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Beit Midrash
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Bamidbar
- Balak
Our Sedra of Balak is unusual, to say the least. First, Moshe, atypically, is not the central figure in the Parsha; he only appears at the very end. Bilaam, the Sedra’s key personality, is referred to as "Bilaam ha-Rasha," the evil one, & so it is strange in the extreme that he is given center stage & allowed to voice all his curses cum blessings for the bulk of the reading.
But there is another anomaly I’d like to focus on. If you look at this Parsha in a Sefer Torah, you will immediately notice that Bilaam’s narrative is written in "block form" without the usual open spaces (parsha "breaks") that are found in most Parshiyot. (Indeed, the very name of the sedra, "Balak" can be read, minus the vowels, as "block!").
What is the purpose of these open spaces? Chazal tell us that they are meant to give the reader pause, so we have time to consider the passage just read. The more difficult or involved the subject matter – the 10 Commandments, for the best example - the more open spaces there are.
The message here is that the Torah is not meant to be read robotically, by rote. We are meant to focus on each word & Pasuk and think carefully about their meaning & how it relates to us. By applying our own intelligence & thoughts, we can hopefully internalize the deep ideas imbedded in the Torah by Hashem.
One of the real blessings of the Corona lock-downs was that my Susie & I spent a long time each Shabbat slowly reading the Parsha & pondering it. Unlike in shul, where the Torah reading literally flies by, we could now dissect & discuss it at our leisure. What a joy that was – and is!
Bilaam uttered prophecies that were indeed Heaven-sent, & are a lasting part of our liturgy (think "Mah Tovu," or "Am k’lavi"). But Bilaam, sadly, did not ponder their deeper essence; he did not internalize their message & change his character. And so the "blessings" of Bilaam are written without spaces, as opposed to the Torah of Moshe, which has an abundance of breaks in the action.
I remember walking into the office of a day school principal many years ago, & on his desk was a sign with the letters, Chet, Shin, Vav & Vet. "Hmm" I thought, "that spells, 'Chashuv,' important! Is he really that conceited?!" But then he saw me looking at the sign & smiled, "It says Chashov!" he said. "That means, "Think!"
Having said all this, we can now complete that opening phrase: "I think, therefore I am... Jewish!"
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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.