This week's portion focuses on the laws of ritual purification for a person -- or an object -- that is stricken with an ailment called "tzara'at." Commonly translated as "leprosy," this is really a different kind of disfigurement -- one that denotes spiritual uncleanness, not viral, bacterial, or fungal infection. The portion also includes the laws for purification for other reasons, such as a woman's normal menstrual cycle. This remains a part of religious life today. (The menstrual cycle does not include tzaraa't; it is not the same kind of problem, though some of the rituals are the same for renewing one's spiritual status.)
Those with tzara'at are generally disqualified from doing many things in society until they can be purified again. That is why the additional reading, from the book of King (Kings II 7:3-20), is so remarkable. IT tells the story of four lepers who had been banished from the city of Samaria, and then saved it from an Aramean siege by inadvertently frightening off the enemy soldiers' camp.
The lesson: there is spiritual potential in each of us to do great good, even when we are down and out, even when we might be responsible for our own isolation. Deeply flawed though we may be, we can still achieve miracles for our society.
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
