We are hours away from the International Court of Justice ruling on whether Israel's actions in Gaza could amount to "genocide." It is so absurd... but I am not optimistic and I am worried that Israel will be ordered to stop fighting just at the moment it has Hamas beaten.
I think we know there will be a split decision. The Chief Justice is from the U.S. and there is one Israeli justice (as a courtesy). There are justices from Arab countries who cannot return home alive if they vote in Israel's favor. The question is: a split favoring whom?
South Africa's case was based on garbage propaganda and citations (often inaccurate) of Israeli officials saying offensive (or simply misunderstood) things. Israel's case, as even (informed) South African observers admitted, was very strong on the law itself.
I predict that the court will probably agree with Israel that the case was improperly brought -- but go on to address the merits anyway. It may not accuse Israel of "genocide" but will recognize some kind of vague genocidal potential and issue some non-binding rebuke.
This will be enough for Israel's critics to claim that the ICJ agreed that Israel was on a path to genocide, even if it may also allow the Israeli war effort to continue. South Africa, which actually supports Hamas's genocidal agenda, will claim victory and go back to sucking.
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
