I’ve been a fan of Israeli writer Yossi Klein Halevi for a long time. He grew up in Brooklyn, the son of a Holocaust survivor, and became — in his own telling — a right-wing Jewish extremist, before moving left.
He is one of the more thoughtful observers of contemporary Israeli politics and culture. Though he’s on the left now, most of what he says is worth reading, because he is honest and authentic.
So I was troubled by his latest piece at the Times of Israel (linked below), in which he admits that he has felt a sense of animosity toward those who support Netanyahu, whom he thinks is tearing Israel apart.
I have a different view — namely, that Netanyahu is saving democracy, in Israel and elsewhere (see second link, below). So it’s troubling that I see things so differently than a writer I admire.
Basically, I’m looking at the constitutional issues. Halevi is looking at the broader social tensions within Israel. I think there is a way to come together and have a dialogue. At least, I hope there is.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/the-wounded-jewish-psyche-and-the-divided-israeli-soul/
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
