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Beit Midrash
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Bamidbar
- Balak
Sichon & Og. In our Sedra, we face yet another enemy, this time in the form of an unholy alliance between Bilam & Balak (the last 2 letters of their Hebrew names spell out the word "Amalek!"), representing the nations of Midian & Moav.
Rather than attack us frontally, Balak hires sorcerer/seer Bilam to curse Israel. But time after time, Hashem causes Bilam to utter blessings, not curses, & we end up even stronger than we were before their verbal assault.
In appealing to Bilam to curse & defame Am Yisrael, Balak says the following: "This nation has come out of Egypt; it now covers the eye of the land & sits opposite me. So go and curse them." The simple understanding of this is that Balak fears that Israel, being so huge a population, threatens to overrun Moav’s land & resources.
But the phrase, "v’chisa et ayn ha-aretz – they cover the eye of the land" intrigues me. It only appears in one other place in Tanach, when describing the massive plague of
locusts that comprised the 8th Plague. Could Balak not have simply said, "Israel is a huge, expansive People?" Why the locust-like reference?
So I suggest that the (not so) subtle language is employed here to infer that the Jews are compared to insects; loathsome, rapidly multiplying creatures that parasitically eat everything that the Moabites worked so hard to grow. This is the same slur used by Paro to incite the Egyptians, when he said; "Israel is great & mighty from us!" It is the same demonic imagery employed by the Nazis and other Jew-haters in history. In other words, they are saying their citizens are entitled – even praised – for crushing the Jews like bugs.
But something else is also implied by the phrase, "They cover the eye of the land." Balak is stating his case for cursing the Jews, intimating to his subjects,
"The Jews don’t SEE things the way we do, the way others do, & so they threaten our world order & our way of life. We say, ‘Might makes right;’ while they say, ‘Right
makes might.’ We say that the nobility rules all, but they say every human being, regardless of station, has rights and privileges. We say, ‘Arbeit macht frei; that work
sets you free (& generates parnasa); yet they say that G-d alone controls one’s livelihood & well-being. We say, ‘take as much as you can!’ but they say, ‘take only what
G-d allows you to take.’ We say ‘live for today!’ but they say ‘build for tomorrow, the Geula.’ Yes, the accursed Jews do indeed sit ‘opposite of us’ with their G-dly belief system, a system we Moabites cannot tolerate."
Bilam, the one-eyed man - whose vision proved to be myopic - sought in vain to cast an evil eye upon us. But he learned that we see things with 20-20 vision. We don't "cover the eye" of the land; we remove all the blinders from the world and reveal the truth of Hashem for all to see.
Rabbi Stewart Weiss
Was ordained at the Hebrew Theological College in Skokie, Illinois, and led congregations in Chicago and Dallas prior to making Aliyah in 1992. He directs the Jewish Outreach Center in Ra'anana, helping to facilitate the spiritual absorption of new olim.
Jewish Laws and Thoughts Shul “etiquette:” can we honor Hashem while respecting our fellow congregants?
![Bilam [No Nation] and Balak - Dealing with Domestic Strife](/SiteProjects/YeshivaModels/Logic/Images/spriteRszRound.jpg?pic=R-Londin.jpg&cacheVer=54){kind=icon}
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Shoftim TESHUVA IN COURT OF LAW?
Parshat Shoftim-Chodesh Elul
Why does parshat Shoftim always come out during Elul? This innovative and central explanation is an eye-opener regarding many aspects of Judaism.
The Month of Elul TESHUVA IS THE ANSWER
The month of Elul serves as a vital time for self-reflection and personal accountability to prepare for true repentance.
P'ninat Mishpat P'ninat Mishpat: Realtor’s Fee on Large Commercial Building – part I
(based on ruling 85031 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
(based on ruling 85031 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
P'ninat Mishpat Complaints about Contractor’s Work – part II
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
Chemdat Yamim Moreshet Shaul: The Goal of an Agricultural Yeshiva – part I
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the laying of the cornerstone of the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh)
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the laying of the cornerstone of the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh)
Chemdat Yamim The Goal of an Agricultural Yeshiva – part II
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the cornerstone laying for the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh – 1938)
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the cornerstone laying for the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh – 1938)
Re'e NEVER EXTREME EXCEPT ISRAEL
Parshat Re'eh
Judaism is against extremism, so how can we understand the seemingly extreme statements found in our sages in favor of living in the Land of Israel and against living in Chutz laAretz? The article deals with the seeming contradiction between the strength of Free-Will and the strength of being influenced by our surroundings.
Ekev DANCE FOR ISRAEL- FOR YOUR BENEFIT
Parshat Eikev
Description: The 7 Haftarot we read after Tisha B'Av ("Shiva D'Nichemta") surely get us excited that they're coming TRUE, and awaken us to yearn, dance & join the return to Zion! The short article also deals with the problems and solutions facing the American Jewish community as discussed at a recent panel, as well as the question why Jews come from America to Israel to help when we face problems, but Israelis don't come to aid Jews in America when they face anti-Semitism.
P'ninat Mishpat P'ninat Mishpat: Complaints about Contractor’s Work – part II
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
Chemdat Yamim Moreshet Shaul: Twin Foundations
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 690
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 690
