My wife has been on the road a lot in the past two weeks. Last week, I was home alone with the kids; our part-time nanny was on vacation. So it was just me.
Maybe this won't impress the moms, who handle the complex multi-tasking of work and family on a regular basis, but I managed to keep all three of the kids happy and healthy and on time, while also doing my own work, exercise, etc.
This week, the nanny is back, so I have a much easier task. But it's still busy.
And you know what? It's the best kind of busy. My kids are incredible, we live in a beautiful place, and my work is flexible enough to allow me to balance things.
When I feel I should be doing more, or traveling more, or achieving more, I am reminded that few fathers have the luxury of being able to participate this fully in the daily routines of raising their kids. I miss them when I'm not with them.
I'm grateful for my job and for the work I am able to do, and for the partnership of the most incredible wife in the world, who has exceeded my wildest dreams.
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
