B"H

Wednesday, Tammuz 14, 5776 / July 20, 2016 - Hakhel year

Parshat Balak is about the story of Balak, king of Moab, who witnessed the defeat of his two neighboring mighty kings, Sichon and Og at the hands of the Jewish people, when they went out to wage war against the Jewish people. Afraid that they were going to conquer his land too, Balak sent messengers to Bilam; Come, now and curse for me this people; for they are too mighty for me; for I know that he whom you bless is blessed, and he whom you curse is cursed."

G-d appeared to Bilam in a dream and said to him, "You shall not go with them; you shall not curse the people for they are blessed."

When Bilam refused, Balak sent more honorable messengers to convince Bilam to come and curse the people. Upon seeing Bilam's great desire to go, G-d allowed Bilam to go with them. G-d warned him not to curse the people of Israel. "Only the words which I speak to you shall you say."

“Bilam rose up in the morning and saddled his donkey." He rode to Balak hoping that G-d would eventually let him curse the people of Israel.

This angered G-d and an angel placed himself in the path of Bilam. Three times, Bilam's donkey maneuvered to avoid the angel and three times, Bilam, who didn't see the angel, hit the donkey to bring her back. Then G-d opened the mouth of the donkey and she said to Bilam: “What have I done to you that you have smitten me three times?"

Finally, Bilam came to Balak. When the king asked him to curse the people of Israel, Bilam answered, "Only whatever G-d will put in my mouth that I shall speak!"

Bilam was taken to view the Israelites from different locations so that he would curse them. Each time, G-d put words of praise and blessing in his mouth. One of Bilam's praises was incorporated into our daily prayers: "How good are your tents, O Jacob, your dwellings, O Israel!" This refers to the Jewish home and the synagogues in which we pray.

The Talmud tells that a heathen once said to Rabbi Eliezer, "Your G-d honored Bilam more than Moshe. The Torah says that when G-d wanted to speak to Moshe He called Moshe to come to Him. But with Bilam, it says: And G-d came to Bilam! This implies that Bilam was greater than Moshe?" 

Rabbi Eliezer replied with a parable. A leper once came to the king's palace. He informed the guards that he had something very important to tell the king. “Don't let him in,” commanded the king. “He will infect my palace, better that I go out to him.” Later, the guards informed the king that a close friend wanted to speak to him. “Invite him in!” ordered the king.

The same is with Moshe and Bilam. G-d loved Moshe, therefore, He called him into His chamber.  Since He had no regard for Bilam, G-d went out to speak to him.

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY