This week's portion covers the story of Isaac, the second of the three Jewish founding fathers. He is the quietest, and perhaps the least ambitious: he does not fight wars, or explore new lands, as Abraham did. He contents himself with maintaining the wells his father dug.
And yet there is a quiet nobility to his life. He is the only one of the three patriarchs never to live the Land of Israel. His life anticipates the destiny of the Jewish people. Tradition has it that he intercedes with God on behalf of Jews when they pray for His forgiveness.
Isaac also has the happiest marriage in Genesis, and it is perhaps no coincidence that he is the only one of the three patriarchs to be married to, or involved with, only one woman (his wife, Rebecca).
It is Rebecca who cares for him -- and who also intercedes, behind the scenes, to make sure that he blesses Jacob, instead of Esau. She defers to him publicly but guides him in private -- a perfect partner.
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
