There are reports of Jews and Israelis being attacked by mobs of Arabs and Muslims on the streets of Amsterdam -- home of Anne Frank -- after a football game involving Ajax Amsterdam (once a "Jewish" team).
The same pro-Palestinian hooligans probably want Jews to leave Israel -- if they aren't killed first -- and to "go back" to Europe. Meanwhile, in Europe...
Western Europe has so little appeal to me, partly for this reason. And I speak French.
Eastern Europe is a different story. Those countries have a different outlook -- almost American in its values -- and even though there are some dark things in the past, when I've gone there I've met people eager to embrace the future.
My favorite city in Europe is Prague, where the Czech people not only embrace Jews but consider themselves, in a sense, Jewish, due to their history.
Notably, there is a far lower immigrant population in Eastern Europe. Not a coincidence.
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
