These are my choices for the California Primary election on the west side of L.A. These aren't endorsements, and in some cases I'm voting for Democrats or independents, either because they are objectively the best candidates; because they have the best chance of ousting bad incumbents; or because they are running unopposed. I've done minimal research on some of the races, i.e. judge.
Voting cheat sheet
Senator 1: Mark Meuser
Senator 2: Mark Meuser
Mayor: Rick Caruso
City Attorney: Richard Kim
City Controller: Kenneth Mejia
City Council (11): Traci Park
LAUSD: Tracey Schroeder
State Senator (24): Ben Allen
State Assembly (42) Lori Mills
House (32): Aarika Rhodes
Ballot Measure BB: No
Suprevisor (3): Bob Hertzberg
Sheriff: Alex Villanueva
Assessor: Sandy Sun
Judge (3): Sherilyn Garnett
Judge (60): Abby Baron
Judge (67) Ryan Dibble
Judge (70): Renee Chang
Judge (90): Leslie Gutierrez
Judge (116): David Gelfound
Judge (118): Keith Koyano
Judge (151) Karen Brako
Judge (156): Carol Elswick
Governor: Michael Shellenberger
Lt. Governor: Angela Jacobs
Secretary of State: Rob Bernosky
State Controller: Lanhee Chen
Treasurer: Jack Guerrero
Attorney General: Nathan Hochman
Insurance Commissioner: Greg Conlon
Board of Equalization: Y. Manvel
Superintendent: Jim Gibson
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
