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and Bilaam to be the reason the curse
was impossible — the Jewish unity and
solidarity precluded the curse.
A second attempt is made to curse
the Jewish people by viewing them on a
smaller, more limited scale, perhaps as
individuals. This, too, fails and Bilaam
must bless the nation again. Apparently,
he second of this week's dou-
even the individual Jew is blessed by
ble Torah portion deals with
.
God within the context of the nation.
' the attempt of the non-
Finally, Balak, in his frustration, says,
. Jewish prophet Bilaam to
"Come, I will take you to another place-'
curse the Jewish people.
perhaps it will be good in God's eyes to
Bilaam makes every attempt to fulfill
curse the Jewish people for me from
.the commission of Balak, the king of
there; and Balak took Bilaam
Moab, to curse the Jewish peo-
to Rosh Peor." (Numbers
ple. But he is thwarted in his
23:28) This name Peor is sig-
mission and instead "that
nificant because it is the name
which,G9d puts in my mouth
of-idolatry that subse-
I rn4rkfeaV:VVionbers 22:38)
y.the Moabite and
and eilifee different times h
aiiite women seductively/
blesses . the Jews.
inauCe some Jewish men to
This blessing was consicfcl
worship. This attempt, then,
erect so significant by the tab-
to curse the Jews was targeted
, ..
bi§=that the Talmud (Brebot
through the weak and sinful
12b)` declares, "RabbiOhu
among them. Even so, this
RAB.hot E LIEZER
beri7'Zutrosi said that Rabbi
attempt again was unsuccess-
CO HEN
Yehuda ben Zavida said that
ful; again Bilaam was forced
Specia 1 to the
they (the rabbis) sought to
by God to bless the Jews.
Jewish News
establish the portion of Balak
Thus, three times the
as a part of the recitation of
Jewish people vvere blessed
Shema (the basic declaration of
even by their enemies. First, as a united
faith required to be said twice a day) but
people and as a single unit; second, the
refrained because it would have been an
smaller unit, perhaps the factional or
undue burden upon the people."
individual level; and finally, the Jewish
The Talmud indicates the reason for
people were blessed even through the
its required daily recitation would have
weakest, most non-committed among
been because these verses proclaim the
them. The Jewish people became and
special protective relationship between
remained chosen and blessed by God.
God and His people Israel. Actually, it
We are a nation in which each indi ,
is, in fact, traditional practice to begin
vidual — even the sinner (for ultimately
the morning service every day with the
aren't we all?) — is a source of blessing
verses of Bilaam's blessing of Mah tom,
and sanctity. We remain a nation that
"How goodly are thy tents, 0 Israel."
even our enemies acknowledge is differ-
(Numbers 24:5)
ent, special. The Jews have contributed
Why should the blessing of this non-
incalculable blessings and benefits
Jewish prophet (one, who according to
throughout history to all mankind.
tradition and as implied by the verses of
Imagine our strength and vitality, our
this Torah portion, hated the Jews and
sanctity and blessing, our potential for
sought their destruction) be held in such
greatness and goodness if we truly were
high esteem and be considered so funda-
"camped together" in unity, solidarity
mentally important by the rabbis?
and mutual respect and concern. IT
Three different times, from three dif-
ferent locations, Bilaam attempts to
curse the Jewish people and instead
must bless them. After his first failure,
Bilaam is told by Balak, "Come with me
Why were the Jews chosen by
to another place from where you can see
God? How are they holy and
it (the Jewish people); however, only
blessed? Are the Jewish people
part of it will you see; you will not see
truly different? Why have we been
the whole of it and curse it for me from
hated and persecuted throughout
there." (Numbers 23:13) It seems that
history? Are the attitudes of non-
the view of the entire nation camped
Jews
toward Jews improving? Why
together in unity was thought by Balak
or why not?
Shabbat Chukat-Balak:
Numbers 19:1-25:9;
Micah 5:6-6:8.
T1
Conversations
Eliezer Cohen is rabbi of
Accents in Needlepoint
626-3042
Orchard Mall
In Our Unity
There Is Strength
Congregation Or Chadash.
248.855.5640
NM.
6900 Orchard Lake Road
Suite 205