B"H

Friday, Tammuz 16, 5778 / June 29, 2018

In this week’s Parsha, Balak, we find the famous Biblical story of the donkey chatting with Bila’am. We read that Balak, King of Moab, called on Bila’am to curse the Jewish people, so that he could wage war against them and, “drive them away from the land.” 

First, G-d came to Bila’am in a dream and told him not to go. But later, seeing that Bila’am wanted so much to go, G-d let him go, but warned him not to curse the Jewish people. 

The Torah tells us that when Bila’am heard that G-d gave him permission to go, although he had many servants, he himself saddled his donkey to go to Balak.  On the way, an angel blocks his way.  The donkey, who saw the angel, turned away from the road and walking in a narrow path, squeezed against a stone wall, crushing Bila’am’s foot. Bila’am, who didn’t see the angel, ends up hitting the donkey three times.  At that point the donkey opened its mouth and reprimands Bila’am for hitting it. 

Q.  From whom did the nation of Moab, who wanted to destroy the nation of Israel, descend from?

A. They were descendants of Lot, who was Abraham’s nephew.

Q.  Which great Jewish personality descended from Balak, king of Moab?

A.  King David was a descendant of Ruth, who descended from Balak, King of Moab.

Q.  What happened to Bila’am in the end?

A.  Later in the Torah we read that Bila’am was killed by Pinchas, the grandson of Aaron, when they waged war against the people of Midyan.

Q.  In what way is there a connection between the story of Bila’am going to curse the Jews and the story of Abraham who took his son, Isaac, to the altar?

A.  When Bila’am went to saddle his donkey with the intention to go and curse the Jewish people, G-d said, “Their forefather, Abraham, has preceded you!  When I tested Abraham by commanding him to bring his son, Isaac, as a sacrifice, he got up early and saddled his donkey himself to fulfill My commandment.  That merit will stand for his children and I will not allow you to curse them.” 

Sunday is a fast day, known as the fast of "Shiv’a Asar B'Tammuz." It is one of the five Rabbinical decreed public fast days observed during the year. The reason for the fast is that five tragic events happened on that day in the course of Jewish history. With the fast of the 17th of Tammuz begins the "Three Week" period in which weddings are not performed during this time.  It is customary to give additional Tzedakah-charity during this three week period.

SHABBAT SHALOM

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