B"H
Thursday, Tammuz 15, 5782 / July 14, 2022
This week’s Parsha Balak, begins with the story of Balak, King of Moab, who was afraid that the Jewish people would pass through his land on their way to The Promised Land. Knowing that he was no match against them, he sent for Bila’am to come and curse the people of Israel.
Bila’am tries different tactics in order to curse them, but G-d continuously puts words of blessings into his mouth and instead of cursing them, he blesses them.
The Torah tells us that at one point, "Bila’am lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel dwelling tribe by tribe; and the spirit of G-d came upon him. He then called out: "Mah Tovu Ohalecha Yaakov Mishknotecha Yisrael" - "How good are your tents, O Jacob, your dwellings, O Israel". We recite this passage in our morning prayers, daily.
Q.Why are Two expressions are used to describe the homes of Israel; "Tents" and "Dwellings."?
A. A "tent" is a temporary home, while a “dwelling” represents a permanent home. Throughout Jewish history, we have rotated between tents and dwellings. Even in places where we thought we were secure; Jews found their seemingly permanent homes transformed into “tents.” But no matter the physical condition 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.
It also refers to the Mishkan (Tabernacle) which was a temporary dwelling place for G-d and the Beth HaMikdash (Holy Temple) in Jerusalem. For this reason we begin our daily morning prayers in synagogue with the passage of, “Ma Tovu” - "How good are your tents, O Jacob, your dwellings, O Israel".
Q. “And Bilaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel dwelling tribe by tribe; and the spirit of G-d came upon him." What did Bilaam see in the Jewish camp which made him exclaim, “How good are your tents, O Jacob, your dwellings, O Israel"?
A. Our sages explain that he saw how their tents were pitched around the Mishkan, where G-d’s holy presence rested. He also saw that the openings of their tents were not one across the other. They erected their tents in this fashion for reasons of modesty and morality, so that one would not look into the tent of their neighbor. Seeing such moral standards caused him to bless the Jewish people.
There is an important lesson in this. A Jewish home should also be a place where G-d dwells. A Jewish home must be a place where Jewish morals and values are practiced. The Mezuzah, on each doorpost, reminds us that our home is also a sanctuary for G-d. As important as schools and synagogues are, it has been the Jewish home which kept Judaism alive throughout the generations.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY