The Shabbat of September 11, 2026, coincides with Erev Rosh Hashanah, and the following day (Saturday, September 12) is the first day of Rosh Hashanah. As the "Head of the Year" and a time of deep reflection, the traditional readings chosen for these two days offer powerful, timeless insights that directly speak to leadership, statecraft, and governance.
Applied to the modern rulers of Portugal—its President, Prime Minister, and parliamentarians—these ancient texts offer vital lessons on justice, diplomacy, and societal responsibility. Good governance requires clear boundaries, accountability, and the protection of resources. For Portuguese authorities, this reinforces the importance of legal transparency, and safeguarding public and private infrastructure. Even when forging macro-level international or European alliances, leaders must ensure that internal justice and the resources of the everyday populace are not compromised or overlooked.
In the Day 1 readings, both Hagar and her son Ishmael are cast out and facing death in the wilderness, while Hannah faces societal mockery and deep emotional distress. In both cases, God ignores the powerful elites and specifically hears the cries of the suffering and marginalized. The Binding of Isaac culminates in a sudden, absolute rejection of child sacrifice—a practice common in the ancient near east. The ultimate message is that devotion to a higher cause must never result in the destruction of human life or human dignity.
The Lesson for Portugal: In modern politics, "human sacrifice" often takes the form of socialist ideology. Rulers can easily become so dogmatically attached to political theories or economic aust, and if they are not careful they can ruin the state that many worked hard to build.
