This week's portion includes the title deed to the Land of Israel: the purchase, by Abraham, of a burial ground for his wife, Sarah, in the Cave of Machpelah. Abraham refused to take the land as a gift; he wanted proof it was his.
The portion also tells the story of how Abraham's servant, Eliezer ("My God is my helper" ), found a wife, Rebecca, for Abraham's son, Isaac. Curiously, what distinguishes Rebecca is her kindness to Eliezer's animals; she waters his camels.
What is the significance of that kindness? It is a kindness that has no hope of being reciprocated. An animal, especially the ill-tempered camel, will rarely be nice to you in return for kindness. That is a sign of just how special Rebecca is.
The additional reading, from I Kings, tells the story of how King David ensured his son Solomon's legacy by protecting him from palace intrigue -- and how he had a "warmer," Avishag, who was not intimate with him but shared his bed.
Avishag is not David's wife, but almost has that status, save only for his actual wife, Bathsheba, with whom she seems to share a mutual respect. Tradition regards her as an important figure in the preservation of the Davidic dynasty.
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
