March 1 is always an important day for me, because it was the day on which my boss, mentor, and friend Andrew Breitbart passed away suddenly in 2012. I have tried to mark his birthday (February 1), so that we remember him for his life and not just for his death. But I think people prefer marking March 1, just because it was a moment that brought all of his friends and fans together.
Twelve years is a long time; many people have come of age in the conservative movement who never met him, and only know the man through the legend.
What I can say is that he defined the term "happy warrior," and the idea that you can hate evil, and evil institutions, and still love people -- especially the people on the other side of the issue, as long as they are authentic about what they believe. (I'll never forget the leaders of Code Pink expressing genuine sadness when they heard he had died -- after clashing with him so often.)
I owe my happy life in L.A. to Andrew. He brought me out here; he shared his love of (and frustration with) the city with me; he gave me the means through which to provide for my growing family. I loved him deeply and I always will.
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
