Before the debate on Tuesday, I was asked by Rebel News in Canada what I would tell each side to do.
I started with Democrat Tim Walz. I said I would tell him to cut out the weird mannerisms that are off-putting to voters, and to be more like the deadpan congressional candidate who debated in 2006 (look it up on C-SPAN).
As for Republican JD Vance, I said he had to empathize. Democrats and the media had spun him as cruel or arrogant, based on his "childless cat ladies" remark (from before he held public office).
These recommendations reflect my theory, which I've explored here before, that it doesn't matter who "wins" a debate, since we live in separate media universes that tell their respective audiences what they want to hear. Rather, debates are just opportunities to get a message out to your voters and potential voters.
Vance did that. He expressed empathy for women who have abortions. He was civil to Walz. And in one notable moment, he expressed sympathy to Walz over the revelation that his son had been near a shooting in a community center.
Walz kept some of the gesticulations under control, but he frowned a lot. He also looked nervous and unstable. That is why Democrats are upset and why Republicans are happy.
It may not matter much but it boosts confidence in the Trump camp.
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
