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.
Tarshish, Canals and Divrei Hayamim
Rabbi Yirmiyohu Kaganoff | Tammuz 5783
Ma Tovu Ohalekha Ya’akov
Parashat Balak
Rabbi Joseph Tabory | 5765
Shul Shaylos - The Rulings of the Gadol of Brownsville
Rabbi Yirmiyohu Kaganoff | Tammuz 11 5777
A People that Dwells Alone
Rabbi Jonathan Sacks | Iyar 17 5778
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.
Holy In Death, Holy In Life
27 577 Nissan 27 5776
Parasha Summary - Beha'alotcha
An Overview of the Torah Portion
Shul “etiquette:” can we honor Hashem while respecting our fellow congregants?
Iyar 5783
