YeshivaThe torah world Gateway
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!"
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.
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Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 9 - "Seeing is Believing" (parag. 21-30)
These paragraphs elaborate on the theme that seeing and knowing is better than any attempt to prove logically, and begins explaining the difference between Israel and gentiles.
Ein Aya Various Universal Stages of the Geula Process
Rav Kook examines the various stages of redemption, explaining how (in addition to the obvious oft-mentioned stages of ingathering the exiles, reviving the Hebrew language, army, state etc.) the messianic dream of world prosperity, the State of Israel and world unity can and are realistically and logically gradually coming true.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 8- "Answering Questions on the Kuzari's Proof from Mass Revelation
How do we know that the "claim" of mass revelation to 2,000,000 witnesses at Mt. Sinai is really true? This important class answers all of the questions skeptics ask about this claim of the Kuzari.
Ein Aya Armies Still Necessary for Balance & the War Against Wars
Rav Kook explains why the world was originally divided into the various seemingly contradicting ideologies and cultures, in order to develop each one respectively. Swords or armies symbolize how each respective ideology defends themselves, as well as deters their opposing ideologies and cultures. On the other hand, the messianic era will be one of peace, and Rav Kook explains the transition to that stage, which mankind is already undergoing.
The Land of Israel LGBT'S IN ISRAEL
The question was asked, how can one make Aliyah with the LGBT parades?
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 7 - Five Accumulative Proofs of G-d
As a preparation for the Kuzari's classic proof of G-d from the mass-revelation at Sinai, we start here with 5 other directions to strengthen our belief which also contribute to what the Kuzari will present as well.
Ein Aya Muscle & Meaning: The Dual Nature of Gevurah (Physical Strength)
Is physical strength and fitness a necessity or an ideal? Although it if often totally overlooked among topics of Judaism, Rav Kook writes that it clearly is also a necessity to deter the many enemies of Israel, but even in Y'mot HaMashiach, in the Messianic era, to a certain extent, it's ideal continues even after our enemies will have been finished off.
