We've seen an unusual number of 9-0 unanimous decisions from the Supreme Court lately, such as today's ruling in Fulton v. City of Philadelphia, where the Court said the city can't force Catholic charities to recognize same-sex couples for purposes of adoption, because that would violate the First Amendment.
In ordinary times, there might be a few liberal justices who would dissent. But as Democrats threaten to pack the Court by expanding the number of justices and filling the vacancies with political flunkies, the Court's liberals appear to be "speaking out" by siding with the conservatives on core Constitutional issues.
Their message: we are not a closely divided Court on these fundamental rights. We do not need the intervention of politicians to undo a century-and-a-half of precedent by packing the Court, and undermining public faith in the judicial system. It will be interesting to see whether Democrats are paying attention.
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
