I have total contempt for the January 6 Committee. On Thursday, it is going to focus on Mike Pence, for whom I have an incredible amount of respect.
Like Rep. Tom McClintock (R-CA), I believe that Pence was right not to go along with Trump's demand that he refuse to certify the 2020 result. While there was a constitutionally-coherent argument that Pence had the authority to do it, the argument against doing so was far stronger. Moreover, Pence was not going to tear the country apart. It is simply not in his nature to act that way.
But also like McClintock, I reject completely the one-sided and constitutionally invalid proceedings of the January 6 Committee, which has abused Congress's authority and the basic civil liberties of those whom it has targeted for abuse.
Supposedly, according to Democrats, and according to some very vocal Trump supporters, you have to choose: if you support Pence, then you are some kind of traitor, siding with the January 6 Committee; if you oppose the committee, then you are a co-conspirator in an "insurrection." Somehow, I suspect many people actually agree, quietly, with the position McClintock explained today.
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
