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Beit Midrash
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Bamidbar
- Balak
Bilaam’s ancestry is mysterious; we’re not sure exactly where he came from. Indeed, chazal say his name can be read as, "Bli Am," nation-less. He was a kind of "gun for hire" & would work on behalf of any person or country that paid him. In our Sedra, he is hired by Balak, king of Moav, to use his considerable talents to curse the Jews.
Balak would ideally like to defeat Israel in battle, but he’s heard of Egypt’s demise, & he fears that we have Divine protection. So he calls upon Bilaam – who actually can speak directly to G-d & has a worldwide reputation – to malign & defame us in the Heavenly court. The "unholy alliance" Bilaam & Balak forge is perfectly indicated by taking the last two letters of Bilaam’s name, & combining them with the last two letters of Balak’s name. That spells – wait for it - Amalek (and now you see the connection to Haman, the Amaleki!).
On the surface, you might shrug off this failed attempt to curse us. You might repeat the famous rhyme about how (derogatory) names, unlike sticks & stones, cannot hurt us. But, regrettably, that’s not so. Since most people take what they see or read at face value, they will generally tend to develop a negative attitude towards something or someone who is continually demonized. And that false impression can lead to hate crimes, violence & murder.
The Torah therefore forbids us of speaking badly about others, and the vilest form of this is Motzi Shem Ra, when people fabricate malicious actions we are accused of. Indeed, Israel has a law on the books that allows one to sue if he or she has been injured by Motzi Shem Ra or Lashon Ha-Ra.
Hashem, of course, knows the damage which Bilaam could cause if his curses are allowed to be enunciated & broadcast. And so, once again, G-d intervenes in history to not only prevent the curses to be made, but to change them into blessings that positively reflect & define us to this very day.
Now you may wonder, "Why didn’t Balak ask Bilaam to use his powers to bless Moav, rather than curse Israel?!" A good question. But that is part of the pervasive hatred & anti-Semitism the enemies near us & throughout the world have: they would rather destroy Israel than have good lives of their own.
May Hashem continue to frustrate their desires, guard us & grant Israel peace.
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
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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.