I'm writing this from the hospital, where I spent the night with my wife and newborn baby, whose name is Amira Leah. Though it is a happy time, I will be fasting today for the Jewish day of mourning known as Tisha B'Av.
I tried scheduling a post for Saturday, which was the Sabbath before Tisha B'Av. Though it is also notable for the fact that synagogues around the world begin the Book of Deuteronomy ("Devarim" ), the Sabbath before Tisha B'Av is also known as Shabbat Chazon, the Sabbath of Vision, so named because of the reading that traditionally accompanies the the first portion of Deuteronomy, which is the first chapter of the Book of Isaiah. Isaiah has a vision that begins with destruction but ends with salvation, and notes that salvation is within the people's own power to bring about: "Learn to do good, seek justice, strengthen the robbed, perform justice for the orphan, plead the case of the widow." (1:17)
That's the kind of vision from which, at its best and most sincere, the idea of "social justice" draws its inspiration. But that justice does not come at the expense of faith, or freedom; rather, it must be the expression thereof.
https://www.breitbart.com/faith/2020/07/29/tisha-bav-jewish-holiday-mourns-national-destruction/
https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/703951/jewish/Shabbat-Chazon.htm
https://www.chabad.org/library/bible_cdo/aid/15932/jewish/Chapter-1.htm
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 ...
