By Rabbi Yeruchem Eilfort
CARLSBAD, California — This week we read the portion titled Balak. Balak was the king of Moav who after seeing how his neighbors had unsuccessfully made war and lost against the Children of Israel decided that he would take a different approach to try and defeat them. While Sichon and Og, two mighty kings with mighty armies failed by using force of arms, Balak chose to try and attack the Jews spiritually – by attacking their spiritual connection with the Almighty.
Ironically, the Jews have never been known for our war-making skills (with a few notable exceptions including the modern IDF). Rather, Jews have been blessed with the power of speech, particularly the power of prayer. Ergo, Balak felt that he was most likely to be successful by fighting ‘fire with fire’. He negotiated and came to terms with Bilaam, the ultimate non-Jewish prophet, who also harbored an irrational hatred of the Jewish people.
Bilaam had the uncanny ability of being able to determine when G-d was ‘angry’ and hoped to be able to convince G-d, as it were, to curse the Jewish people. As ridiculous as it sounds he attempted to bribe G-d by offering sacrifices that he hoped would somehow cancel out G-d’s love for His people and undo the sacrifices brought by the Patriarchs. He gazed upon the Jewish camp from various vantage points hoping to ‘remind’ the Almighty of past Jewish sins and failures.
Bilaam, despite having heard directly from G-d that the People Israel were not cursed but instead blessed, kept trying to change their relationship with G-d, all while Balak looked on hopefully. Each and every time Bilaam opened his mouth to curse the people only blessings issued forth! The Torah records the beautiful, poetic, and very deep blessings that came from the most unlikely source, Bilaam.
This is perhaps one of the most dramatic instances of light emanating from a place of darkness. Think in terms of being in a very bright place and someone turning on a light. While light is always appreciated and even uplifting, when lit under those circumstances our appreciation of that light is limited. On the other hand, when one is in a very dark place and that space is illuminated, the salutary effect of the light is more keenly felt and appreciated.
The fact that an implacable antisemite like Bilaam should utter incredible blessings of the Jewish people is profoundly instructive. We can (and should) find blessings wherever we look. Even under the darkest circumstance there is incredible all-penetrating light!
May we be blessed with the ‘vision’ to be able to discern the light wherever we look. Even better, may Almighty G-d bless us with revealed good – even, or maybe especially, when it emanates from a previously implacable foe!
Wishing everyone an uplifting, joyous, and HEALTHY Shabbos!
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Rabbi Yeruchem Eilfort is Director of Coastal Chabads and Chabad at La Costa. Rabbi Eilfort welcomes readers’ comments and questions and may be reached at RabbiE@ChabadatLaCosta.com.