Tonight marks the beginning of Yom Kippur, the day of Atonement.
As in past years, I have tried to reach out to people privately with whom I have had painful disagreements or whom I may have wronged in some way. Not everyone reaches back, but some do, and we mend things and move on.
There's also a lot of soul-searching that goes on. I've done a lot of work on myself (if I can say that without sounding too narcissistic) during the pandemic, and I think the last year was one of growth. But there are still things to tackle.
Some days are very, very tough. I share a lot on social media, but not that. I wrestle with questions and feelings that I can't really talk about (and which you probably don't want to hear about). But if you're struggling, you're not alone.
The traditional greetings for Yom Kippur are "G'mar chatimah tovah," which means "May you be inscribed for a completely good signature [in the Book of Life, in which every creature's fate is said to be recorded]; and "Well over the fast," because of the 25-hour fast that lasts through tomorrow at nightfall.
I'm grateful for the year that's been. I'm hoping for the strength for the next.
This is the portion that all journalists should love: the Torah tells the story of the 12 spies, only two of whom tell the truth when the other ten shade it in a negative away (perhaps to suit a political agenda that is opposed to Moses).
It's not that the ten "lying" spies misconstrue the facts about the Land of Israel; rather, they interject their opinions that the land is impossible to conquer, which strikes unnecessary terror into the hearts of the people.
We have many examples of such fake news today -- from the Iranian propaganda outlets spreading false claims that they are winning the war, to California politicians spreading false horror stories about ICE raids in L.A.
The people realize, too late, that they have been fooled, and once they are condemned to die in the desert, they try to rush into Israel -- only to be defeated by the inhabitants, as the spies predicted that they would be.
But as consolation, God gives the people new commandments -- focused on things they must ...
This week's portion discusses the procedure for lighting the menorah, the holy seven-branched lamp, in the Tabernacle (and later the Temple). It also describes an episode where the people crave meat, and God punishes them by giving it to them in excess. We also read the story of Miriam, Moses's sister, who is punished with the spiritual skin blemish of tzara'at for speaking about her brother, thus violating the prohibition against lashon hara (evil tongue).
I heard a fantastic sermon this week about the lighting of the menorah: that while only the priests were qualified to clean and purify the menorah, anyone could light it. A reminder that each of us can inspire others along the way.
This week we study the vow of the Nazirite; a reminder that sometimes trying to be too holy is excessive, and the best we can do is to be the best that we are.
https://www.chabad.org/parshah/torahreading_cdo/aid/2495720/p/complete/jewish/Naso-Torah-Reading.htm
