All of the polls are moving toward Trump -- except one, which is the most accurate and the most pro-Trump (in terms of results): Rasmussen. Why?
This race is still too close to call. And while I would rather be Trump than Harris, she has a lock on the votes of women who put abortion above all other issues and who hate Trump with a burning passion. (You can hear it in Michelle Obama's anger at men who back Trump, against women's supposed wishes.)
I feel like Harris can't win -- not just because Trump has so many ways to win, but also because even if she does win, the election has been so rigged in her favor, while her performance has been so bad, that no one will accept it.
That is not to say there will be a violent rejection of the results. Rather, people -- especially men -- will quietly withdraw and insulate their lives, as much as is possible, from public life, the law, the eyes of the state. (Many do already.)
I feel a sense of optimism, partly because the prospect of a Harris win, I believe, has motivated Israel to take risks -- successfully -- to defeat its enemies. I think many others will follow that example and pursue their interest, regardless.
A Trump win would present new challenges: the task of governing will be nearly impossible. Harris would be stuck with problems largely of her party's own creation: inflation, debt, instability, crime... good luck with all that, Democrats.
Trump would be infinitely preferable, and would open new possibilities for joint investment, cultural renewal, global (yes, global) leadership... but we will also survive a Harris presidency, though it may come at a deep and lasting cost.
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
