This week's portion is best known for containing the story of the Golden Calf, one of the great spiritual tragedies in the history of the world. It remains an enduring mystery: how could the people turn away from God, so soon after the giving of the Ten Commandments, and the great revelation of His presence?
Sometimes there are similar tragedies in love -- a betrayal by one of the lovers in the course of courtship, which has no apparent purpose or explanation.
Amazingly, the reconciliation between God and the people of Israel creates an even stronger bond -- just as the reconciliation between lovers, if it is still possible, can create a relationship that is even stronger than it was before.
There is also the wonderful principle of the half-shekel census -- counting people by counting coins, rather than treating human beings like numbers. Unlike the lavish contributions to the Tabernacle, which reflected a person's means and willingness to pay, the half-shekel is a reminder that we are all equal in God's eyes, though we may have different talents or material means.
The additional reading (Kings I 18:20-39) tells the story of the Prophet Elijah's confrontation with the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel. Last year, on a visit to Israel, I saw the mountain where that confrontation is thought to have happened, as well as the Kidron Brook to which he pursued the false prophets.
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
