B"H
Tuesday, Tammuz 13, 5778 / June 26, 2018
The Torah reading for this Shabbat is Parshat Balak. Balak was the king of Moab. When he saw that Moshe killed the two mighty kings, Sichon and Og, when they didn’t allow the Jewish people to pass through their lands, he was afraid for his and his nation’s safety. He hired Bila’am to come and curse the Jewish people. But instead, G-d put words of blessing in Bila’am’s mouth and he blessed them.
Parshat Balak is one of the few Parshiot of the Torah which carry the name of a person, Balak.
We recite the following words of Bila’am, every day in our morning prayers; "Mah Tovu Ohalecha Yaakov Mishknotecha Israel - How good are your tents, Jacob, your dwellings, Israel!"
Two expressions are used here to describe the homes of Israel; Tents and Dwellings. A tent is a temporary home, while a dwelling represents a permanent home.
Throughout history, we rotated between tents and dwellings. Even in places where we thought we were secure, Jews found their homes transformed into tents. Yet, no matter the physical conditions which a Jew endured (tent or dwelling), even throughout exiles and persecutions, we made sure that the spirit inside of the home was befitting to a Jewish home.
Q. How is it that in our prayers we recite words from Bila’am, whose goal was to curse our people?
A. Some Rabbis indeed felt that for this reason they don’t belong in the prayers. But most Rabbis felt otherwise. They say being that G-d put these words into Bila’am's mouth, against his will, they are really G-d's words and G-d’s praise for the Jewish people.
A heathen once said to Rabbi Eliezer, "Your G-d honored Bila’am more than your leader, Moshe! For when G-d wanted to speak to Moshe, the Torah says that He called Moshe to come to Him. But by Bila’am it says, "And G-d came to Bila’am!" Wouldn't this imply that Bila’am is greater than Moshe?"
"Let me answer you with a parable," replied Rabbi Eliezer. "A leper once came to the king's palace. He informed the guards that he must see the king for he has something important to tell the king.”
“Don't let him in, he will make my palace impure,” the king commanded. “I will go out and speak to him outside.”
Later, the guards told the king that a close friend of the king wanted to speak to him. “Invite him in!” the king ordered.
The same," said Rabbi Eliezer, "is with Moshe and Bila’am. G-d loved Moshe, therefore, whenever He wanted to talk to him, He called him into His chamber. But Bila’am, He went out to meet."
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY