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“Take all the chiefs of the people and hang them up unto Hashem in the face of the sun.” (25:4)

Many Jews accepted the invitation of the Midianite and Moavite women to join them in a sacrificial festival to their god, Baal–Peor. Although it was not the leaders of the tribes that sinned, they did not manage to prevent others from committing the gravest sins with the pagan women. Sforno comments that their sin progressed gradually. They began by exhibiting licentious behavior with the pagan women, followed by eating their sacrifices, until, ultimately, they began worshiping their idols. The apathy the leaders demonstrated by observing thousands succumbing to the wiles of the yetzer hora without themselves doing anything in protest,…

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“And the words of the man with the open eye.” (24:3)

The Talmud in Sanhedrin 105 interprets “open eye” as referring to the fact that Bilaam was blind in one eye. Targum Onkeles defines “open eye” as meaning that Bilaam had special vision in one eye. How does Onkeles’s explanation coincide with that of the Talmud? The Baal Shem Tov suggests that the two interpretations complement one another. In order to attain the level of nevuah, prophesy, one must be a kadosh, holy person. Kedushah is achieved by purifying each organ of one’s body and sanctifying it. Indeed, this was what the Navi would do. Bilaam, however, had a problem. He…

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