I know my posts in the last few weeks of December must have seemed somewhat depressing. But I had a few days at the end of 2023 to reflect more broadly on the year, and I changed my mind.
I had been feeling down, and powerless, regarding the situation of the world in general -- the war in the Middle East, the grim election we face here in the U.S. in 2024 -- and I et that color everything.
But on December 31, I sat down and looked thru my phone at all the pictures I had taken over the course of the entire year. And I realized just how spectacular the year had been, in every way imaginable.
I felt a sense of gratitude and I resolved to make 2024 as good as it can be. There is no reason to believe I can't make a difference -- I have several projects on the go, and I can make them successful.
So -- in terms of how I am feeling about things at the moment -- I would say my mood has improved substantially. And actually, the first few days of 2024 have gone incredibly well. It's been beautiful.
Hoping that continues.
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
