Elections are tough to explain because there is basically one data point and a zillion variables. But one variable that was entirely within the Democrats' control was the decision not to pass the $1.2 trillion "infrastructure" bill and to hold out for a $3.5 trillion "reconciliation" bill on a variety of government programs.
The bill was written by socialist Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and adopted by President Joe Biden as the embodiment of his once-moderate-sounding "Build Back Better" agenda. It was a bait-and-switch, because Biden and his party took everything that they had cut out of the infrastructure bill in a negotiation with Republicans and simply stuck it in the "reconciliation" bill. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi joined the "progressives" in the House in insisting that the "reconciliation" bill had to precede the "bipartisan" infrastructure bill.
But Democrats could not agree among themselves, and the left would not compromise, and so Biden left for Europe last week ahead of the election, with neither bill having passed, and nothing to show the electorate.
Cue the civil war: moderates will claim that the left ruined the party's prospects, and the left will claim that moderates dampened enthusiasm among the base.
The big loser here, surprisingly, is Pelosi, once admired for her political acumen. She failed to steer a bill to passage, and looks headed to defeat in 2022.
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
