Balak – Peninim on the Torah

Behold! A man of Bnei Yisrael came and brought a Midyanite woman near to his brothers in sight of Moshe and in sight of the entire assembly of Bnei Yisrael; and they were weeping at the entrance of the Ohel Moed. (25:6)

Rashi attributes the weeping to the fact that Moshe “forgot” the law regarding a “boel aramis.” This law states that one who publicly cohabits with a gentile may be slayed by kanaim, true zealots. Hashem caused Moshe to forget, so that Pinchas could react and merit the blessing he received. Pinchas reminded Moshe of the law, but Moshe told him to take action, claiming that the one who made the law known should execute it. Horav Simcha Zissel Broide, Shlita, comments on the remarkable lesson to be derived from this pasuk. If Hashem decrees that a person should attain a…

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Moshe Marcovich In Balak, 5758

How goodly are your tents, O Yaakov, your dwelling places, O Yisrael. (24:5)

As we enter the shul, our daily encounter with the Almighty begins with the pasuk that Bilaam recited. Let us put this into perspective. Bilaam was impressed and inspired by Klal Yisrael’s modesty and sensitivity to privacy issues, as evidenced by the arrangement of their tents. Bilaam was the paradigm of evil, a man whose sense of morality was so eroded that he sought to destroy Klal Yisrael through debauchery. He fully comprehended that Hashem despises licentiousness. He recognized Hashem’s reaction to Klal Yisrael’s promiscuous attraction to the daughters of Moav. Yet, during a brief moment of spiritual ascendency, granted…

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Moshe Marcovich In Balak, 5758

Behold! It is a nation who shall dwell alone and not be reckoned among nations. (23:9)

Bilaam was an archetyypical anti-semite. His ability to master the double-entendre is manifest in his description of the Jewish people. He portrays the Jews as a “people who shall dwell alone.” He seems to be saying that the Jewish people have the ability to resist assimilation, to weather the tide of paganism and immorality that characterize secular society. That is what he seems to be saying. In reality, Bilaam was offering a critique of the Jewish people. He was branding them for their exclusivity, labeling them as reclusive and unsociable isolationists. Historically, the anti-semites reviled us for not distancing ourselves…

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Moshe Marcovich In Balak, 5758

Hashem opened the mouth of the she-donkey and it said to Bilaam, “What have I done to you that you have struck me these three times?” (22:28)

Chazal note that the Torah does not use the word “pe’omim,” which means “times.” Rather, the Torah uses the word “regalim” which is an allusion to the Shalosh Regalim, Three Festivals — when Klal Yisrael went on Pilgrimage to Yerushalayim — and to the Bais Hamikdash. Bilaam wished to harm a nation whose devotion to Hashem was so strong, whose commitment so intense, that they left their fields and homes three times each year to serve Hashem in Yerushalayim. How could Bilaam think that the Almighty would permit him to harm such a dedicated nation? It is interesting to note…

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Moshe Marcovich In Balak, 5758

And he (Balak) sent messengers to Bilaam ben Be’or. (22:5)

Bilaam’s reputation was enviable in his pagan context. Indeed, employing the forces of tumah, impurity, he became a leader and prophet among the pagans. Chazal present their own description of this unsavory person. In Pirke Avos 5:19 they say, “Whoever has the following three traits is among the disciples of our forefather, Avraham, and whoever has three different traits are from the disciples of the wicked Bilaam. Those who have a good eye, a humble spirit and a meek soul are among Avraham’s talmidim. In contrast, those who have an evil eye, an arrogant spirit and a greedy soul are…

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Behold! A man of Bnei Yisrael came and brought a Midyanite woman near to his brothers in sight of Moshe and in sight of the entire assembly of Bnei Yisrael; and they were weeping at the entrance of the Ohel Moed. (25:6)

How goodly are your tents, O Yaakov, your dwelling places, O Yisrael. (24:5)

Behold! It is a nation who shall dwell alone and not be reckoned among nations. (23:9)

Hashem opened the mouth of the she-donkey and it said to Bilaam, “What have I done to you that you have struck me these three times?” (22:28)

And he (Balak) sent messengers to Bilaam ben Be’or. (22:5)

YEARS

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