I am flying back to L.A. from Chicago, and I'm relieved the convention is over.
I had a great time in Chicago. The weather was great. I stayed with my parents; I went to Lake Michigan at sunrise each day; I admired the architecture downtown; I had great food; I fell in love with the place all over again, really.
Also, I enjoyed some of the politics, because I always like a little excitement. I worked really hard and slept little; I was exhausted at the end of each day.
But I hated this convention. It was probably the worst I've been to, ever.
Why?
Well, logistically, it was poor, compared to the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee last month. There was only one entrance, and long lines. There were poor food, bathroom, and workspace options inside, and the way the stadium was configured made it hard to move on the floor of the arena.
I also felt like Democrats were much more reluctant to talk to reporters -- especially from a conservative outlet like Breitbart, but also in general.
There was a sense that things were very tightly controlled. That was a necessity around pro-Israel and Jewish events, which had to be secretive, because they were being targeted by crazy pro-Palestinian (and antisemitic) protesters.
I do think Democrats had fun. They told each other how much fun they were having, how much they loved the speeches (which were generally not good), how much "joy" they were feeling. They hyped themselves up for this.
I think there was a genuine sense of relief at having a candidate who is not slipping into senescence -- someone who has a pulse, and someone who offers several "firsts" (women, black woman, Asian). Democrats love those "firsts."
But there was no substance to any of it. The only policy issue discussed at the convention was abortion, and that was a story of various bogeymen. Democrats attacked "Project 2025," which isn't Trump's policy, but it almost seemed like what they really objected to was having a policy about anything at all. What they wanted to talk about was "joy," and "coming together," and "historic," and ... Trump Trump Trump, terrible racist sexist bully Trump who hates America.
There'a a lot of bullshit at any political convention. And I didn't care for many of the speeches at the Republican convention, either. But there, the happiness and joy seemed authentic. Trump had just survived an assassination attempt!
At the Republican event, I heard people talking openly about faith, in a way I have never heard at any Republican or conservative event before. Also, people expected to win. (Biden was the candidate then; Republicans are nervous now.)
The Republicans also talked about policy, and about specific things they wanted to fix. The Democrats talked about people Trump had supposedly insulted and tried to pretend Kamala Harris had nothing to do with four years of bad policy.
So... I think Trump has the edge going into the fall. That is, if you assume that voting is still a fair process, and Democrats haven't figured out how to game the whole thing through vote-by-mail. Even if they have, I think Trump can win.
I think that because Trump is just ... bigger. On the way through the airport, I noticed that several stores -- in Chicago, in the week of the DNC -- had Trump (and Vance!) merchandise. There was nothing on Kamala or Democrats.
I think there's an American story we are watching, and telling, about Trump, and I think we want to see how it ends, where it takes us, and I don't think we want it to end in a prison cell, or in obsolescence, or bitterness. I think we want better.
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