I am observant, though I would not describe myself as pious. In a similar way, I enjoy the study of Jewish texts, though I am not a Torah scholar. Here is what I do on a daily and weekly basis.
Every day, I read a page of the Talmud as part of the Daf Yom program. I began doing this in late 2018, after a chance encounter with a former classmate. At this pace, one finishes in seven years.
I use the Artscroll edition and read most of the text in the English translation. When I have time, I tune into an online class in the evenings. Most often, I read the page in the early morning.
As you know from reading this blog, I also review (quickly) the weekly Torah reading before every Sabbath, and try to draw lessons and connections between the portion and what is going on in the world.
Since my Hebrew birthday on Friday, I have added daily study -- in Hebrew -- of a single chapter of Maimonides' Mishneh Torah, a summary of Jewish doctrine. At this pace, one finishes in 3 years.
I should also mention that I work daily -- for about 10-15 minutes -- on a play I am writing that tells the story of David and Bathsheba from the Second Book of Samuel. I find it endlessly fascinating.
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
