I was very proud of my son's exploits in a Little League doubleheader yesterday. He was great at the plate -- including a home run; he pitched an excellent inning; and he was very good at shortstop, his best position.
However, there was one unique moment that stood out -- and I didn't know whether to be proud or embarrassed.
Late in the second game, with his team up by several runs, my son pulled off what is known as the "hidden ball trick." It involves pretending to throw the ball back to the pitcher at the end of a play, but hiding it instead in your glove, then tagging the runner out when he tries to lead off the base, thinking that he is safe to do so. A YouTube favorite.
I knew exactly what he had done when I saw him hold up his glove with the ball in it. I cheered for him -- and felt immediately bad for the unfortunate baserunner who had been tagged out. I had to explain it to the other parents.
My son's coach was pleased, but I went over to the other coach to apologize -- sort of -- for my son's impish competitiveness and ingenuity. He said it was OK, a learning experience -- though I had the sense he felt it was 'just not cricket."
My son was thrilled and will probably tell the story to his friends at school for days. And to be honest, I laughed about it throughout the day. That's my son -- he always wants to win, and he is a trickster. Not just on the baseball diamond.
How am I supposed to feel about it? He's the young Donald Trump of little league baseball: very effective, but also... kind of a jerk, and he doesn't mind.
All I can really say that I know, upon reflection, is: he didn't get it from me.
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
