my remarks to that.
One hopes it is true; if so, it makes this week's additional reading, from II Samuel 22, even more relevant: David's song of praise to the Lord for delivering him from the hand of his enemies.
"18 He rescued me from my powerful enemy,
from my foes, who were too strong for me.
19 They confronted me in the day of my disaster,
but the Lord was my support."
So much to focus on this week -- and much breaking news. A peace deal in the Middle East, perhaps? Eric Adams dropping out of the mayor's race? And a looming shutdown as Democrats push their demands beyond absurdity.
Special guests:
- Bradley Jaye - Breitbart News congressional correspondent, on the shutdown
- John Carney - Breitbart News financial editor, on the upcoming jobs report
- Jerome Hudson - Breitbart News entertainment editor, on the Kimmel fallout
- Frances Martel - Breitbart News foreign editor, on the UN and Gaza talks
- Matisyahu - award-winning reggae artist, on his new album, "Ancient Child"
Tune in: 7-10 p.m. ET, 4-7 p.m. PT
Call: 866-957-2874
