Democrats are trying to portray the midterm election as a referendum on democracy -- casting themselves as the great defenders thereof.
It is beyond obvious by now: Democrats reject the outcome of any democratic election that they lose. The entire "Russia collusion" conspiracy theory consumed the Democratic Party for years -- because they reject democracy.
But there's something even more nefarious going on. When Americans use the term "democracy," we don't simply refer to the act of voting. We also mean the system of rights that protects individuals from abuse by the majority, as well as the checks and balances that stop the government from exceeding its power.
And that's where Democrats have been actively destroying democracy, as we know it, for more than a decade -- a project that accelerated under Barack Obama and has continued since then, assisted by the so-called Deep State.
The Mar-a-Lago raid is the latest example, but there are so many others. Even the January 6 Committee, ostensibly investigating an "assault on democracy," abrogated the rights of the minority and the witnesses in its partisan zeal.
The Democratic Party, like left-wing parties worldwide, cares more about the outcomes it seeks -- all related to economic redistribution -- than the process through which decisions are meant to be made (see the student loan bailout).
The Democratic Party is the single greatest threat to democracy in America today, because it rejects the founding principles of the country and is killing liberties that were once taken for granted.
So, yes, democracy is on the ballot.
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
