I began the morning in Ashdod, and went for a run at sunrise in the sand dunes that line the beach. The weather was windy, and the surf was wild. In the sand dunes, the scene was more placid, and I even found gazelle tracks, though I did not see one of those majestic animals.
From there, I drove south to Zikim Beach, site of one of the most brutal Hamas assaults on October 7th. Terrorist commandos succeeded in landing on the beach and murdered innocent people -- surfers, fishermen, people out for a morning walk -- before attacking IDF bases.
Today, Zikim is a staging point for the Israeli military in its battles against Hamas in Gaza. It is also an entry point for humanitarian aid trucks entering the territory. A reserve IDF unit called Yatar took me on a fast ATV ride on a tour of the border, for a view of the battlefield.
From there, I drove north to Tel Aviv, for a meeting with Israeli government spokesman David Mencer, whom I usually encounter in Zoom press briefings. Then I drove east to Jerusalem, where I had a short lunch with incoming Israeli ambassador to the U.S., Dr. Yehiel Leiter.
Then I rejoined my friend from Magdala, Father Eamon Kelly, for a sneak preview of a mural of the Pentecost at the Notre Dame center, and for a rooftop view of the Christian Quarter of the Old City. The weather was cold and windy, and I decided to find my Airbnb before dark.
After a phone interview with an IDF official, I did a little shopping on Ben Yehuda Street, had dinner at a café in Mamilla, and walked to the Kotel, the Western Wall, for a last visit before I return to the U.S. on Wednesday evening. In the rain, the streets shone, reflecting every light.
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
