…and Pinchas, Balak and Bilam and others. This emphasis on individuals reaches a climax in Moses’ prayer to “God of the spirits of all flesh” to appoint a successor (Bamidbar 27:16) – understood by the Sages and Rashi to mean, appoint a leader who will deal with each individual as an individual, who will relate to people in their uniqueness…
In the course of blessing the Jewish people, Bilaam uttered words that have come to seem to many to encapsulate Jewish history: How can I curse whom God has not cursed? How can I denounce the Lord has not denounced? From the tops of crags I see them, From the hills I gaze down: A people that dwells alone[1], Not…
…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…
…everyone’s courage failed because of you, for the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below” (Joshua 2:10-11). The truth was the exact opposite of the spies’ report. The inhabitants feared the Israelites more than the Israelites feared the inhabitants. We hear this at the start of the story of Bilaam: “Now Balak son of Zippor…
…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…
…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…
…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….
…Parshat Balak, after Bilaam failed to curse the Israelites, he persuaded the Moabite women to seduce Israelite men, and then lead them into idolatry. God’s anger flared, and a deadly plague began. Then, Zimri, a leader from the tribe of Shimon, publicly brought a Midianite woman into the camp and sinned with her in front of everyone. Perhaps sensing Moshe’s…
…Judaism. So what have you been learning about today? Yeah? Child: We’ve been talking about Bilaam and Balak. Rabbi Sacks: Bilaam and Balak! Esther: Children need to make sense of the world around them, especially the world we live in at the moment, which is very, very confusing. Rabbi Sacks: Esther, a lot of people criticise faith schools. They say…