Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Balak בלק – Wisdom and Hopes

In parshas Balak we receive the blessings pronounced on the children of Israel by Bilam, the greatest prophet of the nations. In the third blessing he blesses the batei midrashim (places of study) and the synagogues of Israel. "How good are your tents Ya'akov, your synagogues Yisrael" (Numbers 24:5), he declares. Tent (אהל­) is an idiom for places of learning perhaps taken from the idea of temporary quarters used by an itinerant preacher. A synagogue, literally a place of assembly (משכן), is where people gather to express there prayers, hopes, and devotion to G-d. What Bilam is praising is the striving for knowledge of G-d by the Jewish people and their hopes for humanity.
                                                   
He compares the children of Israel to flowing streams, gardens on a river, fragrant shrubs planted by Hashem, and cedars on water. The common theme is peace and tranquility. Torah is compared to water. The idea of a stream is movement in that it flows to many places. It also suggests purity and because it is small, humility. A garden expresses the idea of multiplicity as it has different types of flowers and plants.  A park on a river has trees and grandeur but just the same maintains its modesty. Fragrant shrubs suggest a pleasant and happy frame of mind produced by a serene environment. It also hints at benevolence that is received almost imperceptively. Cedars are large and towering trees which suggest greatness.

The blessing continues, "he sprinkles with water from his bucket and sows with great waters". This is a metaphor for one who draws water from a well. It refers to new ideas that first touch a small number of individuals than flow to the multitude of people. The sentence continues, "he exalts from Agag his king and raises up his kingdom". Agag is considered the king of evil. The idea is that a display of evil teaches Israel what the opposite should be, and once this is learned, allows them to free those caught in its grip.

"The Almighty took him out of Egypt and [they] are like horns of a wild bull to him", (Numbers 24:7). This suggests knowledge of religion that is strong and piercing in which the miracles in Egypt are clearly seen. "He shall consume vexing enemy nations, he will smash their bones and their arrows he will crush. He crouches and lies like a lion and like a lioness, who would rouse him? Those who bless you shall be blessed, and those who curse you shall be cursed", (Ibid 8-9). This suggests intimidation which comes from overwhelming physical and moral power.

Regarding this prophesy the Chumash uses the expressionשתם עין , literally "open eye"  (Numbers 24:3).  It suggests focused perception. The expression is repeated again (ibid 15) when introducing the messianic prophesy, "I see him but not now, I perceive him but not near, a star will stride for Ya'akov and a scepter from Yisrael", (Ibid 17). This is a vision of the essential core of the Jewish people. However it will take travail and much time before all of Bilam's prophesies are fully realized.



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אזכור הכבוד של תורמים ליד יוסף
אבי מורי פיליפ שרייבר, יוחנן הולצברג, אברהם שמרלר

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