The Hebrew title for this portion means "The Life of Sarah," and yet the narrative commences at her death. True, we can only measure a person's life fully once he or she has died; yet it still seems odd.
We find some clues to the title in the story that follows. Abraham secures Sarah's burial ground, purchasing the Cave of Machpelah (making the Torah a title deed for the Jewish people to the holy city of Hebron). He also secures a wife for his son, sending his servant to find Rebecca. In a scene that will be repeated in several subsequent courtships (Jacob and Rachel, Moses and Zipporah), the maiden appears at a well and demonstrates her generosity by offering water to Eliezer -- and to his animals as well.
In that sense, the narrative is about the "life" of Sarah because it demonstrates that her legacy, both physical and moral, continued long after her death. That, in a sense, is the true measure of a life: what it creates, the legacy a human being leaves behind.
The accompanying additional reading, or Haftarah, is from Kings I 1:1-31, and tells the story of David's passing, as he confirms his promise to give the kingdom to Solomon, the son of Bathsheba. Though David's love with Bathsheba was conceived in lust, and in sin, it had a Divine purpose -- one of several such examples in the Old Testament.
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
