This week's Torah portion includes the Ten Commandments, the pinnacle of spiritual connection between God and humanity, through the Jewish people.
Interestingly, the portion is not named after the Ten Commandments, or Moses, or Mount Sinai, but after Yitro (or Jethro), Moses's father-in-law, who visits the Israelite camp following the Exodus from Egypt, and gives Moses key advice about how to manage the task of administering justice to the people.
I find this portion particularly relevant this year, because I am currently on a book tour to promote my biography of my mother-in-law, Rhoda Kadalie, the South African political activist, human rights expert, NGO leader, and author.
Rhoda's writing and her insights into politics -- both in South Africa and the U.S. -- had a profound effect on my own thinking. The more I researched her work and beliefs, the more I realized how she had shaped my own outlook.
That is why the Torah honors Moses's father-in-law. While relationships with in-laws can be awkward, and even conflicted, they are among the few outsiders to whom we grant special access to our lives. And their impact can be profound.
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
