This week's portion literally means "laws," and it elaborates on the first laws given in the Ten Commandments. God tells Moses to establish several ordinances, including rules about slavery, about lending money, and about physical assault.
One of the most important principles is the idea that the law does not favor people due to status or popularity. "You shall not follow the majority for evil, and you shall not respond concerning a lawsuit to follow many to pervert [justice]. Neither shall you glorify a poor man in his lawsuit." (23:2-3)
This is contrary to the left-wing teaching that righteousness demands "social justice." As far as determining guilt or fault, only facts and the law matter.
Toward the end (30:13), the Torah describes the half-shekel contribution each person would make to the Temple, both as a census and a charitable donation.
The story is reflected in the additional reading from the Book of Kings (II 11:17 - 12:17, which describes the innovation of King Jehoash to remove fundraising from the priests and to use a plain collection box for donations instead, thereby removing the incentive for corruption and ensuring proper accountability.
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
