…accompany them but only to say the words He puts in his mouth. After a strange incident where Balaam’s donkey sees an angel blocking the way, Bilam and Balak climb a mountain overlooking the Israelites’ camp. Three times at different places they prepare altars and sacrifices, but each time, Bilam utters blessings instead of curses. Balak leaves in anger and…
…Miriam’s criticism of him, of the spies who lacked the courage to come back with a positive report, and Korach who challenged Moshe’s leadership. We read of Yehoshua and Calev, Eldad and Medad, Datan and Aviram, Zimri and Pinchas, Balak and Bilam, and others. That is the context of the claim of Tzelophchad’s daughters. They were claiming their rights as…
…Educational Companion Torah Trivia: this week’s answer Answer 1: The six parshiyot are: Noach, Chayei Sarah, Yitro, Korach, Balak, and Pinchas. Interestingly, four of these six are named for non-Jews. Answer 2: The inanimate object that is described performing a human action is the earth, as it says “and the earth opened its mouth” (Bamidbar 16:32). The inanimate object that…
…was a well-known figure in the region. His skills were clearly impressive. He was a religious virtuoso, a sought-after shaman, magus, spellbinder and miracle worker. Balak says, on the basis of experience or reputation, “I know that whoever you bless is blessed, and whoever you curse is cursed” (Num. 22:6). The rabbinic literature does not call this into question. On the…
…answers, “Am I my brother’s keeper?” (Bereishit 4:9) 3. Hashem asks Bilaam, “Who are the people who came to visit you tonight?” and he answers that Balak had sent them to him. (Bam. 22:9) All three answers indicate a lack of trust in Hashem, because if they had really listened, they would have realised that Hashem already knew the answers….
The year is 1933. Two Jews are sitting in a Viennese coffee house, reading the news. One is reading the local Jewish paper, the other the notoriously antisemitic publication Der Stürmer. “How can you possibly read that revolting rubbish?” says the first. The second smiles. “What does your paper say? Let me tell you: ‘The Jews are assimilating.’ ‘The Jews…
This is an extraordinary moment in Jewish history, for good and not-so-good reasons. For the first time in almost 4,000 years we have simultaneously sovereignty and independence in the land and state of Israel, and freedom and equality in the Diaspora. There have been times – all too brief – when Jews had one or the other, but never before,…
One of the most profound and influential comments ever made about Jewish destiny was made by the pagan prophet Bilaam in this week’s sedra: As I see them from the mountain tops, Gaze on them from the heights, Behold it is a people that dwells alone, Not reckoned among the nations. Num. 23:9 To many – Jews and non-Jews, admirers…
…qualities that make people follow those who demonstrate them. We follow those we trust, because they have acted so as to earn our trust. That was what made Moses the great leader Balaam might have been but never was. Always be loyal to the people you lead. Balak: Leadership and Loyalty Respect for diversity, care for the lowly and powerless…
…June – Shelach – Strong People Don’t Need Walls – Rabbi Shaul Robinson 21 June – Korach – Dying Twice: Korach’s mysterious end – Rabbi Dr Raphael Zarum 28 June – Chukat-Balak – Dwelling Alone: Blessing or curse? – Rabbi Shaul Robinson 5 July – Pinchas – Who is the God of the Spirits of all Flesh? – Rabbi Dr Raphael Zarum 12 July…