Julius Malema, the anti-white demagogue who leads the communist Economic Freedom Fighters party in South Africa, has come out in favor of Russia in the ongoing war with Ukraine. In the distant past, radical African nationalists used to let squabbling Europeans sort out their own mess, but Malema has decided to wade into the conflict on the side of the aggressor. I guess he finally found some white people he likes, and all they had to do was kill other white people.
This is an important marker for the future, because Malema has a political future in South Africa. He is charismatic and smart, and attempts to relegate him to the political margins have largely failed or backfired. There is a real chance that his party becomes part of the government of South Africa if the ruling ANC falls below 50% in the 2024 election, and needs a coalition partner other than the minority-led, centrist, liberal Democratic Alliance (DA).
There is one other point that makes Malema's stance relevant to Americans: he justifies his visit with the Russian ambassador by citing "neo-Nazi" propaganda in the pro-Ukraine camp. There is no doubt that there is a neo-Nazi presence in the Ukrainian military; there is also no doubt that some reports from Ukraine have been propaganda. But those who are inclined to dismiss the Ukrainian cause in its entirety as a result should also know with whom they are siding.
https://twitter.com/Julius_S_Malema/status/1504092125193019393
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
