This week's Torah portion deals with the story of the Golden Calf, one of the most painful and momentous episodes in the saga of the Jewish people. Whether through lack of faith, or human frailty, or mere error, the people ask to worship an idol, or an intermediary, while Moses is on Mount Sinai, receiving the Law from God over a period of 40 days. Aaron, Moses's brother, tries to comply in a way that does not lead the people completely astray.
Moses descends to find the debauchery of the camp below, and smashes the original Tablets. After punishing the people and rooting out the instigators, he then begs God for forgiveness on the people's behalf. What results is an even closer connection between the people and God, a new Covenant that would not have existed before, if the original breach had not taken place. This reminds us that forgiveness and redemption are still possible, even after grave mistakes.
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
