The other three were jokes, or outrages. The Georgia case has a particularly heartbreaking quality, and I think it is because so many people were indicted, including lawyers and campaign aides, for doing what both parties always do: find any legal path to victory.
This is the criminalization of politics. I've pointed out on Twitter that Hillary Clinton and her aides were never prosecuted for the Russia collusion hoax; nor were Democrats prosecuted for their admitted "shadow campaign" (i.e. conspiracy) to "save" the 2020 election.
In a healthy democracy, the process is more or less a tacit agreement to take turns. We have reached the stage at which Democrats, unable to accept the fact that a populist conservative won in 2016, have decided to make it impossible for the opposition to compete.
This is a soft coup, and it can only be undone in one of two ways: a massive effort to elect a Republican (likely Trump) in 2024; or else an internal rebellion by a dissident Democrat (RFK Jr.) who will force his party back within the bounds of civilized democratic discourse.
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
