This week's Torah portion discusses the law of the red heifer, which is beyond human comprehension: how can a person who handles the ashes of a cow that is meant to purify others become tainted in the process of doing so?
The idea is that there are some laws that are rational, but others that are supranational, and we must accept those as a consequence of faith.
There are several other important narrative points, as the people near the boundary of Israel and prepare to enter the Promised Land, at long last.
Moses disobeys God by striking a rock -- rather than speaking to it -- to bring forth water, thereby forfeiting his right to enter Israel with the people.
Aaron passes away and the people mourn him for thirty days.
The Israelites begin their journey toward the Promised Land, passing through the lands of several other nations, encountering conflicts and challenges.
Redemption is beginning -- in mystery, and some pain, but also with certainty.
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
