Fox News has come in for a lot of criticism lately, but right now it is the only network I can find, as I write this, that is airing a memorial in Escondido, California, to the 13 men and women who were killed in a terror attack during the chaotic evacuation of Kabul, Afghanistan 2 years ago -- one of the greatest military disasters in U.S. history.
The stories of the bereaved parents are heartbreaking. And they are furious at the Biden Administration. They feel that their children were not given enough protection; more than that, they feel that their sons and daughters have been dishonored by the president, the civilian leadership of the military, and the military commanders in charge.
These voices need to be heard. They have largely been forgotten, but they are raising an alarm about the lack of focus, the lack of purpose, that has taken over our military under Biden -- who began with a so-called political purge of the armed forces, and has continued with an indoctrination in LGBTQ propaganda that compromises readiness.
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
