I TORAH PORTION I
What All Jews
Have In Common
SHLOMO RISKIN
E
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fiat, Israel — The in-
gathering of the exiles
— especially from
Russia and Ethiopia — but in
actuality from throughout
the globe — makes every sen-
sitive Jew aware of the
miraculous nature of the
historical period in which we
live. We are truly experienc-
ing the confirmation of the
prophetic visions expressed
more than 4,000 years ago.
But in addition there are
specific Biblical verses which
suddenly assume new mean-
ing and significance — or
reveal for the first time their
truest meaning and
messages.
This week's portion, Balak,
records an ancient prophecy
delivered by a gentile proph-
et, a prophecy which actually
describes the nation of Israel.
Balaam, the leading oracle
of that generation, is being of-
fered a lifetime guarantee of
fame, fortune and honor if he
would only agree to curse this
people that Balak, the king of
Moab, wants to eradicate. But
to no avail.
"How shall I curse whom
God has not cursed, and how
shall I denounce whom the
Lord has not denounced? For
from the top of the rocks I see
him and from the hills I be-
hold him: It is a people that
shall dwell alone, and shall
not be reckoned among the
nations." (Numbers 23:9)
We usually understand the
language of the "top of rocks"
and "from the hills" to mean
that we must view Jewish
history from a much higher
and longer perspective.
The Midrash Rabba, (Ch.
20, Par 16) quoted in Rashi,
writes that the "top of the
rocks," refers to the
patriarchs, and the "hills"
refers to the matriarchs. The
Jewish people are rooted in
their matriarchs and patri-
archs, and that makes them
strong like rocks and hills.
Balak's response to Ba-
laam's words is angry: "I took
you to curse mine enemies,
and behold you have blessed
them altogether." (23:11) But
in rereading the words of the
gentile prophet it's hard to
locate exactly where the
blessing is. In fact, the verse
can be seen as an overall
perspective on Jewish history
describing how the nation
will suffer many persecutions;
Balak could take some refuge
in that thought. Describing a
Rabbi Riskin is chief rabbi of
Efi-at, Israel and founder and
dean of Ohr Torah
Institutions.
lone and friendless nation is
hardly a great compliment.
The Midrash interpretation
takes the expressed two as-
pects of the landscape, the
mountains and hills, and
turns them into a metaphor
for patriarchs and matri-
archs. What the prophet per-
ceives is that the Israelites
are eternally rooted in their
matriarchs and patriarchs.
And because the Jews will
never give up their traditions
and will always remain true
to their past — despite their
many wanderings and way-
farings, their persecutions
and pogroms — Israel will re-
Whoever has the
same father and
mother must be
brothers and
sisters.
main as everlasting as the
rocks and the hills. Indeed,
they will return to the very
rocks and hills which nur-
tured their forbears, the rocks
and hills of the land of their
origin, the land of Israel.
To be sure, the host coun-
tries will leave their imprint
Jews will contribute to, and
accept contributions from, the
many different cultures and
civilizations in which they
will find themselves. But we
must always be mindful of the
Divine promise to father
Jacob: ". . . a nation and a con-
gregation of nations shall
come forth from you (Genesis
35:11)."
We will be different because
of the many different nations
and experiences our exile to
all four corners of the world
have brought upon us; we will
be a "congregation of na-
tions." But we will also be the
same, we will always remain
one nation, because we have
the same father and mother,
because we are all rooted in
the traditions, because we
have all been born out of and
are destined to return to the
same rocks and hills, the
same mountains and valleys,
of the land of Israel.
And this is perhaps the
deepest significance of Ba-
laam's prophecy: We shall al-
ways remain a singular na-
tion and shall never be
reckoned as separate nations,
despite the differences which
characterize our various
strains!
It's amazing how, when,
walk the streets of Efrat,
only do I cross paths with
already familiar, even cop: -4-1
monplace, mix of Americai 1
Australian, English, Iris.
and South African Jews wh.
have joined the already ex-