When you Choose Shabbat, you choose to learn that every Shabbat is different and special. This week I learned about Parashat Balak (בָּלָק), the 40th weekly Torah portion in the annual cycle of Torah readings.
According to Wikipedia, Balak (בָּלָק), Numbers 22:2 through 25:5, contains 5,357 Hebrew letters, 1,455 words, 104 verses and 178 lines of Torah. The story of Balak is an ironic example of the idiom, “Man Plans G-D Laughs”. Balak, son of Zippor, king of Moab, tries to hire Balaam to curse Israel, however after Balaam’s donkey speaks to Balaam, Balaam blesses Israel instead.
Rabbi Michael D Klein of Temple Torat Emet offers his insights on this week’s Torah reading, Balak for Shabbat, July 20, 2024 aka 14 Tammuz 5784:
“The story of Balak and Balaam is one of the classic dramas from the Torah. Balak, king of the Moabites, is totally aware of the journey of the Jewish People from Egypt to Israel. He realizes that they must pass through his land to achieve their ultimate destiny. Instead of seeking peace with Israel and allowing us to pass through, he enlists the assistance of the famous and powerful advisor Balaam, who is known to be in touch with the spiritual world to curse us.
Balak knows that he cannot defeat us militarily because of G-d’s might, so he seeks to diminish our strength by engaging in dark magic. He approaches Balaam, attempting to entice him with offers of great wealth and fame if he is successful in cursing us but Balaam is reluctant due to a warning from G-d, but gives into his own greed and glory. If he is successful in completing Balak’s bidding, he will gain renown throughout the world in overcoming the power of the G-d of Israel.
He mounts his donkey and proceeds to Moab. On the way, his donkey sees the Angel of G-d blocking their way and attempts to turn aside. Balaam strikes his donkey three times and curses him but G-d causes the donkey to speak to him and opens Balaam’s eyes to the presence of the Angel. Thus, the donkey appears wiser than the greatest wizard of his time and G-d then allows Balaam to proceed to Moab with the understanding that he can only say whatever G-d guides him to say. Three times, Balak builds altars for Balaam to overlook the People of Israel. Three times Balaam is compelled to bless us with words such as, “How Goodly are your Tents O Jacob, Your Dwellings O Israel”. Eventually Moab goes to war with Israel and is defeated resulting in the demise of both Balak and Balaam.
G-d’s protecting care succeeds in overcoming those who curse us and seek our destruction. Many enemies have likewise attempted to destroy and curse us over the ages. They have disappeared into the dustbin of history. We are still strong and our belief in G-d still remains steadfast. May the G-d of Israel always be with us to protect us against those who hate us. May G-d give strength to our people and bless our people with peace. Amen.
Questions to Discuss :
- Why does Balaam instruct Balak to construct 7 altars?
- What does Balaam notice about the direction of the tents of Israel?
- What words express Balaam’s inability to overcome Israel with magic?
- What is Moab’s final attempt to defeat Israel?“
Rabbi Michael D. Klein attended Yeshiva College of South Florida and served as Torah Reader, Hebrew teacher, Chazzan and spiritual leader of various synagogues throughout South Florida. In January 2015 he became Ritual Director, Bnai/Bnot Mitzvah instructor and 7th grade Hebrew instructor for Temple Torat Emet of Boynton Beach. In October 2019 he was accepted into an accelerated track and received his shicha from Yeshiva Adath Wolkowisk and has been the Rabbinic leadership of Temple Torat Emet since August 2020. In September of 2022 he was appointed Rabbinic and Spiritual Advisor of the Florida Region of FJMC.
Choose Shabbat; choose to celebrate, to light candles, sing songs and learn a little Torah.
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