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Beit Midrash
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Bamidbar
- Balak
To answer, let’s ask another question (that’s the Jewish way!). The very first time that Hashem appears to Bilam, He asks him, referring to the elders of Moav and Midian in Bilam’s entourage, "Who are these men with you?" Bilam never actually answers G-d’s question, and this puzzles Rashi. So Rashi suggests that this was a rhetorical question posed by Hashem in order to entrap Bilam, who is now led to believe that G-d does not see all (since He presumably didn’t know the identity of the men), thus opening the door for Bilam to think he can curse Israel & get away with it.
Nice idea! But I have another thought.
Bilam was obviously a person with amazing potential, for he was celebrated and sought after, and able to communicate with Hashem. It has even been suggested that he was on a par with Moshe Rabbeinu himself! Had he acted differently, he actually could have been the "Moshe" for the other nations of the world. But it didn’t happen. And you know one reason why? Because Bilam associated with the wrong group of people; with hateful, paranoid, vindictive, anti-Semites. And as the saying goes, "If you lay down with dogs, you get up with fleas."
I also want to suggest that the title of our Sedra, "Balak," may not be named for the king of Moav after all! It may be the initials of 3 Torah characters who all suffered the same fate, because they had this very same tragic flaw.
The "Bet" stands for Bilam, as we just explained. The "Lamed" stands for Lot; the nephew of Avraham. Lot had the right "DNA" and he
traveled together with Avraham, no doubt learning much from him along the way. He, too, could have been great. But alas, he also chose to hang out with the wrong crowd. He cast his "lot" with the people of S’dom, among the most evil men in history, & barely escaped with his life, let alone a legacy.
The "Kuf" stands for Korach. He, too, had all the tools for greatness: Prestigious family, elite rank, wealth, honor. But he formed an alliance with the Moaners & the Malcontents (not a rock group) - including Datan, Aviram, Reuvenites & some disenfranchised first-born - and their
negative spin on life took them down – way, way down!
So Hashem is giving us some very valuable advice, via this rhetorical question he asks Bilam, "Who are these men with you?!" Choose your friends very carefully, for the company you keep may very well play a major part in determining if you turn out to be illustrious, or just a BLK-head.
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
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Chukat "HOW ENTEBBE STOLE THE BICENTENNIAL
The Difference Between Historic & Eternal"
As we approach America's 250th birthday, it's worth remembering her 200th Bicentennial birthday, on Jul. 4th 1976, when Israel "stole the show" by shocking the world & miraculously saving 101 hostages in a foreign continent. As Pres. As Pres. Trump decides which countries get priority in his new Middle-East, it's worth reminding him of the difference between historic events and eternally historic ones. This obviously connects with this week's parsha, as well!
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 6 - The Parable of the King of India
The advantages of testimony over circumstantial evidence or philosophical speculation.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 5- "Proofs of G-d"
This may be the most important class of the entire book, where we finally get to the Jewish proof of the existence of G-d and truth of the Torah. We should follow His own direction where He tells us how to get to Him: through the Nation of Israel: Jewish history, Jewish prophets (and today, prophecies fulfilled), and national reward & punishment towards Am Yisrael.
Ein Aya One Humanity, One Creator, One Jerusalem
Rav Kook innovatively and beautifully explains this aggadeta where our sages say that after Jerusalem was destroyed her cinnamon fragrance is only found locked in a particular kingdom's treasury.
Shlach Lecha "Why So Many Don't Make Aliya?" - Parshat Shlach
This short article deals with the weird phenomena that every single time Am Yisrael is meant to enter the Land of Israel, throughout the Tanach, 2nd Temple and until today, they "chicken out" and look for excuses. What's the problem with this mitzvah that proves so challenging. The article, based on sources, suggests that the difficulties of Eretz Yisrael is precisely her secret and beauty!
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 4
The class deals with Islam and how the Muslim tries convincing the King of the Khazars, and why he was also rejected.
Beha'alotcha JEWISH STATE= GUIDE TO G-DLINESS & SELFLESSNESS
A Jewish State not only is a good idea, but educates us towards selflessness, altruism and G-dliness in our daily lives.
Ein Aya In Zion Even the Smoke of the Bark is Sweet
Just as Jewish nationalism is different from others, so too our capitol of Jerusalem is totally different than other national capitols. Rav Kook beautifully explains the passage in the Talmud that the trees of Yerushalayim were cinnamon trees.
