Balak
When one attempts to curse a blessed entity, the blessed remains blessed and the cursed remains cursed.
Balak, a Moabite king, hires Balaam, a wizard par-excellence, on retainer to curse the Jewish people. Balaam’s ride, his donkey, tells him that going down this path is not a very good idea. Three times, the prophet Balaam tries to curse the people, and three times he ends up blessing them. Some of the deepest prophecies and blessings, like the coming of the redemption, are issued from Balaam’s mouth. The Israelites are enticed by the daughters of Moab, idolizing immoral impurities. Pinchas slays a statesmen who publicly undermined the Jewish people and their purpose.
Balak: The Secret to Immortality
In one verse in Parshat Balak “Who can count the dust of Jacob, and the number of the seed of Israel?” the prophet Balaam tells us the secret of immortality
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Chukat-Balak: Wealth Question
The value and significance of questions, opinions and feedback; and the time-old question whether parents should bequeath their wealth to their children.
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Balak: The Ultimate Stand
A personal story of 2 events on the same day in 1927 and 1967 that shaped the spiritual commitment to Jewish life and history revealing G-d’s Divine plan.
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Accommodations
A story of the Baal Shem Tov on one of his travels who would rather be a guest in the home of a sinner than in the home of a learned, yet egotistical person
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One-Liners On Truth and Falsehood
Words of wisdom by three great Rabbis: Rabbi Moshe of Kobrin, the Maggid of Kelm and Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak of Lubavitch on the topic of lying and stealing.
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On Feats and Feet
The difference between an ‘intellectual’ and a ‘server’ is the difference between being impressive & getting somewhere, according to the Rebbe Rashab.
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Gastronomic Universe
Physical & spiritual pleasures: In Parshat Balak the Jews faced the plague of Pe’or – they encountered the cosmic digestive system & the energy of waste.
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Virtual Reality
The Previous Lubavitcher Rebbe (Frierdiker Rebbe) was a realist: an optimist with experience – the USSR has disintegrated but Judaism is alive & thriving.
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Chukat-Balak: What Can I Do About the Ongoing Killings in Israel?
This essay responds to the pervasive question: “What can I do about the deteriorating situation in Israel?” and offers an opportunity to sing together…
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The Subconscious of G-d
Our sages describe the age of Moshiach as a reality which “the heart does not reveal to the mouth,” where we will inhabit the “subconscious” of G-d.
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