I realize my last entry was about how to stay sane. I'm not exactly an expert in that department this week, despite the post. I have been very upset for the last 24 hours. I think what set me off was the fact that so many students were rallying for "Palestine" just days after the representatives of "Palestine" committed mass murder and more.
On the first day, I was angry, emotional, and confused. On the second day, I was able to focus and to work. Same on the second and third. By the fourth I was feeling a little guilty about not feeling totally paralyzed, as other people were (and are). And then the fifth day... maybe it was fatigue or something as well. Emotional, physical.
I'm doing better now -- getting ready for the Sabbath. I'll be online. The week has flown by, mostly for bad reasons. I'm grateful to the friends who checked in with me -- you made me feel better than I have been able to convey -- and to the company for which I work. Most of all, I'm grateful to the men and women of the IDF.
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
